Taking your toddler or non-swimmer to your local pool at the weekend should be an adventure, not a battle of nerves. Yet, many parents tell us they feel unsure of what to actually do once they are in the water beyond splashing about.
At SwimEasy, our lesson plans are engineered with absolute precision and teachers can choose to use as support for their own lesson ideas and delivery. Every drill, song, and hold has a specific biomechanical and water-safety objective.
To help parents and aquatic educators get the most out of casual pool visits, we have opened up our Pre-School & Non-Swimmer curriculum cards. Here are our top teacher tips and progressive drills you can practice together to build genuine water confidence, stroke fundamentals, and safety awareness.
1. The Warm-Up: Poolside Safety & Water Comfort
Before launching into the pool, start with foundational skills on the poolside steps or edge:
- Pointy Toes & Splashy Kicks: Sit together on the pool edge. Practice kicking with long legs and “pointy toes” to create small, controlled splashes rather than bent-knee pedaling.
- Unaided Safe Entries & Exits: Build independence early. Teach your child how to sit, turn onto their tummy, slide in safely while holding the side, and climb out using the steps or pool edge without relying on being lifted.
- Monkey / Spiderman Along the Wall: Have your child hold the pool gutter or rail and shuffle sideways along the wall hand-over-hand. This is an essential self-rescue reflex, teaching them that the wall is their primary “safe place”.
- Blowing Bubbles: Submerge lips and noses together to blow big bubbles. This prevents accidental water inhalation and teaches relaxed exhalation.
2. Interactive Games: Movement Without Fear
Games disguise the repetitive effort required to build motor skills:
- Ring-a-Roses & Songs: Hold hands in shallow water and move together in a circle, crouching down at the end to dip chins or blow bubbles.
- Adventure Kicking: Support your child under their arms or across your chest while moving through the water. Encourage “splashy toes” and steady kicking behind them as you explore the shallow area.
3. The “Develop” Stage: Streamlining & Reaching to a Safe Place
Once relaxed, transition into horizontal body positioning:
- Standing Streamline (“Rocket Arms”): Stand together on the floor or steps with hands placed flat on top of each other, squeezing the ears with straight arms pointing toward the ceiling.
- Reaching for the Safe Place: Have your child push gently from you toward the pool wall (their “safe place”) in a rocket arm position with their face resting in the water. Start close, just an arm’s reach away, and gradually increase the distance as confidence grows.
- Rocket Arms with Kick: Support their hips or tummy as they push and kick with long legs and pointed toes toward the wall. Rehearse this in sets of 4 to 10 repetitions to reinforce muscle memory.
4. The “End” Stage: Star Floats & Spatial Awareness
Floating is the cornerstone of lifelong water safety:
- Star Float on the Back: Place your hand gently under your child’s head or between their shoulder blades. Encourage them to spread arms and legs into a wide star, tilt their chin toward the ceiling, and count to five. Minimal physical support allows their natural buoyancy to take over.
- Pencil Floats & Rotations: Practice lying flat like a straight pencil on front and back. As they advance, practice gently rolling from tummy to back to breathe, establishing the reflexive foundation for survival rolling.
Give Your Child the Best Start in the Water
Practicing these simple drills during public swims reinforces what happens during formal lessons, ensuring skills stick for life.
If you are looking for structured, small-ratio swimming tuition with teachers in the water across Edinburgh, Glasgow, or Falkirk, our team is here to guide your child every step of the way.
👉 Get in touch with our friendly team today:
Complete our quick enquiry form at www.swimeasy.co.uk/contact-us to find the perfect pre-school or non-swimmer class for your child.
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