Winter Wonderland in the Water

Winter is a magical time of year, filled with snow, ice, and cozy fires. While the cold weather may limit outdoor activities, it doesn’t have to slow down the fun in the pool! By incorporating winter-themed activities into your aquatic therapy or adaptive swim lessons, you can keep your clients engaged and excited, all while working on important skills.

One creative way to bring the winter wonderland indoors is by using reusable water balloons as snowballs! If you haven’t heard of these before, they are made from silicone and feature a magnetic closure that allows them to easily open on impact.

These versatile tools can be used to target a variety of skills, from motor planning and coordination to social interaction and sensory exploration.

We call this sno-wimming instead of swimming and our clients have a blast! Get ready to have fun with these five engaging winter-themed activities that you can incorporate into your aquatic therapy or swim lessons.

Snowball Toss

Improve your balance and coordination with this fun wintery workout. Ask your swimmer to stand in a stable position with one foot on a step and one on the floor. Have them hold two water balloons like snowballs. Challenge them to twist or rotate their body to throw the “snowballs” at a target.

Snowball Shield

For swimmers nervous about getting their face wet- try a snowball fight in the pool. This “Snowball Shield” activity can be a fun and effective way to introduce water to the face in a controlled and playful way. Participants can hold a kickboard in a standing position to block water balloons (snowballs) from hitting their face. While unexpected splashes may occur, this activity is a great way to introduce water on the face. It provides a sense of control for the swimmer and should help them gradually build confidence with getting water on their face.

Snow Cone Race

Looking to work on dynamic balance and core strength? Ask your swimmer to sit on a noodle like a horse while holding the the water balloon on a cone or in a cup. Encourage your swimmer to run (with the noodle still between their legs) holding the midline and balancing the ‘snow cone’ with two hands.

Hold A Snowflake

For swimmers who tend to keep their hands fisted as they swim, a gentle ‘snowflake’ water balloon exercise may be just the treat! By supporting the swimmer’s body and having them gently hold a water balloon in each hand, they’ll naturally practice a cupped hand position. What is extra special about this activity is that they will gently keep their hands in a cupped position without popping the water balloon as they work on freestyle arms!

These activities are ideal for warming up an adaptive swim team and can be tailored for semi-private or private lessons/aquatic therapy.

Ailene Tisser, MA, PT, Founder

Ailene Tisser, a pediatric Physical Therapist with over 30 years of experience and co-founder of Swim Angelfish® and the Swim Whisperers® method, specializes in aquatic therapy and adaptive swim for children with special needs. Trained in NDT, DIR/Floortime, and certified as an Autism Specialist and Primitive Reflex Specialist she fosters water safety, confidence, and independence in her young clients. Ailene is also passionate about educating aquatic professionals, setting a standard of excellence for adaptive aquatics training and professional development.

Cindy Freedman, MOTR, Founder

Cindy, MS, OTR/L is an occupational and recreational therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in pediatrics and aquatics. Driven by a passion for helping children with special needs reach their full potential, Cindy co-founded Swim Angelfish, an organization dedicated to providing adaptive swim and aquatic therapy services as well as professional training. Her expertise in sensory integration, reflex repatterning, and aquatics, coupled with her love for water and experience as a national champion diver, has enabled her to make a profound impact on the lives of countless children. Cindy is certified as an Autism Specialist by IBCCES, and shows an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of children with special needs.