Swim Lessons
Choosing Your Child’s Level
The Red Cross Learn to Swim program progresses from complete beginner to swim team or lifeguard / swim instructor ability. Most levels require more than one session to complete. Choose a class level from the descriptions below or view a helpful chart to assist you in finding the right level for your child. On the first day of lessons, instructors assess the skill level of each student and may move students within class levels.
Parent-Child Aquatic Program
This program is for children six months to 2 years old. The guardian is required to be in the water with child. Parents will receive information / techniques to help them orient their child to the water in a safe and comfortable manner and supervise water activities. Water adjustment is the goal. Elementary swim skills covered include:
The is program is from children 3 to 5 years old. A guardian is required to remain at the facility. Instructors guide preschoolers through the basics of water adjustment and into water exploration in a safe and fun manner. Elementary skills covered include:
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Instructors focus on encouraging students to be comfortable in the water and teach skills which are fundamental to the swimming process, such as supported floating and kick on front and back, alternate arm action, and water safety rules and skills. Student must have some water adjustment and be able to stand up in 3.5 feet of water by him / her self.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Students will learn to float without support and to propel themselves through the water on the front and back using alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, rhythmic breathing, and additional water safety skills. Choose this class if your child is comfortable putting their face in the water and can float for a second or two (front or back).
Level 3: Stroke Development
Students will learn to coordinate breathing within the stroke for increased comfort and the ability to swim for greater distances. Skills covered include fundamentals of elementary backstroke, treading water, butterfly kick and body motion, front and back crawl, and water safety skills. Choose this class if your child can glide through the water on their front or back and use some sort of arm and leg action to propel themselves through the water.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Students will improve the technical aspects of their strokes for increased efficiency when swimming. Instructors will focus on increasing endurance and introducing new strokes. Skills covered include breaststroke and sidestroke, turns at wall, and water safety skills. Choose this class if your child is able to swim crawl stroke with breathing to the side for 10 to 15 yards.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Students will refine their strokes and increase distances. Skills covered include alternate breathing, underwater swimming, butterfly, open turns on front and back, diving safety, front flip turn, and backstroke flip turn.
Level 6: Endurance / Fitness
A great way for older youth to enhance their skills and get some exercise. Students will work towards the goal of being able to swim distances and swim faster while maintaining their form and technique. Distance and time goals will be set through a cooperative decision made by the swimmer and the instructor. Students will also work on flip and open turns and competitive swimming terminology.
Once you’ve decided on the appropriate level for your child, take a look at our offered classes in the eBrochure.
The Red Cross Learn to Swim program progresses from complete beginner to swim team or lifeguard / swim instructor ability. Most levels require more than one session to complete. Choose a class level from the descriptions below or view a helpful chart to assist you in finding the right level for your child. On the first day of lessons, instructors assess the skill level of each student and may move students within class levels.
Parent-Child Aquatic Program
This program is for children six months to 2 years old. The guardian is required to be in the water with child. Parents will receive information / techniques to help them orient their child to the water in a safe and comfortable manner and supervise water activities. Water adjustment is the goal. Elementary swim skills covered include:
- Holding positions
- Water entry
- Bubble blowing
- Supported front and back movement
- Underwater exploration
- Rolling over
The is program is from children 3 to 5 years old. A guardian is required to remain at the facility. Instructors guide preschoolers through the basics of water adjustment and into water exploration in a safe and fun manner. Elementary skills covered include:
- Water safety and practices
- Water entry
- Bubble blowing
- Supported front and back movement
- Underwater exploration
- Rolling over
- Swimming readiness skills
Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills
Instructors focus on encouraging students to be comfortable in the water and teach skills which are fundamental to the swimming process, such as supported floating and kick on front and back, alternate arm action, and water safety rules and skills. Student must have some water adjustment and be able to stand up in 3.5 feet of water by him / her self.
Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Students will learn to float without support and to propel themselves through the water on the front and back using alternating arm and leg actions on the front and back, rhythmic breathing, and additional water safety skills. Choose this class if your child is comfortable putting their face in the water and can float for a second or two (front or back).
Level 3: Stroke Development
Students will learn to coordinate breathing within the stroke for increased comfort and the ability to swim for greater distances. Skills covered include fundamentals of elementary backstroke, treading water, butterfly kick and body motion, front and back crawl, and water safety skills. Choose this class if your child can glide through the water on their front or back and use some sort of arm and leg action to propel themselves through the water.
Level 4: Stroke Improvement
Students will improve the technical aspects of their strokes for increased efficiency when swimming. Instructors will focus on increasing endurance and introducing new strokes. Skills covered include breaststroke and sidestroke, turns at wall, and water safety skills. Choose this class if your child is able to swim crawl stroke with breathing to the side for 10 to 15 yards.
Level 5: Stroke Refinement
Students will refine their strokes and increase distances. Skills covered include alternate breathing, underwater swimming, butterfly, open turns on front and back, diving safety, front flip turn, and backstroke flip turn.
Level 6: Endurance / Fitness
A great way for older youth to enhance their skills and get some exercise. Students will work towards the goal of being able to swim distances and swim faster while maintaining their form and technique. Distance and time goals will be set through a cooperative decision made by the swimmer and the instructor. Students will also work on flip and open turns and competitive swimming terminology.
Once you’ve decided on the appropriate level for your child, take a look at our offered classes in the eBrochure.