Welcome Song in Little Harbor
Why: Socialization and Buoyancy and Balance.
How: Gather in a circle and have parents lengthen their arms to support their child and create the Little Harbor position. This position allows the child to learn how to support themselves in the water by exploring buoyancy and balance. Encourage parents to support as low in the water as possible so the child can learn to stabilize their position. Parents and students are also free to splash their hands while singing along. This reminds the parents, infants and toddlers that the water is everywhere and helps to acclimate them to that sensation.
Song Lyrics: _______is here today __________is here today _________ let’s all splash the water __________ is here today!
Backwards Fall off the Big Mat
Why: To gain comfort with breath control, buoyancy and balance.
How: Have parents support their child under the arms while facing away from them seated on the big mat. Remind parents to cue their child before they gently fall backward. They also my gently submerge if desired. Once in the pool they can remain on their backs in a float and / or return to the big mat and try it again!
Drop Down Turn Around
Why: Breath control, buoyancy and balance and Safety!
How: Have the parent support their child under the arms while facing away from them. Remind parents to cue their child before gently submerge. Performing this skill allows us to reinforce a fall int o the water. If they ever fall into the water we are showing them that they are able to turn themselves around and swim back to the nearest edge! Encourage parents turn the child toward them and allow a few seconds for them to feel their own buoyancy and balance as they float back to the surface. For more advanced students, try positioning parents along a wall so that the swimmer can float up and grab an edge!
Back Float Under the Bridge
Why: To gain comfort with buoyancy and balance on the back.
How: Assist parents with supporting their children on their backs in the cheek-to-cheek position. Have them travel backward under the tunnel for several rounds to help students relax on their backs.
Fishes in the Ocean with Backwards Fall and Drop In
Why: To gain comfort with breath control and practice the safety skill of an unexpected fall into the pool!
How: For the backwards fall, support the students while seated at pool edge facing away. Sing the song and fall in on cue. Student may remain in a back float and / or submerge! For the drop in, position yourself on the deck either seated, kneeling or standing. Position parents in front ready to catch thier student. Gently drop the student into the water or directly to the parent. Finish the skill by encouraging the parent to turn the child toward the wall and assist with climbing out.
Wheels on the Bus
https://youtu.be/0YuhcDNaKKg
Why: To end each class on a happy note!
How: Gather students and parents into a circle and pass out a small floating bus toy to each student. Ask the parents to match their actions to the lyrics of the song.
Song Lyrics: The wheels on the bus go round and round, round and round, round and round, the wheel on the bus go round and round all through the pool! Repeat with the following lyrics:
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- Windows go up and down!
- Wipers go Swish, Swish, Swish!
- Doors go open and shut.
- Horn goes beep, beep beep.
- Babies Wave Bye Bye.
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PROPS
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- Big Mat
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- Yellow Mat With Holes
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- Bus
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- Squirt Cars
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