20 Years in the Water!

We’re Celebrating Our 20 Amazing Years of Teaching Babies and Young Children

Guess what? We're turning 20 this year! We couldn't be more excited to be celebrating 20 years of teaching half a million children the life saving skill of swimming. This milestone is a huge deal for us and we're passing on the good vibes to you, our customers, this year by partying in the pool and hosting massive giveaways as we look back on our long career of teaching. 🥳🎉

We're celebrating this huge milestone with a party in your local Water Babies class! The atmosphere is going to be electric with special songs and activities for you and your little one to enjoy as hand-picked party bags for you to take home. 👶🎁🤗

Your Water Babies teacher will be dressed up in their party gear, and you and your little one are more than welcome to join them. Whether that's a fancy-dress costume or a party hat, the choice is up to you. (Please no feathers or sequins to protect the pool!) 

The Benefits of Baby Swimming

  • Compared to non-swimmers, water babies are top of the class when it comes to cognitive development.

    Griffith University of Queensland, Australia found that children that had swum as babies were...

    • 11 months ahead in oral expression. 1
    • 6 months ahead in mathematics. 1
    • 2 months ahead in reading. 1
    • 17 months ahead in story recall. 1
    • 20 months ahead for understanding directions.
  • Sleep, eat, exercise, repeat. Swimming helps regulate all of these essential activities.

    Babies and toddlers who swim with us have...

    • Have stronger heart and lung functions.
    • Have better balance and are better at grasping things. 2
    • Are significantly stronger and more co-ordinated. 3
    • Walk earlier than their peers.
    • Have improved appetites and sleeping patterns.
  • We provide you with the perfect backdrop to support the bond between you and your little one.

    • Promotes bonding.
    • Boosts confidence. 3
    • Stimulates positive emotions. 3
    • Provides structure.
    • Rewards achievement.

20 Days of Giveaways on Instagram

  • Kally Sleep – Baby Nest
  • The Positive Birth Company - The Pregnancy Pack and The Hypnobirthing Pack
  • The Positive Birth Company - The Postpartum Pack and The Early Years Pack
  • Pip & Panda - £40 voucher
  • Orchard Toys - 2-3 years AND 4-5 years bundle
  • Baby Mori - Baby and Toddler bundle

20 Days of Giveaways on Facebook

  • Water Babies products bundle for toddlers
  • Water Babies products bundle for babies
  • Water Babies lessons
  • Water Babies photoshoot
  • Water Babies party bundle
  • Slip Free shoes - £40 voucher
  • Baby Bjorn – Baby Carrier Mini

Song Lyrics

  • Welcome to our birthday party, say hello

    Welcome to our birthday party, say hello

    If you’re ready for lots of fun

    Let’s go to 

    swimming on your tum

    Welcome to our birthday party say hello

    Happy birthday Bubba whale, hip hip hooray! 

    Happy birthday Bubba whale, hip hip hooray! 

    Happy birthday Bubba whale

    Blow your bubbles, splash your tail

    Happy birthday Bubba whale, hip hip hooray!


    Melody: If you are happy and you know it

  • Welcome to our birthday party, say hello

    Welcome to our birthday party, say hello

    If you’re ready for lots of fun

    Let’s go to swimming on your tum

    Welcome to our birthday party say hello


    Stretch your arms for pass the parcel, tiger arms

    Stretch your arms for pass the parcel

    Tiger arms

    Stretch your arms out nice and long

    While we sing our birthday song

    Stretch your arm

    s for pass the parcel 

    Tiger arms

    ‘If you are happy and you know it’

    by Zoe Ross

    Running to the party games, kick your legs

    Running to the party games, kick your legs

    Running to the games

    Kick your legs and shout your name

    Running to the party games, kick your legs


    Blowing out the birthday 

    candles with big bubbles

    Blowing out the birthday candles with big bubbles

    If you take a big breath in

    Blow them out with a big grin

    Blowing out the birthday candles with big bubbles


    Happy birthday Bubba whale, hip hip hooray! 

    Happy birthday Bubba whale,

    hip hip hooray! 

    Happy birthday Bubba whale

    Blow your bubbles, splash your tail

    Happy birthday Bubba whale, hip hip hooray!


    Melody: If you are happy and you know it

  • It’s party time, it’s party time,

    Spin around.

    It’s party 

    time, it’s party time,

    Jump up and down

    It’s party time, it’s party time,

    Touch your toes.

