Games for baby swimming

Treat your first few trips to the pool simply as extra play sessions, allowing your child to become accustomed to the new environment and encouraging a love of water by making the fun time using games. Just as children love playing at home and at school, so they will love playing games in the water. Games also support learning on a variety of fronts as they involve skills such as coordination, logic, and memory. As such, they are invaluable learning aids when you are teaching your child to swim. 

By fully integrating games into your lessons, you will be able to introduce new skills to your baby in entertaining ways. You can also use them to provide fun breaks for your child after she has tries new or challenging skills. Play the games suggested below with your child, but adapt them to suit her and the pool that you are in.

Motor boat

Hold your child under the armpits so that she is in the Pass Hold (see here). Spin yourself and your child around quickly in a circle so that a slight wave is made by your actions. You can just do the spin, telling your child that you are going to go fast like a motor boat does, or even better, you can sing a little song as you play it, first going slowly, then fast, then running out of gas and stopping. The song goes:

Motor boat, motor boat go so slow

Motor boat, motor boat go so fast

Motor boat, motor boat, run out of gas!

Where did they go?

If your child is unsure of being in the water or has been startled when practicing one of the water confidence techniques, show her this "magic trick" to diver her attention. You will need to fill a bucket with a variety of colorful floating balls and toys. It is easiest to do this trick if you have both hands free, so ideally have a partner in the water to hold your baby.

Show your child the filled bucket, saying, "we're going to play a magic trick", then quickly tip the bucket upside down into the water trapping all the balls inside the submerged bucket. Ask your child, "where did they go?". Then count to three, and tip the bucket right side up under the water. All the balls will pop to the surface, and as they do you should shout, "There they are!". Ask your child to pick up the toys and help her to put them back in the bucket so you can play again.

The pick-a-ball game

This key game encourages your child to dip, kick, or swim underwater, depending on her ability - in fact, these skills are introduced as part of this game. Fill a small inflated baby pool with floating balls and toys and secure it at the edge of the pool. You will also need a bucket on the side of the pool. Ask your child to select a toy. Holding your child, stand opposite your partner (60-90 cm) apart. Ask your child to throw the toy to your partner, then pass her to your partner and the chosen toy. (As your child's comfort in the water increases, submerge or swim her toward your partner). As she reaches your partner, he should give her the toy (a good distraction if she is startled at being submerged) and direct her to kick to the pool wall and place the toy inside the bucket. Repeat with the rest of the toys.