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Do you love painting? Have fun and be creative with your very own homemade watercolour paints. This easy to do recipe includes just 5 ingredients you will probably have at home in the kitchen.

 

Tips before you begin:

  • Don’t forget to ask an adults permission first.
  • Make sure you wear some old clothes or use an art smock. These paints shouldn’t stain your clothes but you will want to stay clean.
  • If you need help with measuring, ask an adult to help you

 

What you need:

  • 4 tablespoons baking soda (bicarbonate soda)
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup (you can also use glucose syrup)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (also known as corn flour)
  • Food colouring (icing gels produce the most intense colours)
  • Mini Muffin Tin or ice cube tray to store paints
  • Spoons or spatulas for stirring
  • Mixing bowl
  • Toothpicks

 

How to make it:

  1. Combine the baking soda and vinegar together in a mixing bowl. The mixture will fizz, so wait till the fizzing stops.
  2. Add corn syrup and cornstarch, and mix until well dissolved.
  3. Pour into a mini muffin tin or ice cube tray
  4. Your mixture will thicken if you stop stirring so keep it moving as you pour.
  5. Add a dab of icing gel or 6 drops of liquid food colour to each compartment of paint. Stir your colour in with a toothpick.

Hint: If you are using liquid food colour, try an extra pinch of cornstarch if needed to soak up the extra liquid.

  1. Now the hard part – you have to let your paints dry completely. This could take between 24-48 hours.
  2. When your paint has dried, simply swish with a wet paint brush to use.

 

How to store your paint:

When you have finished painting, simply store the paint uncovered and the paint will dry out, ready for when you want to use again.

Welcome to the Easter edition of the Kingswim Activity Book.

In this edition Kingsley is getting ready for Easter and shares his favourite Hot Cross Bun recipe, just in time for the Easter break. 

Enjoy working through the activities and don’t forget to show us your best work on our Facebook page.

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Please ensure you have a safe space when engaging with these activities at home. Active adult supervision is advised at all times.

Before you begin practicing this exercise, make sure your child is comfortable with submerging their face in the water. Refer to our activity sheets on Blowing Bubbles, and Readiness for Submerging your Face in the Water.

One of the fundamental skills we teach our little ones is breath control. This is a key part in helping infants becoming familiar with water in any environment, including at home. It also helps prepare children before their first time submerging their face or head in the water.

Once children are confident putting their face in the water, it is important to develop extended breath control. This means children will be able to swim underwater for longer periods in a way that is safer and more comfortable.

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Skills – Help your child learn extended breath control

These skills are suitable for kids aged 3+ years old

Once your child is comfortable having their face in the water, you can move on to this counting activity at bath time to develop extended breath control. You can also switch this activity up by reciting the alphabet and asking children to put their face under the water until they reach specific letters.

  1. Using the bath at home, have children lay on their tummy.
    The water in the bath should be at a level where children are comfortably able to keep their head above water, but should cover their ears when they put their face in the water.
  2. While the child has their head out of the water count to 10 together
  3. Ask your child to put their face under the water until as you count the number one
    Remember, the child should be blowing bubbles while their face is in the water
  4. If they are comfortable, ask your child to put their face in the water until you count to two
  5. Repeat step four, increasing the count one at a time until you reach 10. Before each submersion, ensure your child is comfortable.
    Tip/Trick – Let the children be in control by asking leading questions: “What number can you reach?”

Once children reach a certain level of time they are comfortably submerged in the water, let your teacher know so they can work at this level in class.

 

Benefits of learning extended breath control

  • Easily incorporated into daily bath or shower routine
  • Parents will also develop a better understanding of their child’s breath holding capacity during this activity
  • May reduce trauma or panic in the event of an accidental submersion
  • Allows children to begin the early stages of independent swimming
  • Builds confidence and self-awareness when in the water.

 

Extension

As your child gains confidence in the water and is able to achieve extended breath control, this extension will help them prepare for independence in the water. Instead of lying flat in the bath, have children support themselves in the water as they practice this exercise.

  1. Gradually increase the amount of water in the bath
  2. Children put their hands on the bottom of the bath so their chin is on the surface of the water
  3. Once hands are on the bottom of the bath and chin is in the water the hips and legs will naturally become buoyant in the water and rise towards the surface of the water
  4. Ask the child to put their face into the water for a specified amount of time
    Remember, the child should be blowing bubbles while their face is in the water.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of the Kingswim Activity Book!

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In this festive edition Kingsley has some special guests visiting. Who could they be?

Plus! Find out who the winning designer of Kingsley’s new bathers are.

Enjoy working through the activities in the book and don’t forget to show us your best work on our Facebook page.

 

Have fun at home with this DIY experiment where water, science and music come together!

