When it comes to teaching babies to swim, lessons are just one piece of the puzzle. The more opportunities children have to explore water and develop their skills outside of swim lessons, the more comfortable and confident they become. Swim skills, just like any other skills, improve with practice—and incorporating them into playtime can make learning even more fun! Whether during bath time or dry play, there are easy ways to boost your baby’s water confidence and set them up for swim success.

Why Practice Swim Skills Outside of Swimming Lessons?

Swimming lessons offer structured, focused instruction, but are limited through time and frequency. Babies and toddlers benefit from repeating swim movements, practicing breath control, and building comfort with water in a relaxed environment. Making swim skills part of daily play not only reinforces what they’ve learned in lessons but also creates positive associations with water. The more fun babies have in and around water, the more excited they’ll be when it’s time for their next lesson! And by turning these activities into games, you’re allowing your child to grow their love for the water naturally.

Bath Time Activities That Boost Swim Skills

The bath is the perfect place to practice and reinforce swimming basics in a safe, familiar environment. Here are three simple activities that transform bath time into a mini swim lesson!

1. Pouring Games for Breath Control

Take a small cup or toy watering can, fill it with water, and gently pour the water over your baby’s head. We always encourage counting down and taking an audible breath with them when the water hits their face. Babies naturally hold their breath when water touches their face, and practicing this in the bath helps them get used to having water on their face during swimming. Make it a fun game by singing songs and cheering when the water is done pouring.

2. Floating Toys for Buoyancy Awareness

Use floating bath toys to introduce the concept of buoyancy. Encourage your baby to push the toys down and let them pop back up to the surface. This playful activity builds an understanding of how objects (and their own bodies) float and sink in water. It also strengthens their arm and hand muscles, which they’ll use for paddling.

3. Kicking Practice for Leg Coordination

While your baby is sitting or lying in the tub, gently encourage them to kick their legs. You can hold their legs and guide the movement or demonstrate the kicking motion. Kicking in the water builds leg strength and muscle memory for future swimming strokes. You can make it extra fun by splashing water or having them try to “kick” at their bath toys.

Dry Play Time Activities That Boost Swim Skills

Even when you’re not near the water, there are creative ways to practice swim skills during playtime on dry land. These activities work on coordination, body awareness, and the motions needed for swimming.

1. “Swim” Through a Tunnel

If you have a play tunnel or can create one with pillows and blankets, encourage your little one to “swim” through it. Have them pretend they are in the water, using their arms and legs to crawl or scoot through. This mimics the movements of swimming and builds muscle memory for arm pulls and kicking. Plus, it’s great for building upper body strength!

2. “Superman” on the Floor

Lay your baby on their tummy and play “Superman” by gently helping them lift their arms and legs off the ground. This position mimics how they’ll float and move through the water. Encourage them to kick their feet and move their arms like they would when swimming. This activity strengthens core muscles, improves balance, and introduces the motions of swimming strokes in a fun and playful way.

Water-Only Games

One key aspect of building a strong swim foundation is creating positive associations with water. A great way to do this is by reserving specific games that you play only in the water. These water-only games help babies and toddlers look forward to bath time or swim time, making water a place of joy and comfort.

For example, you can introduce a fun water chase game where you “chase” a rubber ducky around the tub, but only when they’re in the bath or pool. Or you might create a special song that you sing during water play, helping your baby recognize the water as a happy, familiar environment. By keeping these games tied to water experiences, you’re fostering a sense of excitement and connection to the water.

Whether in the bath or during dry play, there are plenty of opportunities to reinforce your baby’s swim skills in a fun, stress-free way. By integrating simple activities like kicking, pouring water, and playing swim-themed games, you’re building their comfort and confidence both in and out of the water. And when it’s time for their next swim lesson, they’ll be eager to show off everything they’ve learned through play!

At watermellow, we believe that every moment spent in or around water is an opportunity to nurture your child’s swimming abilities and build their love for the water. So dive into these playful activities, and watch your little one grow as a swimmer, one splash at a time!