✕ Close Setup
Before you start
  • 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.

Setup · 1 minute

Is the space marked?

  • The shallow end line
  • A lane for kicking
  • A floating target (a hoop or a ring)

A rope or a rolled towel as a "rescue" throw line; a light ball.

Warm up · 3 minutes

Three minutes to get warm.

Easy jogging on the spot, then arms and legs. How to warm up well is explained at workonfitness.com.

3:00
Show it · 1 minute
  1. Say the four steps with a hand sign for each: call (hands to mouth), reach (arm out), throw (throw), do not go (shake the head).
  2. Throw the towel to a target 3 m away: swing it back three times, aim, let go.
  3. Sit on the floor, hug the bent legs to the chest: the HELP position.

Show it once from the front and once from the side, slowly. Then let your child try.

The skill · 5 minutes
  1. Say aloud "call, reach, throw, do not go".
  2. Throw the ball or towel at a target 3 m away.
  3. Name where help and the rescue aids are at your pool.
  4. Say the cold-water rule: lie on your back, float, breathe and relax for 60 seconds.
  5. Show the HELP position sitting on the floor.

How much: 5 throws

Reach or throw, do not go in

5:00
The game · 5 minutes

What do I do?

The rules

You describe a scene at the pool or the beach; the child says what to do.

  1. Describe a scene: "Your friend is splashing in the deep end and can't reach the side."
  2. The child answers with the steps
  3. Then throws the towel to the target
  4. 5 scenes

Fair play: The grown-up must answer the child's scenes too.

Points
1 point for each right step in order; 1 point for each throw within 1 m of the target.
Fouls
No points for that scene: "jump in and swim to them"; skipping "call"; throwing with someone standing behind
Win
Beat your best from 5 scenes.
Child
0
Grown-up
0
  1. 8
  2. 14
  3. 20

5:00
Finish · 2 minutes

The child says the four steps in order and throws within 1 m of the target twice.

0/1

End on one that works. If it was hard today, finish with the easier version.

Finished

Well played.

Saved in this browser only. Next time, "What should we practise today?" picks up from here.