STARFISH Series

STARFISH is an innovative series of 6 progressive awards designed to introduce babies from a few months old with the accompanying adult to a water adventure where water confidence and safety skills are introduced.

The series is undertaken in shallow water with the guardian in the water holding and supporting the baby. It is important that the baby is also supported properly, including the head; eye contact should always be maintained and words of encouragement frequently given.

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6

Learning Outcomes

1. Enter the pool safely with adult support
2. Familiarise child with the water using swing dips
3. Move freely around the pool on the front with adult support
4. Move freely around the pool on the back with adult support
5. Child to face adult and view them blowing bubbles
6. Leave the pool safely with adult support

Buoyancy aids are not recommended unless otherwise stated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Enter the pool safely and hold onto the poolside, with support
2. Move freely around the pool with adult supporting with the safety hold
3. Adult to support child using the safety hold, gently extend the arm to an open safety hold and return back towards adult
4. Move backwards through the water with adult support
5. Roll from a back position to a front position
6. Be confident and relaxed with splashing the water

Buoyancy aids are not recommended unless otherwise stated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Gently flop into the water from a sitting position with adult support
2. Rotate forwards from a back position to a front position
3. Reach for a toy whilst moving around the pool on the front with support
4. Move through the water attempting a kicking action on the back with support
5. Move freely around the pool with adult supporting with the seat hold
6. Adult to float (using buoyancy aids if needed), child to lay on adults chest or sit on their tummy making eye contact

Buoyancy aids are not recommended unless otherwise stated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Enter the pool safely with adult support
2. Blow bubbles with adult support using a forward hold
3. Move around the pool encouraging movement using the Little Harbour hold
4. Hold onto the poolside and move around the pool using a hold on action
5. Travel through the water backwards with adult encouraging movements from child
6. Demonstrate safe exit

Buoyancy aids are not recommended unless otherwise stated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Child-led seated or standing jump
2. Roll from front to a back position with adult support
3. Make kicking movements with support of a buoyancy aid
4. Adult to swim around the pool (using buoyancy aids if needed), with child sitting on their front
5. Move in a figure of eight or snaking pattern through the water with adult support
6. Blow bubbles whilst travelling in the pool
7. Move forwards, reach for a toy and return on the back

Buoyancy aids are not recommended unless otherwise stated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Safe entry from a sitting position
2. Independently swim through the water, with minimal support or with use of a buoyancy aid
3. Encourage child to rotate 360 degrees in a vertical position
4. Adult to swim around the pool (using buoyancy aids if needed), with child holding onto their back
5. Reach for a toy under the water surface
6. Safely jump in from a standing position poolside, rotate 180 degrees, hold onto the poolside and climb out (if child has the physical ability)

Buoyancy aids are not recommended unless otherwise stated.

• Click here for learning outcomes of the previous version of this award series
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6

  

  Learning Outcomes

  1. Safe entry into the pool by both adult and baby
  2. Using swing dips to introduce baby to the water
  3. Supporting baby on the front and move freely around the pool
  4. Supporting baby on the back and move freely around the pool
  5. Cueing baby and washing face with water
  6. Exiting pool safely

  

  Learning Outcomes

  1. Holding baby facing you and submerging yourself in the water for baby to see
  2. Moving freely around the pool using the safety hold
  3. Moving around the pool using the seat hold, bobbing baby up and down
  4. Supporting baby on the back while walking backwards and zigzagging through the water
  5. Encouraging baby to wash their face with water or submerging baby in the water, holding baby towards the adult
  6. Encouraging baby to hold onto the poolside, with assistance, if necessary

  

  Learning Outcomes

  1. Supporting baby under the arms and encouraging baby to flop gently into the water from a sitting position on the poolside
  2. Encouraging baby to move from a front position to a back position using flip-flop rhythmical movements
  3. Encouraging baby to reach for a toy while moving around the pool, supporting baby on the front
  4. Helping baby to use a kicking action to move through the water while supporting baby on the back
  5. Using the safety hold to support baby and rolling baby away from you, then gently back towards you
  6. Using a buoyancy aid to support yourself, float in the water and lay baby on your chest or have baby sit on your tummy, all the while making eye contact

  

  Learning Outcomes

  1. Supporting baby by the arms or hands to encourage movement into the pool from a sitting position
  2. Using a forward hold to encourage and gently submerge baby
  3. Using the Little Harbour hold to move around the pool while encouraging movement from baby
  4. Encouraging baby to roll from a front position to a back position with support
  5. Encouraging movement from baby by swiftly walking backwards while supporting baby on the back.
  6. Assisting and encouraging baby to hold onto the poolside and climb out (if baby has the physical ability)

  

  Learning Outcomes

  1. Holding baby’s arms or hands, encouraging baby to jump into the water from a standing position on the poolside
  2. Supporting baby while encouraging them to roll from a back position to a front position
  3. Encouraging baby to make kicking movements with support either in a front surf hold or using a woggle
  4. Encouraging baby with cues to submerge in a Duckling Dive
  5. Swimming around the pool with baby holding onto your back
  6. Cueing baby to submerge vertically and rotate 180° in the pool
  7. Supporting baby in a front hold, encouraging baby to move forwards and grasp a toy, then return with support in a back float position

  

  Learning Outcomes

  1. Encouraging baby to enter the water freely from a sitting position on the poolside
  2. Encouraging baby to move freely through the water, either with minimal support or with the use of a buoyancy aid
  3. Cueing baby to submerge vertically and rotate 360° in the pool
  4. Supporting baby by the hands and encouraging movement in a figure of 8 or snaking pattern through the water
  5. Taking baby for a front or back ride through the water, with or without support
  6. Cueing baby to submerge in a Duckling Dive towards the poolside and encouraging baby to hold onto the poolside and climb out (if baby has the physical ability)