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What you need:

  • Water
  • 6 to 8 identical glasses or jars
  • Measuring cups
  • Kitchen utensil e.g. wooden or plastic spoon

 

How to make it:

  1. Line up the glasses in a straight line on a solid surface.
  2. Leave the first glass empty.
  3. In the next glass, measure and fill with 1/4 cup of water.
  4. Increase the amount of water in each of the following glasses by 1/4 cup at a time. E.g. In the second glass place 1/2 cup of water, in the third glass place 3/4 cup of water, in the fourth glass place 1 cup of water.
    Tip: Add different coloured food dye or glitter in each glass for a fun rainbow twist!

 

You now have a water xylophone! Use your kitchen utensil to tap gently on each glass.

Investigate what you hear! Talk about why you think each one sounds different. Can you make a song or play a tune you know?

 

How does it work?

When your kitchen utensil gently taps on the glass, the water inside vibrates. The amount of water in the glass will change the speed of the vibrations. The more water in the glass, the more it slows down the vibrations creating a lower pitch. If there is no water in the glass, there is nothing in the way of the vibrations, allowing them to move quickly through the air into our ears. This creates the highest sound in the water xylophone.

Please ensure you have a safe space when engaging with these activities at home. Active adult supervision is advised at all times.

 

Skills – Readiness for Submerging Your Face in the water

Suitable for children aged 2+ years old

One of the first key skills we teach young children at Kingswim in our Learn to Swim program is the development of water confidence and how to feel comfortable submerging your face under the water.

This activity can be daunting to young children at first, as the sensation of being under water feels unnatural to them.

The best way to help them be confident in submerging their face is with gradual steps and lots of practice and encouragement.

Make it fun and your child will learn to love the water!

 

Before you start…

1. Firstly make sure your child is comfortable blowing bubbles in the water. Ask your child to take a breath in, dip their mouth in the water and exhale out to blow bubbles. Refer to our Blowing Bubbles Activity Sheet

2. Support your child to feel comfortable having water on their face. This can be done during bath time games by using cups or a toy watering can to gently tip a small amount of water onto your child’s head so that it trickles down their face.

If your child is still not comfortable, try having them pour the water over themselves. The more control they have, the more comfortable they will be. It’s always good to demonstrate the activity yourself too. If your child can see it is safe to do, they will be more likely to try it too. 

You can also get your child comfortable with water on their face by giving them showers.

Tip/Trick – Teach your child to blink the water out of their eyes instead of rubbing.

3. The next task to be ready is teaching your child how to hold their breath.

 

Skills – Help your child submerge their face in the water (Bath time exercises)

Tips before you start

  • Never trick your child or force them to put their head under the water. It needs to be a fun experience.
  • Keep each session short and simple. Maybe try 3-5 attempts.
  • Be patient and take things slowly.
  • Don’t pressure your child to do each step or rush through them.
  • Children learn off you so modelling the new skill is a very powerful way to teach. So show them each step.
  • When you are teaching your children to put their head underwater, ensure you are always within arm’s reach and keep a close watch on what they are doing.
  • Most importantly have fun and finish each attempt with a positive experience.
  • Remember that when your child has mastered the art of submerging their face, they will enjoy it so much that they will be forever bobbing up and down in the water and will spend more time under than on top.

 

Steps

1. Kiss the water

Get your child to bend down and kiss the water and come back up

2. Hold their breath and put their mouth under the water and back up

Get your child to take a large breath, hold and dip their mouth under the water and back up. If they are struggling, you can try cupping some water in their hands first and dip their face in their hands or start off with chin dipped in, then try an ear, then forehead and eventually full face.

3. Try submerging other parts of the face

Next try getting your child to dip their cheek, then ear, nose and move on to forehead in the water and back up.

4. When submerging your face in the water gradually increase the length of time 

When you think your child is ready encourage them to put their face in the water for a few seconds and come back up. Increase the time as they get more confident.

5. Hold breath and then blow bubbles

As they get more confident at putting their face in, increase the time under the water gradually by getting them to hold their breath and blowing bubbles.

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Kingswim Activity Book for kids.

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In this edition Kingsley is looking forward to some warmer weather and is hoping you can help him design some new bathers in time for Summer.  Enjoy working through the activities in the book and don’t forget to show us your best work on our Facebook page.

Please ensure you have a safe space when engaging with these activities at home. Active adult supervision is advised at all times.

 

Download our activity sheet to print and easily follow along at home.

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Why teach blowing bubbles?

Blowing bubbles through the mouth is one of the most basic foundation skills of learning how to swim. It is an important safety skill that teaches children breathe control. Knowing how to properly let go of air under water helps a swimmer relax, be confident in the pool and eventually be able to swim without struggling.  More importantly, learning to blow bubbles and control breathing, prevents water from getting up the nose!

Studies have also found that toddlers and babies who learn to blow bubbles at an earlier age, also learn to speak sooner.  So teaching your child to blow bubbles, has many benefits.

 

Skills – Help your child blow bubbles at home

These skills are suitable for kids aged 2.5+ years old

Teaching a child to blow bubbles is a skill you can easily do at home during bath time. As you make it fun, your child will learn to love the water! Depending on the age of the child, you can start with the technique that feels most appropriate.

 

1. Blow an object in the bath

This can be done sitting in the bath or lying on their tummy

Equipment – Light ball, floating plastic toy, etc.

 

2. Blow bubbles through a straw

This can be done in the bath water or simply use a cup of water

Tips/Tricks – When using plastic straws they can be cut down in length so that children get progressively closer to the water – always supervise kids when using straws.

 

3. Blow bubbles through a bubble wand

This can be done either:

1. Sitting up in the bath using a bubble blower wand and blow the water

2. Lying down in the bath using a bubble blower wand and blow the water

Equipment – Bubble wand.

 

4. Blow out a candle

This is a fun one! Kids love to blow out a candle on the birthday cake

 

5. Blow on to the back of their hand

This gives your child the feeling of the air on their hand and gives them the idea of exhaling air as they blow.

 

6. Blow the water

This is perfect for children who are a little scared of the water. With this activity we are teaching them about blowing bubbles to make the water move. Show your child it’s fun by demonstrating yourself that it is fun and safe for them to do.

 

Benefits of learning to blow bubbles

  • It’s Fun!
  • Helps build confidence for transition to face in water
  • Laying on tummy may help transition to pop up breath technique
  • Helps to develop breath control and build into breathing pattern required for stroke development.

 

Extension

As your child gets more confident at blowing bubbles try getting them to first kiss the water with their lips and then start to dip their chin in the water until their mouth is covered (not their nose) during bath time and blow bubbles in the water. The mouth should form an O shape as if blowing out a candle.

Bath time can be a great opportunity for kids to first become familiar with water. In a controlled, supervised environment, it offers a chance to nurture key developmental skills around water.

Sadly, in Australia five children under five years of age will drown in the bathtub each year on average, and a further 31 will be hospitalised due to bathtub drowning related incidents.

To combat this, Royal Life Saving Society Australia’s (RLSSA) Keep Watch program offers tips for parents on how they can ensure the safety of their children around the bath.

 

Supervision

Above all, active adult supervision is key to keeping children safe around water.

According to RLSSA, active supervision has four key elements; be prepared, be close, all of your attention, all of the time.

In practice, this means making sure you have everything you need in the bathroom before you begin bath time with your child. Make a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything. Bathtub toys? A towel for drying off afterwards? A change of clothes?

When filling the bath, make sure the water is at a comfortable temperature. To aid this, the cold water tap should be turned on first, and turned off last. The water level should also remain at the minimum depth necessary. RLSSA recommends this should be only enough to wet the child using your hands.

When your child is in the bath, make sure you are within arm’s reach of them at all times and keep your eyes on them at all times also.

Maintaining engagement with your child during bath time is also important, not only for their safety but for developing skills. This includes talking to them and playing with them. To help with this, you can refer to our range of activities you and your child can do at bath time to develop their skills around the water.

Once bath time has finished, and your child has dried off, don’t forget to drain the bath and close the bathroom door any time it is not in use.

Resuscitation

In the event of an emergency, be prepared to respond. If you have not already, enrol in a CPR or First Aid course so you know what to do. Ideally, CPR skills should be updated or retrained every year.

In any case, RLSSA advises that any response is better than no response. Call 000 as soon as possible, and ‘push and blow’.

In summary, here’s what you can do to prevent your child drowning at bath time:

  • Have everything ready for bathing
  • Cold water tap run first and turned off last
  • Test water to ensure it is comfortably warm
  • Keep water to a minimum depth
  • Ensure child is actively supervised by an adult and within arm’s reach.
  • Never leave your child unattended. Child is with you if you leave the bathroom.
  • Once finshed, turn taps off, remove plug, drain bathtub and close door closed.
  • Update CPR skills annually.

 

For more information, visit:

Welcome to the third edition of the Kingswim Activity Book. Kingsley and his friends had so much fun putting these activities together. We hope you enjoy them too.
Feel free to share what you have done with us on Facebook!

Here is Edition 2 of the Kingswim Activity Book! We know how much you enjoy coming to swimming lessons with us at Kingswim and wanted to give you some at-home fun whilst we are closed!

We hope you enjoy doing the activities we have included in our booklet.

Feel free to share them with us when you’re done on Facebook.

Download Now

We know how much you enjoy coming to swimming lessons with us at Kingswim and wanted to give you some at-home fun whilst we are closed!

We hope you enjoy doing the activities we have included in our booklet.

Feel free to share them with us when you’re done on Facebook.

Download Now

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