Preschool Swimming
For ages 4 to 5 years old
Young children love to explore and discover new things in this world. Our swim lesson program for preschoolers is designed to give them an opportunity to do the same in the aquatic environment. In these classes participants are placed by age and ability, so that they are with other swimmers of the same skill level. The instructors who teach these classes are enthusiastic and energetic, to make sure your swimmers have fun while learning to be safe in, on and around the water and building on their basic swimming skills.
There are three levels of the Preschool Aquatics program, and they are designed for swimmers about ages 4 - 5 years old. These lessons are 30 minutes long and there will be about 3 – 5 students in each group lesson, which gives students ample time to try out their new skills and improve upon them daily. Safety is taught and stressed at all levels, so some of those lessons will be reinforced throughout all levels. The skill levels are progressive, and as your swimmer masters one skill level, they will move on to the next, where difficulty and endurance increases.
Preschool Level 1
In Preschool Level 1, the students perform skills with assistance as needed. Course objectives are:
· Enter and exit water through ladder, steps or side
· Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
· Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
· Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
· Front and back glides, with recovery to a vertical position
· Back float and recovery to a vertical position
· Roll from front to back and back to front
· Tread with arm and hand actions
· Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
· Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
· Experience wearing a life jacket in the water
· Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
· Learning how to stay safe in, on and around the water including the use of a life jacket, recognizing a lifeguard and sun safety.
Prerequisites for Preschool Level 1:
· Be about 4 – 5 years of age
· Be able to participate in group lessons independently from their parent/guardian
Preschool Level 2
In Preschool Level 2, the distances increase from Level 1 and students do many skills unassisted. Course objectives are:
· Enter water by stepping in
· Exit water by using ladder, steps or side
· Bobbing (rhythmic breathing and bubble blowing under water)
· Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
· Front and back floats and glides, with recovery to a vertical position
· Rolling from front to back and back to front
· Tread water using arm and leg actions
· Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
· Finning arm action on back
· Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
· Learning how to stay safe in, on and around the water including the use of a life jacket, recognizing a lifeguard and sun safety.
Prerequisites for Preschool Level 2:
· Be able to enter the water independently using either the ladder, steps or side, and travel at least 5 yards, submerge mouth and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds, and then safely exit the water.
· Be able to glide on front at least 2 body lengths while in shallow water, then roll over onto their back and float on back for 3 seconds before recovering to a vertical position (standing up).
Preschool Level 3
In Preschool Level 3, the distances and performance levels increase from Level 2. All skills are performed without assistance. Course objectives are:
· Entering water by jumping in
· Fully submerging and holding breath
· Bobbing (rhythmic breathing and bubble blowing under water)
· Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
· Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
· Back float and glide
· Change direction of travel while swimming on front and back
· Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
· Tread water using arm and leg actions
· Learn how to stay safe, including recognizing an emergency and knowing how to call for help
· Learning how to stay safe in, on and around the water including the use of a life jacket, recognizing a lifeguard and sun safety.
Prerequisites for Preschool Level 3:
· Be able to step from side into chest-deep water; move into a front float for 5 seconds, then roll onto their back and float for 5 seconds before recovering to a vertical position.
· Be able to move into a back float for 5 seconds, then roll to front and recover to a vertical position.
· Be able to push off and swim using combine arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, then roll to back, float for 15 seconds, then roll to front again and continue swimming for another 5 body lengths.
