Entry & Song: Welcome into the pool, into a circle and do warm up song with actions
Song: If you’re happy and you know it.
Front Swim:
Front Swim – Adult holds baby facing them, in front float hold and moves around the pool, swish babies body and legs.Adults can blow bubbles for baby to see.
Seat Holds with ball:
- Adults sit baby on one hand and support babies chest, follows a ball in a sat up position – practices arms in front stretching/splashing to ball.
- Song: We’ll go swimming all together in the pool (Tune of: She’ll be coming round the mountain )
Conditioning – Put watering cans on sides.
Adult swims baby across the pool to get watering can – Adults pour water around and on baby’s body, while singing song: Head, shoulders, knees and toes.
After song cue baby for water pour down the face. NAME, READY, GO (then pour water).
Adult looks for signs and body language to check baby understands and is happy with the cue. x2
Submersion– Teacher makes a tunnel and has a watering can.
As each adult and baby pair goes through tunnel, adult cues baby and teacher pours water on baby, adult fully submerges baby into the water. x2
Front Swim – Open Safety Hold: practice moving baby freely around the pool– use a toy to follow.
(Keep toy for next activity)
Back Swim/Float – – Parent gently pulls baby through the water.
Holding baby’s head and bottom – Parent tries to remove the hand on baby’s bottom so baby feels the buoyancy of the water.
Back & Front Swim around on spot – Rocking, Cradling and Flip-flops with baby from front to back. Working on buoyancy on back. Extending time on back. Add a song.
Jumping in –
Sing a song then adult sits baby on the side, cue and look for reactions as baby goes towards the water. Submerging if baby reacts.
Play time – Keep moving. Have fun, Relax! Talk to parents!
Exit Song: Teddy Bear. Teddy Bear