YMCA Preschool Swimming Lessons │ 6 months – 5 years
You’re never too young to enjoy the water! For children between 6 months and 5 years old, the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons program will introduce your baby, toddler, or preschooler to the basics of swimming.
We have developed each level in the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons with your child’s natural growth and development in mind. We know each child is unique, so our YMCA swim instructors encourage your child to progress at their own pace to reach their potential.
There are eight levels in the YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons program: Splashers, Bubblers, Bobbers, Floaters, Gliders, Divers, Surfers, and Jumpers.
Explore all the levels to find the one that’s right for your child.
YMCA Preschool and Youth Lessons & Clubs are only offered to YMCA members (included in active YMCA Membership).
Swimming lessons & leadership clubs are limited to one per child; child must have pre-requisites by the first lesson/session; child must be of age within 2 weeks of programming.
YMCA Preschool Swimming Lessons – Parent & Tot │ 6 months – 3 years
The first two levels in YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons start in the water with their parents, learning basic swimming skills. Splashers level and Bubbler level may be taught in the same class.
Caregiver assists child to develop comfort in the water and promotes water fun through songs and games. Instruction covers skills such as splashing with arms and legs and pool area orientation.
Prerequisite: 6 – 18 months.
Caregiver assists child to develop comfort in the water and promotes water fun through songs and games. Instruction covers skills such as holding on to the wall, kicking their legs, assisted front/back floats, and practicing safe swimming.
Prerequisite: 19 months – 3 years old.
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YMCA Preschool Swimming Lessons │ 3 – 5 years
The next six levels in YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons have children participate in a swimming level without their parents.
Child gains comfort in the water without a caregiver. Instruction covers skills such as entering and exiting the pool, blowing bubbles, progression for submersion, assisted front and back floats, glides, and safety.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old.
Child learns pool rules and is comfortable entering and exiting the pool on their own. Instruction covers skills such as swimming 10m, wearing a personal floatation device (PFD), assisted jumps into the water, retrieving objects, and unassisted front and back floats and bobs.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Bobbers (or an equivalent skill level).
Child is comfortable beginning the transition from shallow to deep water (water is over the child’s head when touching the bottom) with assistance. Instruction covers skills such as deep water activities and assisted front and back floats in deep water, swims of 5m in shallow water.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Floaters (or an equivalent skill level).
Child is getting comfortable in deep water. Instruction covers skills such as side-to-side rolls, work on arm action, and increasing front and back swim distances to 10m.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Gliders (or an equivalent skill level).
Child explores diving, surface support, creative pool entries and extends swim distances to 15m. Instruction covers skills such as retrieving object from deep water, front and back swim to 15m.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Divers (or an equivalent skill level).
Surfers may be taught in the same class as Jumpers.
Child further refines front and back swim to 25m and continues deep water activities. Instruction covers skills such as front and back crawl, standing dive, and surface support for 45 seconds.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Surfers (or an equivalent skill level).
Jumpers may be in the same class as Surfers.
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