Recently, in Dear Heather, Valorie asked for biking and swimming ideas for a large family. Swimming and biking are activities that families can do together and that can involve different age groups as well as different levels of skill and proficiency. So let’s take some time today to talk about swimming fun that you and your family can have.
Safety First
It’s important that whenever you are engaging in any physical activity that you put safety first. Because drowning can occur, you want to make sure your kids, especially the young ones who cannot swim have on proper flotation devices that keep them upright and their heads above water. You also want to impress on them that no matter what game is being played there should be no running around the pool edge where accidents and falls can occur.
Finally, if you are playing water and swimming games in an outdoor pool, you need to be sure to put on the proper sunscreen for all ages. Babies and children are especially susceptible to sunburns and it’s important to protect their fragile skin as well as your own. Be sure that you obey the local rules of the swimming pool and for adults as well as older children, who are swimming, watch out for leg cramps.
Games You Can Play
Simon Says can be played anywhere, but you can tailor make the game for the pool and for children of any age. For example:
- Simon Says jump in the water – and the players can jump in the water, kicking their legs to come up above the surface some and then down again – I wouldn’t advise having the children actually jump in the pool unless they are ready for that
- Simon Says swim in a circle – even children with a flotation device can swim around in a circle and kick their legs
- Simon Says swim backwards – again, children in flotation devices can kick their legs in front of them to push themselves backwards
- Simon Says tag your neighbor – this is actually a cute way to get your family swimming in a circle
I’m sure you get the idea here.
Let’s Get Nautical
Want to teach your kids about nautical terms? Set them up in the center of the shallow end, be sure at least one adult is within arms reach of the young swimmers at all time. Call out the commands for what direction they should swim in. For example, if you say starboard, they should go right and stern should send them back while bow means head forward and port sends them left. You can add other ocean terms – include whale, to get them to flip around and dolphin to get them jumping in the water and much more.
Races
Pair your kids up and have them swim quickly to one side of the shallow end and tag the parents, the parents them swim to the other side and tag the little ones, they can swim alongside till they make it to the far side of the shallow end and tag the waiting children. It’s a relay race that’s more about fun and laughter than it is about winning.
Diving for the Rings
Get some colorful rings and teach the older children to dive by having them collect as many rings as they can from the floor of the pool. Usually the rings are sold in a set of five or six and they don’t cost much more than five or six dollars. This is a great activity that teaches stronger swimming skills and under water location. For kids that don’t like pool water in the eyes, use goggles.
There are many other swimming games you can play, but always emphasize safety above everything else when it comes to playing water games with your kids. If you have a net, you can even play water volleyball and let the little ones knock the ball under the net as well as over!
What water games can you play with your kids in the pool?
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Fitness Swimming For Beginners