REVIEW OF HOLDING POSITIONS FOR DIPPING DIAPER DOLPHINS
PARENTS’ GUIDE AND TEACHING SUPPLEMENT
Diaper Dolphins, Volume I
My preferred method for holding children is the sidehold position as seen below. Dad has his right hand
in baby’s right armpit with thumb up and his left hand
in baby’s left armpit. Once your Diaper Dolphin has
progressed to the point of being dipped it is easiest
when one parent or caregiver dips them and then
passes the child to the other parent or caregiver. As
time passes, when your child is ready, they will be
swimming from one person to the other. Eventually,
they will be swimming to the side of the pool.
Water Adjustment and Basic Skills
(Beginners: Stage One and Two in our book Learn to Swim)
Ages 6 months to 4 years
Rob and Kathy McKay’s gentle, loving and child-paced approach
to teaching your Infant, Toddler, or Tyke how to swim.
• Teaching Tips
Initially, some children are more comfortable with the
face-to-face holding position. Some parents prefer this
hold when teaching the “1-2-3-lift-and under.” This is
the position in the video in which Justin’s father is holding him when Justin was first learning how to swim.
This position is most effective when the parents are
walking backwards. In the photo above, the mother is
getting ready to cue her son for the dip. Notice how
the hands form a V-hold under the child’s armpit with
the parent’s thumbs forward.
• Facial Immersion &
• Sample Lesson Plan
• Skill Check List
Breath Control
• Safety Precautions
TEACHING SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
O
Follow all safety guidelines outlined in the video. Do not submerge your child until he or she is comfortable with water
poured on their face. When holding your child, you will be able to feel in your hands and see in their eyes when they have
become relaxed. Do not put a frightened child under water. There should be no more than 3 brief held dips until your child
has comfortably acquired breath control and has learned the cue of “1-2-3-lift-and under”. If you notice that your child is
sipping water, do not exceed 3 brief dips. (Try to have your child either blow bubbles or hum when going underwater.)
Eventually, we want them to take a deep breath on the lift and then hold their breath throughout the entire swim.
O
If you ever see that your child is swallowing excessive amounts of water, notice that his or her stomach is becoming
bloated or you notice uncharacteristic irritability, finish the lesson that day. A rare condition called water intoxication can
pose a hazard to the child if they are pushed too soon, too hard and too long.
O
On very rare occasions, a few children who do like going under water still may gag even after several weeks of learning the
dipping cue. Teaching a child to hum upon a dip may help the child to learn how to close his/her mouth. You may also try
to teach your child to blow bubbles upon the dip. If the child still gags, you may need to wait until next year to try dipping
your child’s face under water again. We want this to be a positive experience. Eventually, this difficulty of learning to hold
his/her breath will pass. In the meantime, you can practice blowing bubbles, kicking and all of the above water skills.
O
The purpose of jumping off the side of the pool is two-fold. First, the children learn to be relaxed and not panic if they fall
into a body of water and they eventually learn to navigate themselves back to safety (Diaper Dolphins II). Secondly, it is an
enjoyable and healthy way for children to swim out to the parents or teacher. However, caution must be exercised when
first teaching the sitting and standing jumps. Use hands-on spotting (as seen in the video) when the children are initially
learning to jump out and away from the wall. This ensures that the children do not lean back and hit their head against the
wall. Tell them to reach out for Mommy or Daddy. Do not rush the standing jump. Wait until the children have mastered a
forward sitting jump and can stand with perfect balance. Unsteady babies do not belong standing on a wall. Be sure that
the children curl their toes around the edge of the wall so that they do not slip.
O
Children must be specifically and constantly supervised. No child is ever drownproof. Keep all barriers activated. Know
Infant/Child C.P.R. Learn and practice swimming safety skills. (D.D.II)
HOME POOL AND WATER SAFETY
In addition to all of the joys and benefits of swimming, we can eventually teach our Diaper Dolphins skills that will increase
their odds of getting to safety if they should find themselves in the water in an unsupervised situation (Diaper Dolphins, Vol. II).
