Water Games: Our Favorite Way to Sneak in Swim Skills
Summer is all about fun, but did you know that playtime in the water can also be a great way to build confidence and reinforce swim skills? At Swim Lessons with Mary, we love turning learning into laughter. Whether you're in the pool, at the lake, or at the beach, here are a few of our favorite water games that secretly strengthen swim fundamentals:
1. Treasure Hunt
Skills practiced: Breath control, underwater swimming, diving
How to play: Toss a handful of dive toys or rings into shallow or mid-depth water. Swimmers race to retrieve as many as they can in one breath. For beginners, start near the surface and slowly increase difficulty!
2. Kickboard Races
Skills practiced: Flutter kicks, straight legs, endurance
How to play: Give each swimmer a kickboard (or pool noodle if that’s more fun) and race from one side of the pool to the other, no arms allowed! Try different styles like dolphin kicks, frog kicks, or flutter kicks for variety.
3. Red Light, Green Light (Pool Edition)
Skills practiced: Listening skills, body control, breath coordination
How to play: One person stands at the end of the pool and calls out “Green light!” (swim forward), “Red light!” (stop and float), or even “Yellow light!” (slow motion swimming). Sneaky practice for stopping and floating, an essential safety skill! For beginners who are not able to float or swim independently yet, utilize tools like noodles, kickboards, or swim backpacks when playing
4. Swim & Sing
Skills practiced: Breath control, rhythmic breathing
How to play: Have kids hum a song underwater while everyone else listens and tries to guess the tune. This silly game helps them practice breath holding and exhaling slowly when submerged, a key to staying calm in the water.
5. Shark in the Water
Skills practiced: Treading water, quick starts, agility
How to play: One player is the “shark” and others try to swim across without getting tagged. If tagged, they become a shark too. It's active, exciting, and great for building confidence in deeper water.
6. Simon Says: Swim Edition
Skills practiced: Following directions, trying new swim movements
How to play: Play classic “Simon Says,” but make it water-themed! Examples: “Simon says blow bubbles,” “Simon says float like a starfish,” “Simon says kick like a mermaid.” Great for all ages and confidence levels.
7. Jump & Climb Challenge
Skills practiced: Safe entry, turning to the wall, independent exit
How to play: With an adult watching closely, have your swimmer: Stand at the pool edge and practice a feet-first jump into the water. Once in, turn around right away and swim back to the wall. Climb out using proper technique, elbow, elbow, tummy, knee." Optional: Set a timer and try to beat their own best time or count how many smooth rounds they can do in a row. This builds essential safety and it's also a fun way to burn energy and build confidence!
8. Animal Rescue Mission
Skills practiced: Surface swimming, breath timing, hand-eye coordination, returning to safety
How to play: Scatter several floating animal toys across the pool. Your swimmer’s mission:
rescue one animal at a time and bring it back to the “safety zone” (the wall or a floating bin). For added fun: give them a time limit, (“Rescue as many as you can in 2 minutes!”), use a toy net or have them scoop with one hand only, or narrate a mini-story as they go: “Oh no! The duck is drifting, quick, bring it back to safety!” This game helps to encourage swimmers to move with purpose, practice breath control, and reinforce the habit of always returning to the wall.
Keep It Safe, Keep It Fun!
All these games are meant to be played under adult supervision, in safe, shallow areas unless your swimmer is already confident in deeper water. Make it a family challenge or turn it into a playdate! Want more tips or a custom game for your swimmer's level? Just ask us, we love helping families build confidence through fun.
