Entering the pool
Sitting by the pool deck awaiting instructions from caregiver.
Getting into the pool: Why bother?
Ensuring a safe entry into the water.
Advancing from sitting to standing before diving in.
How to Do It?
For preschool-aged children (under 7 years old)
The parent extends both thumbs for the child to hold securely.
While maintaining close proximity to the child, the parent then guides the child’s hands to rest on the parent’s shoulders.
The parent sings the rhyme, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall… Humpty Dumpty had a great fall…”
Following the song, the parent squats down in the water and provides encouragement by saying, “Push daddy/mummy down.”
The parent then takes a small step backward, carefully drawing the child forward into the water, ensuring that the child’s hands remain on the shoulders and that the child’s shoulders stay level with the water surface to promote correct posture and a straight back.
Supporting the child’s knees—as though holding two paintbrushes—the parent encourages the child to begin kicking by saying, “Kick, kick, kick…” or by singing, “This is the way I kick my legs… kick my legs… kick my legs…” all while maintaining a hold on the child’s knees.
