Hi there, my name is Otto the Octopus and I am very pleased to meet you.
A bit like you, I enjoy swimming in warmer water and use my legs to help propel me through the water. We are going to have such fun together this term.
Let me tell you a little bit more …
By now, your toddler should be very happy and confident in the water, loving to "dive" for the sinker toys and jumping "high in the sky". They will do this in conjunction with "up and breathe" exercises giving them energy saving and safety techniques and will continue to grow in stamina, skill and independence.
By the end of this term, some toddlers may be able to lift their heads above water and to breathe which is such a fantastic achievement!
I am sure you know already, I have 8 legs which I use for swimming in the water and also for crawling along the bottom. Did you also know that if I were to lose one of my legs I could grow a new one? I am very good at hiding by squeezing into very small spaces but I can also change colour to camouflage myself too.
I can swim very fast on my back and this term you will be learning more about that too with more push and glide on your back and kicking with floats which is great fun.
You won't see me in your pool as sometimes I squirt ink and this can be a bit messy. Also when a mummy Octopus lays eggs she can lay nearly a thousand so we need lots of room. That's why we live in nice big warm Oceans
My favourite foods are Crabs, Shrimps and Lobster - Do you like those too? I have to swim quickly to catch these and they will often try to get away. A bit like when Mummy or Daddy helps you dive to get the rings and they move about a bit.
Next term, you will be meeting Morris The Manta Ray