Toddler - Week 3
Lesson Overview
This lesson welcomes toddlers into a playful, supportive pool environment where the focus is on building water confidence and foundational movement skills. Through short, structured activities and positive reinforcement, children practice safe entries and exits, face-in-water comfort and blowing bubbles, assisted floating on front and back, and basic kicking and arm movements while developing listening, turn-taking and parent-child interaction.
The aims are to increase each child’s comfort in the water, introduce gentle breath control and brief submersion with encouragement, establish basic buoyancy and propulsion skills, and reinforce simple water-safety awareness and cooperative behavior. By the end of the session, children are expected to show relaxed attempts at face-in-water activities, more consistent kicking with support, brief assisted floats and engaged participation in group routines and safety cues.
Key Objectives
- Build toddlers' water confidence through playful, instructor-led activities that use supported floating and gentle buoyancy play; develop breath control by practising blowing bubbles and brief face submersion with support; introduce coordinated kicking and basic arm reach to promote propulsion; teach safe poolside behaviour and practiced safe entries and exits while reinforcing constant adult supervision and clear teacher instructions; complete pre-lesson safety and preparation checks (headcount, appropriate swim nappies, water temperature, clear teaching area) and encourage positive parent–child interaction and following simple cues.
- Soft foam pool noodles
- Toddler-sized kickboards and small foam floats
- Lightweight floating toys (rings, foam shapes, soft balls)
- Swim nappies and spare dry clothes
- Towels and warm blankets
- Non-slip mats for poolside
- Rescue equipment: throw rope or rescue tube
- First aid kit and disposable gloves
- Whistle and waterproof register/clipboard with pen
- Pool thermometer and signage for water depth/temperature
- Hand sanitiser and surface disinfectant
- Mobile phone or means to contact emergency services
- Optional: child goggles and instructor buoyancy aid
Entry Down Ladder - P01
Open chest hold Teacher holds sitting child while parent enters pool Parent turns to enter backwards down ladder Parent takes child and proceeds cue of "1 2 3" into water Parent and child participate
Explain to the child what the parent is doing
Parent enters water first while child is sitting heId by teacher
Needs to be able to sit with support
Development in WaterNeeds to be comfortable to go to teacher
Noodle Swim - P01
Child with noodle around back, under arms Child glides on front with face in water, looking down One at a time
Start with shoulders in water so child pushes forward and does not "fall" in water.
Glide with face in
Diving - P01 sitting
Child sitting on pool edge Dive in from sitting position One at a time
Child's arms should be up beside head, like for a pencil swim. Hands should be placed one on top of the other, not with palms together. To start, child should bend down at the waist, tuck chin in, and point arms and top of head down into water.
Child sitting on pool edge Dive in from sitting position
Obstacle Course - P01
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.
Underwater Swim - P01
Non-participating parent to hold hoop or mat Teacher/parent initiates swim Submerge child and release forward One at a time
Parent initiates submersion Release swim through hoop
Tower: Tip In or Jump - P01
Climb up to top Sit & tip into water or jump in One at a time
Assisted
Swim to tower from edge or stairs.
Back Floating>5 - P01
Cheek to cheek Teacher moving backward with child Child supported on back with head on Teacher's shoulder
Back Swim - P01
Teacher holds child on back Child glides on back with hands on top of legs/thighs
Watch for correct hand placement (hands on top of legs/thighs) to encourage long body position, arms straight.
Assisted back glide
Wave Goodbye - P01
Hip hold In circle around teacher Follow actions to lyrics Parent demonstrates activity until child joins in
Allow child to join in when s/he is ready
Child in hip hold. Parent demonstrates. Child observes
Needs to be strong enough to hold head up independently
Development in WaterNeeds full participation of parent
- Splash hands splash hands
- And wave goodbye
- Splash hands splash hands
- And jump up high
- Splash hands splash hands
- And wave goodbye
- See you all again next time