Child holds railing as necessary Parent walks down stairs and turns to face child Child walks down stairs to parent
Child walks down with parent supervision
Circle - children and parents in pairs around teacher Follow actions in lyrics Parent and child facing teacher (Modification: parent and child face to face)
Parent can demonstrate actions if child is not ready to do on their own.
Parent and child participate
Parent and child face to face or facing teacher. Have children stand on island and do actions.
Child in side hold Lined up across pool Glide/kick on front to mirror stuck on wall Parent holds child while child participates
Child in side hold Glide/kick to mirror on wall
Children blow bubbles Balls pop out from bucket underwater Teacher pours some water over each child's head to get face wet With song, children glide around pool to collect balls and put back in bucket Circle - children and parents in pairs around teacher, Free movement (in shallow end) "Pick Up The Balls"
Child moving around pool with parent holding
Parent and child face to face Child tips forward into water Parent assists with submersion
Help parent find an appropriate distance away from child - close enough so child feels confident to tip forward and far enough so child does not land on parent's chest.
Child tip in Assisted submersion
Parent and child side to side Hold under child's arms Lift up slightly while moving forward (like going over a speedbump) Allow child's weight to take them underwater as they come down from speedbump One at a time Line - child on stairs OR Line - children and parents in pairs lined up across pool
Parent practice speedbump technique, side to side Child released into front glide
Parent holds child on back Teacher holds up mirror Parent with child on back move in circle Encourage child to look at mirror Continue in circle to repeat
Parent should keep moving to create slipstream.
Child in back position with parent support moving around pool
Back hold progressions: 1. cheek to cheek 2. parent hold under both arms, child's head at parent's chest 3. parents' hands under neck or back of head and lower back 4. parent's hand under neck or back of head, release support of lower back 5. parent's hand under neck or back of head, release support of lower back, then release completely
Lined up across pool Child push off wall and glides/kicks on back Parent supports
Emphasize to parents that push-off should start with feet in water and should be gentle.
Parent support Child push off wall and glide on back
Back hold progressions: 1. cheek to cheek 2. parent hold under both arms, child's head at parent's chest 3. parents' hands under neck or back of head and lower back 4. parent's hand under neck or back of head, release support of lower back 5. parent's hand under neck or back of head, release support of lower back, then release completely
Teacher creates tunnel with 1 holey mat at one end of stairs Child walks across stairs to tunnel Swim through tunnel One at a time
Teacher creates tunnel with 1 holey mat at one end of stairs Child walks across stairs to tunnel Swim through tunnel
Teacher designs obstacle(s) with mat and/or island Child swims and climbs over obstacle(s) to parent One at a time
Child swims to and climbs over obstacle(s) to parent
Adjust distance of swims according to child's ability.
Child sitting on mat facing parent Parents walk around in circle while turning mat Sing each song Child tip forward and swim at end of each song Circle - child on mat facing parent "Row Your Boat", "Ring Around The Rosie", "Speckled Frogs"
Child sitting on mat facing parent Parents walk around in circle while turning mat Sing each song Child tip forward and swim at end of each song
Turn-around swim back to mat.
Child holds log Pulls self over log and swims to teacher Repeat back to parent
Assisted swim over log
Circle - children and parents in pairs around teacher "Kids On The Boat" (tune of "Wheels On The Bus")
Variation: Have children stand on island and do actions together.
Child holds railing as necessary Child walks up stairs Parent supervises and walks up behind child
Child walks up with parent supervision