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Self splashing, overcoming the fear of water being splashed on their body and face.
PS4
A fear of water is very common but through games and positive relationships their confidence will grow. Allowing the child to make lots of splashes whilst in the water using their hands and or legs celebrates their growing confidence in the water, thus allowing the child to successfully participate more in the sessions. Through self splash this demonstrates increased water confidence.
Splashing often sounds easy, however useful and effective splashing which allows you to move is often very difficult to achieve, especially if the individual has communication and social interaction fears to overcome first.
For children with learning difficulties this is a key award to help them relax and feel comfortable when in the water. Self splashing would be the initial key before moving onto washing their face in the water.
This award is also designed to encourage children to interact more confidently with others in the pool, allowing them to interact, join in and relax around others.
There are lots of nursery rhymes and songs that can incorporate splashing eg, ring a ring a roses can be adapted with the sneezes their nose touches the water and then the ashes in the water can encourage swirling and splashing with their hands. If performed in a circle, there can be a lot of water movement.
Other games can be evolved around moving different parts the body to splash and the different splashes they make, eg little splashes with fingers to big splashes with the whole arm or legs.
Encourage parent to create active games that include splashes at home in the bath or on hot days water play in the garden, adult supervision essential. Learning to splash is all about building up confidence and encouraging the swimmer to enjoy the splashes landing on them.