Swimming safety skills become an important component of home pool and water safety. These skills can serve as the final
safety net.
Swimming safety skills are but one of four quadrants of the Diaper Dolphin Safety Circle Poster which is included with Diaper
Dolphins, Vol. II. Other areas covered in Diaper Dolphins, Vol. II include constant supervision of your child, barriers and InfantChild C.P.R./Safety. Remember, no child is ever drown-proof. All pieces of the safety circle must be in place to help insure the
safety of your child. View the home pool safety information in Diaper Dolphins Vol. II and study its Diaper Dolphin Safety Circle
in conjunction with Diaper Dolphin, Vol. I.
IF YOU NEED HELP LOCATING ANY OF OUR VIDEOS, BOOKS OR PRODUCTS,
PLEASE CONTACT US IN BOCA RATON, FLORIDA AT WWW.BABYSWIMMING.COM.
This video is intended to:
1. Show you and your child the wonderful possibilities and happiness that swimming can bring.
2. Inspire you and your child. It will motivate your child to want to learn how to swim. They will want to watch this
video time and time again.
3. Help you to recognize a loving “child-centered” program in your area and to supplement that program if
necessary.
4. For those parents electing to teach their own child, “Diaper Dolphins” will help you to teach in a responsible,
caring interplay between parent and child.
Refer to the video often as your child naturally unfolds throughout their swimming journey. Using the Sample
Lesson Plan as a framework, you can gently guide your Diaper Dolphin through the gradual process of water
adjustment, facial immersion, breath holding and kicking, gradually working up to a 5 second swim. The Skill
Check List will help serve as a roadmap to child-paced, gradual skill acquisition. Once your child can comfortably
swim 5 seconds with a steady kick, you are ready to begin teaching the safety skills in Diaper Dolphins, Vol. II —
Safety Techniques and Beyond.
Diaper Dolphins, Vols. I & II are intended to be viewed as a set. Diaper Dolphins, Vol. I teaches your child to love
the water and to learn basic swimming skills and sets the foundation for Diaper Dolphins, Vol. II which focuses on
swimming safety skills and home pool safety. Though you should not begin teaching the skills in Diaper Dolphins,
Vol. II (58 minutes) until your child is ready, you should view it along with Diaper Dolphins, Vol. I. Not only will you
see what skills your child will learn down the road, but Diaper Dolphins, Vol. II contains vital information on home
pool and water safety. It also includes a Diaper Dolphin Safety Circle Poster which will help to keep your child
safer in and around water.
5. You will also find it beneficial to refer to our book Learn to Swim and our website www.babyswimming.com
BENEFITS OF BEING A DIAPER DOLPHIN
When taught in a loving and safe child-centered approach, your Diaper Dolphin can feel at harmony with themselves and the outer world. Introducing children to water at an early age makes sense. After all, water is part of our
very essence. It surrounds us in the womb and it nourishes and cleanses us throughout our lives. The joys and
benefits of swimming include family bonding, building self-esteem, stimulating child development and setting the
stage for a positive attitude towards learning and exploration which can last a lifetime. Infants and toddlers can
learn to move in the water even before they start walking. Stimulating coordination and fitness in the water at a
young age makes swimming a most unique and healthy activity that lasts from infancy to old age. And, what better
way exists for our young Diaper Dolphin to enjoy time with family and friends and celebrate the joys of being alive.
©1993 Lifestyle Video Productions. All Rights Reserved. Revised 2005.
ROB AND KATHY’S TEACHING TIPS TO PARENTS:
1.
For smooth, steady learning, the optimal plan is to initially practice at least four times per week for the first 8 weeks. (This is
especially important for the cautious child or children who do not like water on their face.) If this is not possible, practice as
often as your schedule allows.
Teaching your child in a group format with parents participating, provides an enjoyable social experience which takes the
pressure off your child. Diaper Dolphins love to imitate their classmates. However, working solo as a parent-child team is
fine, just remember to keep it fun. Use this opportunity to laugh, play and further bond with your child.
