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This progressive program teaches kids ages 3 to 5 water adjustment, basic swimming competency, and benchmark skills. Preschool students can progress through four stages of classes. Winter Programming starts January 2!Member registration opens Saturday, December 7 and community registration opens Saturday, December 14. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts! Choose a Level Not sure which lesson is the right fit? Use our Swim Lesson Selector (PDF) to assess the student, or contact the Aquatics Director. Stage 1 Water Acclimation Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily. Skills Practiced: ○ Bob to submerge in water ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help ○ Exit the water Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Register Stage 2 Water Movement Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows: ○ Go underwater and comfortable open eyes without goggles ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own. Skills Practiced: ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds ○ Roll from back to front and front to back ○ Jump, push, turn, grab ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds ○ Exit the water Preschoolers focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water. Register Stage 3 Water Stamina Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows: ○ Float on front and back unassisted ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back. Skills Practiced: ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water ○ Swim on 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 Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action. Register Stage 4 Stroke Introduction Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows: ○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water ○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards ○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds ○ Swim to wall and exit ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl. Skills Practiced: ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards ○ 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 and whip kick for one minute ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique. Register Private Swim Lessons Group lessons aren't for everyone. Book one-on-one sessions with a YMCA swim instructor. See Options Open Swim Drop into our pools for lap swim, family swim, or recreational swim. Pool Schedules Free Child Watch Enjoy a swim while your kids have fun in a safe environment. Child Watch Schedule Questions about swimming at the Y? Find answers to your most frequently asked pool questions. Frequently Asked Pool Questions
This progressive program teaches kids ages 3 to 5 water adjustment, basic swimming competency, and benchmark skills. Preschool students can progress through four stages of classes. Winter Programming starts January 2!Member registration opens Saturday, December 7 and community registration opens Saturday, December 14. Session availability varies by branch location. Explore your branch offerings today and Join the Y today for early access and discounts! Choose a Level Not sure which lesson is the right fit? Use our Swim Lesson Selector (PDF) to assess the student, or contact the Aquatics Director. Stage 1 Water Acclimation Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: None needed. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going under water voluntarily. Skills Practiced: ○ Bob to submerge in water ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet with no help ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds with help ○ Roll from back to front and front to back with help ○ Jump, push, turn, grab with help ○ Swim, float, swim 10 feet with help ○ Exit the water Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and are introduced to basic self-rescue skills performed with assistance. Register Stage 2 Water Movement Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 1 skills as follows: ○ Go underwater and comfortable open eyes without goggles ○ Float on front and back with minimal assistance ○ Jump into the pool, submerge, and return to the wall with assistance ○ This class is for kids who are not able to do a front and back float on their own. Skills Practiced: ○ Submerge to look at an object on the bottom of the pool ○ Front and back glide to the wall for 5 feet ○ Front and back float for 10 seconds ○ Roll from back to front and front to back ○ Jump, push, turn, grab ○ Swim, float, swim 5 yards ○ Tread water near the wall for 10 seconds ○ Exit the water Preschoolers focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into water. Register Stage 3 Water Stamina Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 2 skills as follows: ○ Float on front and back unassisted ○ Push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted ○ Swim, float, swim 15 feet unassisted ○ Jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back. Skills Practiced: ○ Retrieve an object in chest-deep water ○ Swim on 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 Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action. Register Stage 4 Stroke Introduction Age: 3-5 years Class length: 30 minutes Qualification: Child must be able to demonstrate all Stage 3 skills as follows: ○ Submerge and retrieve an object in chest-deep water ○ Swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath ○ Swim, float, swim 15 yards ○ Jump in and tread water for 30 seconds ○ Swim to wall and exit ○ This class is for kids who are not able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl. Skills Practiced: ○ Swim the front crawl with rotary breathing for 15 yards ○ 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 and whip kick for one minute ○ Swim any combination of strokes for 25 yards Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique. Register Private Swim Lessons Group lessons aren't for everyone. Book one-on-one sessions with a YMCA swim instructor. See Options Open Swim Drop into our pools for lap swim, family swim, or recreational swim. Pool Schedules Free Child Watch Enjoy a swim while your kids have fun in a safe environment. Child Watch Schedule Questions about swimming at the Y? Find answers to your most frequently asked pool questions. Frequently Asked Pool Questions