The surprising power of play in the pool (and how to use it)

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Hi, Mark here - hope you've had a great week!

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This week we are talking about the power of games and play when it comes to learning and teaching swimming, plus one of the most important foundation skills for beginners - learning how to submerge.

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Using games and play to teach swimming isn’t just fun - it’s one of the most effective ways to build confidence, engagement, and water skills.

For parents, playful games open a child’s mind to imagination and movement, helping them forget the fears and anxieties that often come with learning to swim.

For swimming teachers, those same games turn lessons into dynamic, confidence-building experiences — making your sessions more enjoyable and more effective.

That’s why my book, Teach Your Child to Swim Using Games and Play, is now included in the Silver Swimming Teacher Toolkit. Inside, you’ll discover 60 tried-and-tested games that use little or no equipment and cover all the core skills - breathing, floating, submerging, gliding, kicking, and pulling.

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Whether you’re teaching your own child or a group of beginners, you’ll find games and ideas that make every splash count.
👉 Click here to explore the Silver Swimming Teachers Toolkit and see what’s inside.​

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Or if you simply want to get straight to the book:

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Learning to submerge underwater - step-by-step

Learning to submerge underwater – step by step

Submerging underwater is a key stage in learning to swim — and one of the biggest confidence challenges for many beginners.

It’s also an area where teachers and parents can make a real difference by breaking the process down into small, safe, achievable steps.

• Stage 1: Getting the face wet
• Stage 2: Partially submerging the face
• Stage 3: Full submersion and swimming underwater

Whether you’re guiding your child or leading a class, this gentle, staged approach helps overcome fear and build genuine confidence in the water.

👉 Read the full article on learning to go underwater here.​

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That’s it for this week. Stay curious, stay inspired, and keep making a splash - whether you’re teaching, learning, or playing!

Happy swimming!

Cheers

Mark

​Swim Teach​

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