Bob is Hungry! [Swimming Games]

More Fun with Bob: How to Make Bob, Climbing Games, Yoga Games

Here are some of the ways we use Bob in the pool.  You can check out the Making Bob post for tips on creating your gobbling monster.

Swim Outs
During our "Play with Your Food" Jelly Bob got to eat actual food.  I threw the plastic play food into the pool and the beginner swimmers practiced swimming arms and kicks to retrieve the pieces.  If you dip your eyes/nose/face in the water, you get to bring some food back to Bob.

Progress Tracking- Pool
I set aside 5-10 pieces of food in a bowl for Bob.  We feed him one piece after each turn (2 if I see a lot of focus and effort in the turn) and then when his bowl is empty it's time for a game.

Fine Motor in the Pool- Youngins
Sometimes Bob is hungry enough to eat a bus.  I'll lay out small transportation manipulatives and matchbox cars next to Bob at the edge of the pool.  These sink so I don't bother throwing them.  1 swimming turn = feed Bob 1 car.

I set out a variety of "picker uppers" so that we can pretend we are cranes lifting the cars or they are covered in radioactive goop and we can't touch them.  I happen to have quite a few truck obsessed swimmers right now, but you can use any small objects.  

Fine Motor in the Pool- Too Big for Their Britches
For older kids who can easily swim to the bottom we take it up a notch by using tongs or chopsticks.  We spread out a bunch of small toys on the bottom of the pool and kids need to dive down and bring them up to Bob without using their fingers.  I tried it myself with chopsticks and it's pretty hard!  

This can be used as a fun reward or to encourage lengthening breath control without bringing attention to it.  If some kids know that you want them to stay under for longer they will push their limits and hold their breath for too long.  This is why you won't see "underwater contests" in swim lessons anymore.