Pool toys are an essential component in any swim lesson! They provide a fun and interactive way for students to learn basic swimming skills, while also building confidence in the water. Let’s take a closer look at the role of pool toys in swim lessons and explore some of the most effective toys for teaching different skills! 🏊🏼♀️🏊🏼♀️🏊🏼♀️
SMALL TOYS 🐥
Any small toy can be used to help swimmers overcome their fear by putting their face in to see the toys underwater. If we use small toys that float, these toys can be used to show how we want the swimmer to learn to float – nice and calm on their front or back. Little toys that squirt water can be used to squirt the coach with some water – how silly! These can also be used to demonstrate how bubbles should look when we bring our mouth or nose to the water and blow.
When we get to the more advanced skills we can still use these toys! Smaller toys can be use to help keep a students chin down who is learning proper head position on their freestyle. For our backstrokers it is a fun challenge to try to keep a toy resting on the forehead while we swim laps in the pool.
TEACHING SWIM SKILLS 🏊🏽♂️
Once children become more comfortable in the water, pool toys can be used to teach basic swimming skills. For example, kick boards are great tools for teaching children how to kick effectively. By holding onto the kick board and kicking their legs, children can learn proper kicking technique and build leg strength. Kick boards can also be used to teach children how to swim freestyle by having them practice their arm strokes while holding onto the board.
DIVING RINGS ⭕️
Another popular pool toy for swim lessons is the diving ring. Diving rings can be used to teach children how to dive and retrieve objects from the bottom of the pool. This activity not only helps children develop their diving skills but also encourages them to hold their breath for longer periods of time, which can be beneficial for overall swimming endurance!
POOL NOODLES ⬇️
Pool noodles are another versatile pool toy that can be used in a variety of different ways during swim lessons. They can be used to teach basic strokes, like the breaststroke, by having children hold onto the noodle and practice their arm and leg movements. Noodles can also be used to teach children how to float on their back by putting it under their hips. This allows a swimmer to focus on perfecting their form without panicking about staying afloat.
LET’S MAKE SWIM LESSONS FUN! 😊
In addition to providing a fun and interactive way to teach basic swimming skills, pool toys can also be used to make swim lessons more enjoyable for children. By incorporating games and activities into swim lessons, instructors can help children stay engaged and motivated to learn.
While it may look like its all fun and games at the pool…well…we kind of think it is! 😄 It’s fun to learn to swim and it should be. We love using tools like toys to help us in our goal of teaching children to be safe in and around the water. By incorporating a variety of pool toys into swim lessons, instructors can create a fun and interactive learning environment that helps children develop the skills and confidence they need to become strong swimmers. 💪🏼