Swimming - games to play

[Keeping up]

I am a working mom of four little kiddos (6, 4, 2 and 1).

This swim term I decided not to enrol the older pair (or the younger pair - but they just don't swim yet) in organized swimming lessons. I could take them at 1:30pm for a 30 minute swim lesson or I could take both of them for an hour of free public swim at 2pm (same pool end of the street).

We went yesterday for the first time and had a blast playing tag, me pulling the noodles around the pool (decent exercise), my eldest jumping in the water and doing somersaults - fun stuff, nothing serious.

My eldest (6 years - dd) has the basic skills down and my four year old (ds#1) hates putting his face in the water - so different levels. My goals are to get my dd to improve her skill set- pretty much stronger in the water. My son is to get him simply more comfortable in the water so he will willingly put his face in the water. I don't worry about badge level - they are little, we will get it - we want to have fun.

So, any ideas on games to play.

She will dive for stuff, play chase, jump and swim back to the side etc.

He is a bit more reluctant but will chase me using a pool noodle.

What other things can I do to have fun!

Tks

[BellinghamCrunchie]

Marco polo!

[SkyMomma]

You may have already tried this, but...my 4 yr old DS hated putting his face in the water until we got him a mask & snorkle. I can't tell you how much this has improved his swimming. He wasn't able to really keep his head above water without floats (he's really skinny), now he swims with just the mask all the time, mostly underwater. We had tried swim goggles before without alot of success, but something about the way the mask covers his nose really helped him hold his breath & dramatically increased his confidence in the water this summer.

I think what you're already doing sounds great--I love just getting in the water & 'messing' around with my son. He likes to climb on my knee & dive off, play mama turtle resting on my back for a few minutes as we swim through deep water. We also play 'lifegaurd' where I struggle to keep my head above water & he comes to save me. But mostly we just swim & he shows me his new moves. Without anything formal he's picked up the arm movements of my bresatstroke & copies my 'dolphin dive' perfectly. He's also taught himself to do somersaults! Enjoy

[MusicianDad]

I remember playing a game called Motorboat. You drag her behind you in a tight circle and once you get enough momentum, let go. It's sort of like jumping off, except all ready in the water and she has to swim back to you.

[Mamax3]

Originally Posted by SkyMomma

You may have already tried this, but...my 4 yr old DS hated putting his face in the water until we got him a mask & snorkle. I can't tell you how much this has improved his swimming. He wasn't able to really keep his head above water without floats (he's really skinny), now he swims with just the mask all the time, mostly underwater. We had tried swim goggles before without alot of success, but something about the way the mask covers his nose really helped him hold his breath & dramatically increased his confidence in the water this summer.

Thanks for this tip. My older 3 kids are on our local swim team (summer and winter) and my 4 y.o. can "doggie paddle" all across our pool and the Y pool, refuses to wear a bubble or floaties, but I can't get him to put his face in. He has his own goggles, but refuses to put his face in. I will try the mask and snorkel idea.

[lindberg99]

Red light, green light.

Ring around the rosey...you can say "We all go under!"

Monkey in the middle with a beach ball.