6. Little Flippers Lesson Slides and Canoes

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!

Dock Bridge with Noodle Fountain and Sprinkles

Why: Conditioning for Breath Control. Conditioning is used to teach the student to hold their breath in response to the water being poured over their head. Use this skill to train parents to pour the water gently over their child. Proper conditioning is a crucial step to preparing a student for their first underwater experience. Students can practice this skill on the front or back, but be careful to not pour large amounts of water on the face when students are on the back as they are more likely to get water up their noses in that position. 

How: Set up the bridge by placing a dock close to the wall and creating a “bridge” for parents and student to travel under, once in place, hold the noodle up against the jet to create a fountain for them to pass through while getting their head wet. Train parents to walk slowly through the bridge and under the fountain and look for the natural reaction of the child when the water pours over their face. After a few cycles you should notice that the student is prepared and simply closes their eyes and mouth when under the water. Always practice pouring the water from the back of the child’s head to the front so it is less intimidating.  FOR MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS; Encourage parents to submerge their child while moving under the bridge, and / or the fountain.  NOTE; A dock is not always available, this skill can still be accomplished by holding a yellow mat as a bridge and sprinkling the water from above (students can travel through on belly and / or back). 

Back Float under the Bridge 

Why: To practice 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. Sing the song for a few rotations to get students to relax on their backs.

Big Slide

Why: Breath Control, Movement and FUN!

How:  Set up an obstacle course to keep the class moving. Begin by having students monkey walk to the slide. Encourage them to climb out and up the slide (if possible). Allow parent to cue 1-2-3 and have them slide in and submerge.

Note; We DO NOT allow children to go down this slide head first as it is similar to a playground slide and we do not want to encourage this practice outside of the pool.  Also, there are many ways to utilize the big slide and this video only shows a couple.  Do what works best for you and your class.

OR 

Boat Rides

 

Why: FUN, FUN, FUN!

How: Assist parents with placing their students safely into a boat (a few student at a time, depending on size and comfort) and sail them for a trip around the pool!  Repeat until all students have had a turn!

Fishes in the Ocean Falling In

Why: Breath Control and Safety.

How: Students climb out at the edge of the pool, sit on the edge with their feet in the water and with or without parent’s assistance sing the song and fall in on cue.  FOR MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS; Encourage parents to submerge their child completely or to allow the to fall into the water independently and / or  add the turn around by having parents position themselves at the side of their children and assist them with falling in on cue, submerging and turning  to the wall.

Song Lyrics: Fishes in the ocean, Fishies in the Sea, we all fall in on 1-2-3!

Wheels on the Bus

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:

• Windows go up and down!
• Wipers go Swish, Swish, Swish!
• Doors go open and shut.
• Horn goes beep, beep beep.
• Babies Wave Bye Bye.

PROPS