    It’s party time, it’s party time,

    Honk your nose.


    Melody: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn Around

  • Water Babies! 

    Turning 20 time to 

    celebrate!

    Water Babies!

    Wibble wobble jelly on a plate!

    Wa-wa-wa-wa-Water Babies!

    Party time, Bubba says don't be late!


    Melody: Waterloo

  • We love swimming with our teachers

    Bubbas, fish, and other creatures

    Flippers, sinkies, balls and woggles

    If you want to, bring your goggles

    20 years since we’ve begun

    Making friends and having fun


    Every week for half an hour

    We’ve got swimming super powers

    Staying safe and being clever

    Learning skills we’ll use forever

    20 years since we’ve begun

    Making friends and having fun


    Melody: Twinkle Twinkle

  • My my!

    In Yorkshire Water Babies was created

    Oh yeah!

    And now are teachers are the best and they're top 

    rated.


    It's as much about safety as fun,

    So many new skills when you're done!


    Chorus:

    Water Babies! 

    Turning 20 time to celebrate!

    Water Babies!

    Wibble wobble jelly on a plate!

    Wa-wa-wa-wa-Water Babies!

    Party time, Bubba says don't be late!


    My my! 

    Those great big tiger arms whilst on your woggles,

    Oh yeah!

    Underwater swims, we blink our eyes, no need for 

    goggles.

    When it's time to take a breath you will know,

    It starts with a Name, Ready? Go!


    Chorus:

    Water Babies! 

    Turning 20 time to celebrate!

    Water Babies!

    Wibble wobble jelly on a plate!

    Wa-wa-wa-wa-Water Babies!

    Party time, Bubba says don't be late!


    Melody: Waterloo

  • Mama Mia, it’s our 20th year,

    Splish splash, times gone by in a flash

    Mama Mia, it’s our 20th year

    Splish splash, having fun with our class


    Melody: Mama Mia

  • We're going to the Water Babies party,

    We're going to the Water Babies party,

    On Wednesday afternoon (use the lesson day and 

    either morning or 

    afternoon)

    We're going to the Water Babies party.

    We're going to eat some cake (splash face)

    We’re going to wobble like jelly (wobble on the 

    mat, spot or bubba)

    We’re going to open some presents (throw water 

    around like wrapping paper)

    We’re going to do s

    ome dancing (shimmy and 

    shake)

    We’re going to play some games (jump up and 

    down)


    Melody: Farmer in the Den

The First Water Baby to Become a Water Babies Teacher

Meet 18 Year Old Beau-Anya

From a little village between Leeds and Bradford in West Yorkshire, Beau-Anya's story began with us when she was a tiny baby. Little did she know it would ignite a passion for swimming that she carries with her to the present day.

Paul Thompson, the Founder of Water Babies was Beau-Anya's Swimming Teacher and one of her earliest memories was high fiving him at the pool!


"Swimming has been a huge part of my life ever since I was little. I have done swimming ever since I was little with both my Mum and my Dad. I really loved the whole progression from when my mum took me to Water Babies lessons and then we continued that into the pool where we continued learning to swim.

There are lots of benefits to going to Water Babies, the big one is water confidence. I've got such a passion for swimming, whether that's in the sea or in a lake, I know how to be safe in those open water environments."

What we stand for

  • Our lessons are truly baby centred. And because we understand that each child works at their own pace, we tailor each activity and skill to them. We never push, we only progress. It’s only when we understand their needs that we can help them grow.

  • We have a thirst to learn. And that’s why we’re the leading, biggest swim school in the world. We don’t do things by half measures. We’re constantly evolving our programme, developing our teachers and challenging the status quo.

  • There’s a lot of science behind that play in the pool. Our programme is carefully structured to reflect key moments in your little one’s development. And not only are we nurturing their physical and emotional growth, but we’re also doing it with boundless enthusiasm, a song (or ten) and a smile.

  • It’s true. Whether your little one has mastered a new skill or overcome a tricky time, all the things your baby experiences in the water will help them make waves on dry land too, eager for any new challenge that awaits them.

  • We’re passionate about people. Our teachers remember every baby they teach, because they genuinely care. They’ll ask you about your day, if your little one is sleeping better and how their first day of nursery went. You’ll feel like you’re talking to a friend, because you are.

  • We create the astmosphere of a party in the pool. But without the cake fuelled hyperactivity. Just from the pure joy that each lesson brings. Because we believe that learning is done best when it’s made fun.

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