Sammie the Starfish

A positive reward is the best incentive to get and keep children swimming. The Starfish Swimming reward system is tangible to the child and has bright colors. Children develop new skills every period and at the end of each period, they receive a nice reward. In this way they collect a large starfish full of small starfishes and also get a mouth and eyes. When the Starfish is full, the child is soon ready to get his or her diploma.

Below you can find the structure of the reward system. Each section describes which skills the child must master to earn the relevant starfish.

I will receive the big star if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I always ask for permission before getting in the water.
  • Swim skill: I can submerge, relaxed, 5 seconds and then come up to breathe.
  • Swim skill: I can jump in, submerge, recover for air, and roll on back for 5 seconds.

    • the big star comes in one of the 5 colors

Self-reliance diploma

After getting the big starfish, obtaining the self-reliance certificate is the next step in the reward system. It is nice to make this a real diploma party for all children.

Click here for the diploma requirements of the self-reliance diploma

I will receive the purple star if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I always ask for permission before getting in the water.
  • Swim skill: I can swim 9 meters freestyle

I will recieve the orange star if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I can put on a lifejacket from in the water and kick for 9 meters.
  • Swim skill: I can swim 9 meters backstroke.

I will recieve the yellow star if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I can use flotation to reach or throw to assist a swimmer and I know when and how to call emergency services (911).
  • Swim skill: I can swim 9 meters elementary backstroke.

I will receive the blue star if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I can discuss water safety concepts with an adult.
  • Swim skill: I can swim 9 meters breaststroke.

I will receive the green star if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I can tread water or survival float for 2 minutes.
  • Swim skill: I can swim the strokes mentioned above for 25 meters.

I receive the eyes and mouth if I can do the following skills:

  • Safety Skill: I can swim underneath an obstacle.
  • Swim skill: I can swim 6 meters underwater.

Starfish Swimming diploma

When the starfish is complete, the swim group will work on endurance and swimming longer distances. After successfully completing the swim group, the children will go to get their starfish swimming diploma.

Click here for the Starfish Swimming diploma requirements

A positive approach to every child is very important to us.

Sometimes it may happen that a child does not yet manage all the skills to receive a starfish. Of course, he will receive a reward at his / her level. This can be a starfish that has not been received from another period or else a sticker. Each child develops at his / her own pace and should be rewarded for his / her efforts.