- Check the space and the kit.
- Get your child's attention first.
- Show it from two sides.
- Say one thing only.
- End on one that works.
Put the phone down where you can see it. Tap Next with your thumb, or use the arrow keys.
Is the space marked?
A pool; a life jacket if the pool allows.
Three minutes to get warm.
Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.
- Lie back in the water, ears in, tummy up, arms out wide: a float.
- Upright in deep water, move the hands in small flat circles and kick gently: treading water.
- In a life jacket, pull the knees to the chest and cross the arms: the HELP position.
Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.
- Swim 50 m.
- Float on the back for 30 seconds.
- Tread water for 30 seconds with sculling hands.
- The HELP position in a life jacket, if the pool allows.
How much: 4 tasks
Float on your back, breathe
Water safety circuit
The rules
The child does the four tasks in a row and scores each one.
- Swim 50 m
- Float on the back, timed
- Tread water, timed
- The HELP position, timed, if allowed
Fair play: A grown-up does the circuit with one task harder.
- Points
- 1 point for each task done; 1 more point for each timed task held for 30 seconds or more.
- Fouls
- That task scores no points: holding on to the side or the lane rope; standing up on the bottom; any breath-holding contest
- Win
- Beat your best score.
- 3
- 5
- 7
50 m swimming and 30 seconds of floating, 2 weeks in a row.
End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.
Well played.
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