Aquatics Preschool Descriptions

PRESCHOOL SWIM LESSON LEVELS

Stage A: Water discovery (6 MONTHS - 1 YEAR)

Summary: Introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. Water Discovery is for students who aren’t yet able to respond to verbal cues and jump on land.

Skills learned: (with assistance)

  • Blow bubbles on the surface of the water 
  • Move and float with their chin in the water
  • Move and float with their head on your shoulder
  • Roll from front to back and back to front
  • Grab the pool wall
  • Enter and exit the water

Stage B: Water discovery (1 YEAR- 3 YEARS)

Summary: Students entering this level should be comfortable in the water, able to respond to verbal cues and jump on land. Parents work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. Water Explorations is for students who aren’t yet comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water.

Skills learned: (with assistance)

  • Blow bubbles with mouth and nose submerged in the water
  • Move and float while blowing bubbles in the water
  • Move and float with their head on your chest
  • Roll from back to front and front to back
  • Monkey crawl
  • Enter and exit the water
Stage 1: Water ACCLIMATION (3 YEARS - 5 YEARS)

Summary: Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to perform basic self-rescue skills with assistance. Preschool Swim Stage 1 is for students who aren’t yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily.

Skills learned:

  • Bob to submerge in the water
  • Front and back glide to the wall for 5 ft with help
  • Front and back float for 10 seconds with help
  • Roll from back to front & front to back with help
  • Jump, push, turn, grab with help
  • Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help
  • Exit the water

Stage 2: Water MOVEMENT (3 YEARS - 5 YEARS)

Summary: Preschoolers entering this level should be able to go underwater voluntarily. Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while continuing to practice how to safely exit if they would fall into a body of water. Preschool Swim Stage 2 is for students who aren’t yet able to do a front and back float on their own. 

Skills learned:

  • Submerge to look at object on bottom of pool
  • Front and back glide to the wall for five feet
  • Front and back float for 10 seconds
  • Roll from back to front and front to back
  • Jump, push, turn, grab
  • Swim, float, swim five yards
  • Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds
  • Exit the water
Stage 3: Water STAMINA (3 YEARS - 5 YEARS)

Summary: Preschoolers entering this level should be able to front and back float independently. Students learn to swim to safety from a longer distance. They are introduced to rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action. Preschool Swim Stage 3 is for students who aren’t yet able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.

Skills learned:

  • Retrieve an object in chest-deep water
  • Swim on their front and back for 10 yards
  • Roll from back to front and front to back
  • Jump, push, turn, grab 10 yards
  • Swim, float, swim 15 yards
  • Tread water for 30 seconds
  • Exit the water
Stage 4: STROKE INTRODUCTION (3 YEARS - 5 YEARS)

Summary: Preschoolers entering School Age Swim Stage 4 should be able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back independently. Students develop stroke technique in front and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Treading is also introduced.

Skills learned:

  • Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing 15 yd
  • Breaststroke kick for 15 yards
  • Butterfly kick for 15 yards
  • Elementary backstroke for 15 yards
  • Dive from a sitting position
  • Tread water using a scissor & whip kick for 1 min
  • Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards