Smile
£0.60 – £1.75Price range: £0.60 through £1.75
A certificate for a happy and relaxed swimmer in the water and enjoying lessons.
PS6
Description
Water is a dangerous environment and many children have a fear of water. Every child is different and deals with new experiences and challenges differently, some adapt quickly to new experiences and others may struggle with changes to their environment or social engagement.
Being happy when they’re in the water is the main foundation of any swimming program, when children are happy they can listen, progress and challenge themselves to achieve more. Watch me smile is a certificate that can be awarded when a child is happy in class.
Additional needs
Standing back and seeing a child relax and smile in the water is so important for parents and carers. Being happy and relaxed in the water can very often be the result of lots of hard work and determination. Having to over come communication, social awareness, structure and also visual challenges the swimming pool can be a scary place.
For children with additional needs, the sensations of water and uneasiness in the water adds extra concern for the swimmer. Therefore this award will show the endless hard work and dedication of many for the child to feel relaxed and happy when in water, as well as being a key foundation stone where skills are all based upon as happiness leads to a willingness to learn. A significant mile stone.
Lesson ideas
Every teacher will have had a child who is frightened or scared to enter the water, the key is to build up a trusting relationship between yourself and the swimmer.
Encourage the swimmer to interact in the games and songs, use them as a distraction to get the swimmer involved and moving in the class. When a swimmer realises that water can actually add to the fun and they feel safe with the teacher/parent in the water and confidence in their aids, then they will start to smile and engage more.
Colours displayed may differ slightly from the actual product due to various factors like screen display, lighting, or the way different people perceive colours.
