Having a swimming pool at home is almost like having a private paradise for little ones. That’s why water exercises for kids are one of the best ways to keep them entertained.
While having fun, kids can also strengthen their joints and muscles and improve their heart and lung health.
Whether playing with other children, with family, or even alone, pool games are a great way to create happy memories and special moments.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a selection of fun water exercises for kids that can easily be done at home.
Water exercises for kids
Creating exercises for children to do in the pool requires a mix of fun and entertainment.
By engaging kids in a light-hearted and enjoyable environment, they are more likely to develop a lifelong love for physical activity.
The aquatic environment makes everything much more pleasant. After all, it’s an effective form of entertainment, helps with physical conditioning, and—when supervised by an adult—is completely safe.
Children learn best through play, so water exercises should feel like a game. Try these fun examples:
Start with a good stretch
Before all the excitement begins, it’s essential for children to do some stretches to prevent injuries and improve flexibility.
For this, ensure the water level is no higher than their waist. Then, encourage them to stretch and rotate their arms, stand on their tiptoes, rotate their torso, and stretch their legs, thighs, and calves.
Water running or floating race
If the pool has varying depths or if the water level reaches their waist, running in water is a great exercise for kids. The resistance of the water helps build strength and cardiovascular fitness.
A fun variation, especially when multiple children are in the pool, is a floating race. Each child will need a float or a pool noodle.
The goal is to paddle to the other side of the pool, and of course, the first to arrive wins! This activity improves agility and coordination.
Swimming circuit
This is a great water exercise for kids that involves a few pool toys. The idea is to create an obstacle course they must complete by swimming.
Examples include weaving through pool noodles, diving underwater for two seconds, retrieving an object from the pool floor, balancing on a float, and tossing a ball in the air.
To add more excitement, you can also try the wet sponge relay. This activity enhances breathing control, muscular strength, swimming skills, and endurance.
Place a bucket or container with a marked water level on one side of the pool. The child must swim from the other side, collect a sponge, and squeeze the water into the bucket.
The game can either be time-based or continue until the water reaches the marked level.
It’s important to adapt these activities to different age groups, ensuring they remain fun and engaging rather than frustrating.
Treasure hunt
Although it may seem like just a game, this exercise improves breathing, swimming skills, stamina, diving ability, and agility.
You’ll need objects that are not too heavy but sink in water. The child should start outside the pool with their eyes closed or blindfolded.
Scatter the objects throughout the pool and give a signal for the child to dive in and collect as many as possible—one at a time.
If playing with just one child, set a time limit. If multiple children are participating, the game ends when all items have been retrieved, and the child with the most objects wins.
Another variation is tossing coins into the pool—whoever collects the highest value wins. Or, you can hide a single object that blends in with the pool’s surroundings, and the first to find it wins.
Water exercises for kids = learning in a fun way
As we’ve mentioned, water exercises for kids should be fun to be effective. These are just a few engaging activities that are easy to set up, especially for those with a pool at home.
Encourage your children to swim and enjoy all the benefits of this fantastic sport. Here at Easy2Swim, we have a specialised methodology for kids—get in touch with us and introduce your little ones to the magical world of swimming!
