The primary goal of a parent tot class is to increase the comfort and
familiarity of the swimming pool and water to an infant.

Scooping is an advanced step for going underwater and should only be done with a parent and child that are comfortable in the water and ready for more aggressive water experiences.

 

Attempt only when obviously ready (not disturbed by face getting wet).

Follow underwater progression.

Scoop in a U shape.

  1. Hold the infant or toddler at arms length, doing a supported front float, with palms up or in the football hold.
  2. Do your cuing; “1, 2, 3, GO,” or “Ready, Go!”
  3. Take a step backwards and pull the child into a hug where you dip them in an elongated U shape to scoop them through the water at the apex, or deepest part of the U.
    • Pull the chin underwater
    • Pull the chin and lips under
    • Pull the nose underwater
    • Pull the eyes underwater
    • Pull the whole face underwater

 

 

A swimmer infant about to be scooped; palm up.

Notice how the parent is holding the child at arm’s length. After the cue, the parent will take a step back, and pull the child through the water into a hug.

Football hold, ready to pull into a mother’s hug while putting only the lips underwater.

Follow the underwater progression:

Pull into a hug every time!

Make it fun, exciting, and happy!

Testable goal:

The infant or toddler is comfortable being pulled underwater in a scooping motion, with proper cuing, progression, and loving and caring support.

  • Chin
  • Lips
  • Nose
  • Eyes
  • Whole Face
  • Entire body

Bonus Goals:

  • Infant or toddler joyfully holds breath, remains underwater without fear.
  • The parent and child are comfortable with extended time underwater and can pass the child from the instructor to the parent following the underwater progression.
  • Parent passes the child to the wall while scooping the child underwater. Child grasps the edge of the pool and pulls themself out of the water.

Activities to achieve this goal:

Supported Front Floats

Get down to eye level, with your face in the water too.

Encourage parents to put their mouth in the water, their shoulders under and demonstrate happy going underwater and breath control.

Move through the water

In the supported front float position move through the water and spend lots of time kissing the water, demonstrating what its like to go under, and providing opportunity for the child to put their lips, nose, eyes in.

Challenges to achieve this goal:

Challenges are like games but with less moving parts and quicker.

Challenge:
Throw a toy and get it. Swimmer throws a floating toy into the pool. Do a jump into the a hug, then transition into a front float with the parent. Pick up toy and return to the wall doing a supported back float to do again.

Challenge:
Kiss the water. Kiss the water yourself. Have the parent kiss the water. Ask the child to kiss the water.

Challenge:
Speak to the fishes. The parent scoops the infant underwater and makes a fish face. The infant copies the fish face and makes a sound. The challenge teaches water confidence, breath control, and communication.