Homework Ideas
Kids get the most benefit from lessons when they are practicing at home also – IN or OUT of the water.
Here are some ideas of what to practice based on the level your child is at.
Level 1
Holding breath in the bathtub (put diving toy at the bottom, ask child to put their face in and see how long they can hold it)
Float in bathtub (focus on ears in the water and chin/belly up)
Straight leg kicks (on the floor on tummy or sitting down on bottom)
Rollovers (On the floor – Lay on your belly/head down with head sandwich, roll over to float on your back, repeat)
Back floating on the floor (out like a starfish, chin and belly up)
Level 1.5
Straight leg kicks (laying down on the ground)
Motor boat arms (make your head sandwich) standing, sitting, laying on the floor
Rollovers (Lay on your belly/head down, roll over, and float on your back- on the floor)
Elementary backstroke (chicken, airplane, soldier- standing up. Arms only or add 1 leg in)
Level 2
Backstroke (stand in front of parent/mirror. Bring one arm up straight with thumb out, slightly touch your face and turn your pinkie, then bring straight back down to the side)
Elementary backstroke (Chicken, airplane, soldier- standing)
Shark fins (with or without breathing) (say leg, armpit, reach OR sharkfin reach) -standing
Side bobs (in the bathtub)
Level 2.5
Backstroke (stand in front of parent/mirror. Bring one arm up straight with thumb out, slightly touch your face and turn your pinkie, then bring straight back down to the side)
Elementary backstroke standing (Chicken, airplane, soldier)
Shark Fins: AKA freestyle (standing in mirror: with or without side breathing (if with breathing, say “1,2,3,breath”)
Whipkick (legs off the bed…say bend, split, whip-straight)
Side bobs (in the bathtub)
Level 3-5
Whipkick (legs off the bed… say bend, split, whipstraight)
Breastroke arms (standing – have kids say “pull and breath, whip kick” with arm motion)
Shark Fins: AKA freestyle (standing in mirror: with or without side breathing (if with breathing, say “1,2,3,breath”)
Stand up dolphin kick / body roll (arms down by side, and like a mermaid/merman)
Butterfly arms (standing with the body wave / motion)