At least initially, try to teach in water 90°. (Even if it’s the bath tub during the water adjustment stage.) If this is not possible,
you may need to keep your lessons shorter than 30 minutes. A wet suit top or T-shirt can help retain body warmth.
Try to practice in an area shielded from the wind and drafts. Ideally the air temperature should be above 80°.
As in any learning process there will be peaks, valleys and plateaus. The slower you go the faster your child will learn. Let
it happen, don’t force it, and remember to be patient.
Once your child learns how to swim, he or she will not forget. However, children do get rusty. For every month that you
layoff, it will take approximately 1 to 2 days to regain the child’s previous skill level.
Take it slow, have fun, enjoy the journey and go the distance! The pay-off is for life.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
SAMPLE LESSON PLAN
Diaper Dolphins, Volume I
Water Adjustment and Basic Skills
Limit your practice session to 30 minutes. I suggest organizing your practice to give you a consistent routine and framework. In
this way your child can gradually improve in a familiar atmosphere and you as a parent/teacher have structure, guidelines and
direction. Just remember to remain flexible. To keep your child interested and to practice all skills, limit the time spent on any
activity to seven minutes. On some days your child may have his or her own agenda. On those days they will still improve by
just swimming through free play. For the cautious child, find the activities that they like, focusing on these until your child
becomes more comfortable with the water.
Our sample class period for children just learning how to swim and eventually working up to a 5 second swim looks like this:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Safe pool entry.
Take attendance – a fun way to get class started (if practicing with other children –
siblings or friends).
Warm Up – 2-5 minutes (kicking head above water)
a) Chase a ball or toy and place in ball or truck.
Facial water adjustment activities (especially important for cautious children)
a) Play catch with foam balls
b) Sing “This is the way we wash our face (and so on)”, while gently washing your
child’s face, arms etc. with a wet sponge. Try squeezing small amounts of water on
their face. Eventually the water sensitive child will like water on their face.
Sing opening song: People on the Bus.
Obstacle course (Activing circuit in book). Your Diaper Dolphin’s kick will gradually
improve as the weeks progress. Once your child likes water poured on their face, you
can slowly begin to cheek roll dip them before they drop-off or pick-up a ball or toy.
Eventually they will be able to perform short swims between two people.
Sing a song: Happy and You Know It, Luby Lou; London Bridge, Merry-Go-Round or play Big Beach Ball Toss.
Swimming to Safety
a) Approaches to wall. Jumps off wall out to parent (head out of
water).
b) Once children are swimming comfortably they can submerge
on their jump off the wall, and be dipped on their approaches
to the wall. Over weeks and months you can slowly increase
the length of breath holding up to 5 seconds. Only increase
breath holding time if your child comes up happy and has not
taken in water. Go Slowly.
Sit on duck, raft or float with song and with jump off. (D.D. II) Pass
back to float, reach and grab. (Position in middle of pool)
Walk or crawl across duck or float (only if there is an extra person
to hold duck or floating mat). Jump off to parent. (Position duck in
middle of pool) (D.D.II)
Sing She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain while riding on noodle
horses.
Ring Around the Rosies.
Free play.
This is only a guide. Use your imagination and vary the lessons to the liking of your child. On fussy days (especially during teething), back-off or
try something you know your child likes. Many children 18 months to 3½ years old will want to assert their independence from time to time. Use
distraction and positive reinforcement to guide your Diaper Dolphin. Avoid criticizing your child, be patient.
Let 3 and 4 year olds participate fully in the “when and how” of getting their faces submerged. Use puppets, songs and games to encourage facial
submersion with toddlers and tykes. Play on the pool steps in shallow water where experimentation with facial submersion can occur under
conditions less intimidating to the child. Don’t miss out on this unique time to enjoy your child.
This lesson plan can be adapted to your own swimming environment and situation – be it a home pool, public facility or other safe bodies of water.
