Pool Activities to Encourage Language and Physical Development
1. Wheelbarrow Walk: In shallow water, have your child “walk on his/her hands while you hold up their legs. Encourage your child to say ”up” or “up please” when they are ready, model “up-up-up” during activity.
2. Noodle Hold: Using a noodle or flotation device, have your child hold the noodle with both hands and maintain a floating position. Pull your child around the pool by the noodle and give occasional “tugs” to promote strength and balance. Work on increasing breath support for speech by practicing vowel sounds like “oooh, ahh, oh” for up to 5 seconds. Also work on lip rounding.
3. Water toys: Use water toys (buckets, squeeze toys or sponges) to fill with water and empty by squeezing and dumping using both hands. Line toys along the edge of the pool and encourage your child to walk with their hands along the edge to retrieve the toys. This is a great time to work on asking questions such as “Can I have the…..”.
4. Bubble blowing: Have your child blow bubbles into the water or blow at the water to make ripples appear. Model for your child how to blow with lips pursed with big inhale and exhale.
5. Visual-motor play: Have your child sit or stand at the side of the pool. Place a flotation device (eg. Life jacket) a few feet from your child and use as a target; encouraging them to toss an object and hit the device. To make this more challenging, you can slowly move the target side to side when your child is throwing the object. Work on concepts such as on, off, in and out.
