How I Feel in the Pool – Feelings Scale for Swimmers

Swimming lessons can bring up a wide range of emotions for children like excitement, nervousness, overwhelm, uncertainty. For many kids, especially those with sensory needs, autism, anxiety, or communication differences, identifying and expressing these feelings can be difficult without visual support.

The How I Feel in the Pool – Feelings Scale is a simple, child friendly tool designed to help children communicate how they are feeling at any stage of the swimming experience. The visual format gives children a safe, predictable way to express their emotions and helps adults respond supportively.

Use this feelings scale to:

• Check in with your child before lessons to understand their readiness

• Support emotional regulation during challenging moments

• Give children language and visuals to express overwhelm or uncertainty

• Build trust and communication between parent, child, and swim instructor

• Track emotional patterns across lessons to guide supportive strategies

This resource is ideal for:

• Children who struggle to express emotions verbally

• Swimmers who experience anxiety, sensory overload, or unpredictability stress

• Parents, therapists, and instructors wanting a simple emotional tool

• Swim centres looking to support inclusivity and emotional safety

It can be printed, laminated, or kept in a folder for consistent use each week. A small visual tool that makes a big difference in helping swimmers feel seen, understood, and supported.