DISCLAIMER: The producers, creators, participants and distributors of Diaper Dolphins are held free and harmless against all injury and
liability that may result through the use of this video (and its enclosed Parent Guide and Teaching Supplement) as a teaching aid or safety
reference. This video will not qualify the viewer to become a professional swim instructor. Anyone using Diaper Dolphins as a teaching aid
takes sole responsibility for the safety and health of the children involved. As with any physical activity, exercise or instructional program, it
is advised that children be cleared by a physician.
CARING AND SAFE PROGRESSION FOR FACIAL IMMERSION AND BREATH CONTROL
1.
Keep your child’s head above water until he or she likes water on their face. (For the cautious child, this can take several
months). Don’t give up – the rewards will be worth all of your efforts. Many children will initially let you get their face wet with
cheek dips, first one cheek and then the other. Eventually, children will let you submerge their entire face.
2.
Once children do like water sprinkled or poured on their face, you can begin with one brief cheek roll while holding your
child. Over a period of several weeks, work up to three brief side cheek rolls. (Refer to our book Learn to Swim.) Once your
child is comfortable and can hold their breath with 3 cheek rolls, you can proceed to forward dips. Always remember to be
consistent on the cue. Say, “One, two, three” (then a lift cue) so your child can have time to hold their breath. You can
encourage your Diaper Dolphin to take a deep breath prior to submersion by seeing and hearing you make a deep inhalation on the lift cue. With 3 and 4 year olds, let them participate in the when and how of facial submersion.
For those children who like water on their face but begin to cling after their initial dips, toys, bubbles and high-fives
are great distractions. Your child’s attention can easily be redirected if they are distracted immediately after the dip.
If clinging does occur prior to a dip, it will normally pass within a week or so. However, if your child is truly afraid,
back off dipping them and just pour water on their face several times a lesson until they are comfortable again.
Some children benefit by letting them wipe their face with a towel. This can also be practiced in the bath tub.
3.
Once your child has learned to consistently hold their breath on the lift cue (i.e. eyes close upon
water entry and no intake of water), you can gradually work up to 5 held forward dips per lesson
(6 if not tired). Keep it fun and give your child at least a one-minute rest between dips.
4.
Begin short 1-second swims only after a good breath holding cue response is patterned and your child is comfortable with
6 held dips. It is best to do this between two familiar people. If you are alone, you can either send the child toward a toy etc.
keeping your hands right next to your child’s side – or when they are ready, gently swim them to the wall with your hands
at their side.
5.
From this point over a period of at least 16-32 more lessons (take your time), gradually work your child up to a 5 second
swim encouraging a steady kick. Keep your count consistent over the weeks and months (some children may not be ready
to swim 5 seconds until the next year). Your child will let you know if he or she is comfortable or not by their facial expressions and body tension. They should be relaxed, not taking in water, and enjoying the experience. During this phase they
can also begin to jump to you off the side from a sitting jump and then swim the appropriate breath-holding time out to you.
You can gently swim your child back to the wall guiding them with your hands.
Remember to first perform brief wake-up dips and short warm-up dips as you build up to that day’s longer swims.
6.
CLASS DESCRIPTION AND SKILL CHECK LIST
Diaper Dolphins, Volume I
Water Adjustment and Basic Skills
Water Adjustment and Basic Skills (6 months - 4 years) (Beginner Stage One and Two in our book Learn to Swim)
This video guides parents through a compassionate, gradual, learning progression, employing positive reinforcement and a
fun atmosphere as motivation.
If you are working in a group, the first step of this class is to adjust your child socially to the other children, parents and
instructors. Parents will learn how to properly hold their child. The children will learn water adjustment skills as well as the above
water skills of jumping, reaching, grabbing, blowing bubbles, kicking, climbing out of the pool, shimmying along the pool edge
etc. Slowly, they will learn facial immersion, coupled with learning to hold their breath. Diaper Dolphins, Volume I will begin to
guide the parent and child through some initial apprehension and basic skills, and will give you the confidence to practice since
these skills require your year-round attention. For many children, simply overcoming their fear of the water will be their initial
goal of this video, and for others it will be propelling themselves several feet through the water. And though we are gathering to
create an optimal environment for learning skills that will make your child safer in the water, remember no child is “drownproof.” Always watch them diligently, especially around the water. Within this class, we wish to provide an enriching and healthy
activity through which your child will benefit in many ways. Children should remain at this level until they can kick through the
water for 5 seconds while comfortably holding their breath. The following skill check list will serve as a road map for gradual skill
acquisition. Let the learning unfold at your child’s own pace. Celebrate each small step along the way.
