The YMCA preschool swim program includes the basics of water safety and swimming skills. The class is structured to meet the special needs of a preschool-age child. Flotation devices and simplified swimming strokes, such as the paddle stroke (dog paddle), are emphasized. Through simplified instruction, the child can gain confidence, increase practice time, and swimming distances. As the child’s confidence and endurance increase, more complicated strokes are introduced. Swim diapers are required for all children who are not completely toilet trained.
This level helps children develop safe pool behavior, adjust to the water, and develop independent movement in the water. It is designed for new swimmers, teaching basic paddle stroke and kicking skills, pool safety, proper use of IFDs and PFDs, and comfort with holding the face in the water while blowing bubbles and swimming.
This advanced beginner level reinforces Pike skills. It is for children who are comfortable in the water. They are taught to kick, dive, float, and perform the progressive paddle stroke. They also learn basic boating safety and use of PFDs. Children can swim across the pool without assistance by the end of this level.
At this level children review previous skills, improve stroke skills, learn more personal safety, and rescue skills, build endurance by swimming in their front and back, and learn to tread water and perform more progressive diving skills. Children can swim across the pool in their front and back without assistance by the end of the level.
Children at this level review previously learned skills and refine their strokes as well as their personal safety, rescue, and floating skills. They also learn underwater swimming skills. Children can swim a length of the pool on their front and back at the end of this level.