Child sits on stairs with chin touching surface of water, holding ankles (like a frog about to jump) Take a breath, turn head to look down and blow bubbles Turn head back up while chin stays in water (without sitting up), breathe in again at surface Repeat

Have child reach hands down as far as possible while allowing chin to touch the water. Shoulders should stay in the water at all times. Only part that moves is head.

Face in & hold breath Hold knees to chest, tuck in chin (curl up body as if a ball) for 3-5 seconds One at a time

Allow child to push off island and go into ball float with minimal / without assistance.

Hands on top of legs/thighs Glide on front One at a time, Island to teacher and back OR Island to island/stairs

Watch for correct hand placement (hands on top of legs/thighs) to encourage proper body position, arms straight. If using a small dive ring, be sure child is holding it properly - palms to body and arms straight.

Hands on top of legs/thighs Kick on front Island to teacher and back, Island to island/stairs

Watch for correct hand placement (hands on top of legs/thighs) to encourage proper body position, arms straight. If using a small dive ring, be sure child is holding it properly - palms to body and arms straight.

Use flippers to strengthen kick.

Child to island Child glides on back with hands on top of legs/thighs Teacher pushes on bottoms of child's feet to initiate glide

Watch for correct hand placement (hands on top of legs/thighs) to encourage long body position, arms straight.

Child's hands on top of legs/thighs Kick on back for target distance No support

Watch for correct hand placement (hands on top of legs/thighs) to encourage proper body position, arms straight. If using a small dive ring, be sure child is holding it properly - palms to body and arms straight.

Use flippers to strengthen kick.

Child sitting on pool edge Dive in from sitting position One at a time

Child's arms should be up beside head, like for a pencil swim. Hands should be placed one on top of the other, not with palms together. To start, child should bend down at the waist, tuck chin in, and point arms and top of head down into water.

One child at a time An exaggerated jump: teacher holds child's feet and pushes child up out of water to jump forward

Jump in from edge One at a time

Teacher assists only as necessary Child puts elbows up on deck Pulls body up to lie down on tummy Puts knee up on deck and climbs out