SKILL CHECK LIST
£ COMFORTABLE SWIM 5 SECONDS WITH STEADY KICK
CLASS ADJUSTMENT - ABOVE WATER SKILLS
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
PARENT IS PATIENT, CALM AND UNDERSTANDING
POOL ENTRY
HOLDING CHILD – MOVING THROUGH WATER, HEAD OUT
CHILD ADJUSTED TO SOCIAL SETTING OF CLASS
WATER ADJUSTMENT, SPLASHING, BLOWING BUBBLES
KICKING, HEAD ABOVE WATER
HOLDING ON TO WALL
SIT JUMP OFF WALL, HEAD OUT
CLIMBING OUT AND SHIMMYING
CHILD COMFORTABLE WITH WATER POURED ON FACE
COMFORTABLE, BRUSH LEFT CHEEK IN WATER
COMFORTABLE, BRUSH RIGHT CHEEK IN WATER
FACIAL IMMERSION WITH BREATH CONTROL
(Child comfortable with face submerged, holds breath)
1 BRIEF HELD CHEEK ROLL
3 BRIEF HELD CHEEK ROLLS
1 BRIEF HELD FORWARD CUED DIP (holds breath on cue)
3 BRIEF HELD FORWARD CUED DIPS
5 BRIEF HELD FORWARD CUED DIPS
6 BRIEF HELD FORWARD CUED DIPS (if not tired)
1 × 1 SECOND HELD SWIM
£ 3 × 3 SECOND HELD SWIM
3 × 2 SECOND HELD SWIM
SWIMMING (FIRST GLIDING, EVENTUALLY KICKING)
£ 1 × 1 SECOND SWIM
£ 3 × 1 SECOND SWIM
£ 5 × 1 SECOND SWIM
£ 3 × 2 SECOND SWIM
£ 5 × 2 SECOND SWIM
£ 6 × 2 SECOND SWIM (if not tired)
(Gradually work up to this over weeks and months.)
SAFE JUMPING SEQUENCE
£ SIT JUMP OFF WALL, PARENT HOLD, LEAN FORWARD, HEAD
OUT
£ SIT JUMP OFF WALL, PARENT HOLD, LEAN FORWARD, FACE DIP
£ SIT JUMP OFF WALL, PARENT HOLD, HEAD DIP
£ SIT JUMP OFF WALL, PARENT HOLD, 1 SECOND SWIM
£ SIT JUMP OFF WALL, PARENT GUIDE, 1 SECOND SWIM
£ SIT JUMP OFF WALL, PARENT GUIDE, 2 SECOND SWIM
£ STAND JUMP OFF WALL TO PARENT, SWIM ONE SECOND
(For steady toddlers only, allow a standing jump once your child
can perform a safe sitting jump leaning forward. They must be able
to stand with solid steady feet, with toes wrapped snugly around
the edge of the pool. They must have good balance and lean forward on the jump. Remember to safety spot your child.)
£ STAND JUMP OFF WALL TO PARENT, SWIM SEVERAL SECONDS
£
£
£
£
£
SAFE WALL APPROACH SEQUENCE
PASS TO WALL PARENT HOLD, HEAD UP
PASS TO WALL PARENT HOLD, FACE DIP
PASS TO WALL PARENT HOLD, HEAD DIP
PASS TO WALL PARENT HOLD, 1 SECOND SWIM
PASS TO WALL GUIDE 1 HAND IN ARM PIT, 1 HAND ON BACK
OF HEAD, 1 SECOND SWIM
£ PASS TO WALL GUIDE BACK OF HEAD, 1 SECOND SWIM
£ PASS TO WALL GUIDE BACK OF HEAD, 2 SECOND SWIM