Pool games for baby: It’s raining, it’s pouring

Getting your baby familiar with water is an essential part of learning to swim. This game is great for building confidence when getting water over your child’s face. Doesn’t sound tricky, but some kids just don’t like it! Try this activity with them to remedy that.

What you need:

• shallow pool, waist deep for mum or dad is fine
• supervising adult
• watering can

Number of players:
2+

Activity:

Hop into the pool with your child resting on a step or resting on you for support.

Fill up a water jug and pour the water over their hands to start.

Sing: “It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring, he went to bed and bumped his head and couldn’t get up in the morning.”

Move along to their toes and repeat the song.

Sing: “It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring, he went to bed and bumped his head and couldn’t get up in the morning.”

Moving up, go to their heads now and start to pour the water over their heads and face.

Sing: “It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is snoring, he went to bed and bumped his head and couldn’t get up in the morning.”

Notes:

• Repetition is a wonderful way for children to get comfortable with the cues that the water is coming over their heads. This is one of the big steps in learning to swim, advancing them to eventually get their heads under the water.