Water Fun for Infants and Toddlers
Preparing Children to Swim Using Bath and Pool Games
Nov 26, 2008
There are many techniques used by professional swimming instructors that parents can do in their own bathtubs or backyard pools to give their child the confidence and security they need to enjoy time in the pool.
Many of the activities suggested in this article are interchangeable between the bath and the pool. Most importantly, take cues from children individually. If a child seems hesitant or frightened to do an activity, return to a simpler one that he has already accomplished. Children will adapt to swimming in their own time and in their own way.
Bath Time Games
Sprinklers – Using a toy watering can or cup, pour water over the baby, starting at the knees and tummy, and working up to the shoulders. Once a child is ready, try sprinkling water over her head.
Splish-Splash – Show baby how to pat her hands on the water to make small splashes. As she gets more and more comfortable, she will splash harder causing water to splash on to her upper body and face.
Hokey-Pokey – Play hokey-pokey sitting in the tub. Putting body parts in and out of the water instead of a circle, shake each body part (hands, arms, legs, feet) by splashing in the water.
Back Floating – Hold baby on his back so that his ears are completely submerged in the water. Sing or tap on the tub, making echoing sounds underwater.
Swishy Swimming – Hold baby on his tummy, keeping his chin and face above the water, and gently swish him back and forth at the surface.
Pool Time Activities
Toy Time – Giving toddlers floating toys and buckets helps to develop their sense of play in the water, encouraging them to reach and move through the water.
Ring-Around-the-Rosy – Sing the song and circle around in shallow water, and then fall down together making a splash. As a child gets older, try “falling down” into water up to the chin, over the mouth, over the nose, and finally submerging her.
Alligator Crawl – In very shallow water, encourage the child to stretch out on his tummy, legs out behind him, and “walk” with his hands.
Bubble Blowing – Once a child can blow bubbles in the water with her mouth or nose, use ping-pong balls or other floating toys and have the child try to move it with her bubbles it across the pool.
Treasure Hunt – Using toys that sink, encourage the child to walk around and bend over to pick toys out of the water. Try variations of this game using different objects – i.e. find all the yellow toys or find all of the diving rings, etc.
Flotation Devices
There are many excellent flotation devices available for babies and toddlers – everything from life jackets to inner tubes and arm wings. When choosing a flotation device, be sure that it properly fits the child, as many are made for a specific weight range. Some children will enjoy the freedom they have in the water, but others may feel restricted in their motion. Let children practice wearing their life jacket or arm wings outside of the pool, even wandering around the house.
Flotation devices also come with a word of warning. By teaching a child to swim with floating devices, some children are emboldened by a false sense of security. Toddlers may think they can swim and float without realizing that they are unable to without the device, and may jump into water too deep for them to stand.
Don’t Be Scared of Water Games
Even if the parent is frightened of the water or lacks swimming skills, it is no reason the child should as well. Good advice for any parent is not to act scared, and not to be scared to let their child try new things in the water. Make sure it is always a safe environment, but also a fun experience. Parents that do not swim but would like their child to learn should consider taking “Baby and Me” or “Toddler and Me” classes to learn confidence together.
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