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 – 2 years
The first two levels in YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons start in the water with their parents, learning basic swimming skills.
As the first level of YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Splashers is a great way to introduce babies to the water. Parents get in on the fun by participating with their children. At this early stage, children are still learning about their environment. The goal of Splashers is to make children and parents comfortable in the water together, and (of course) to learn to splash with arms and legs!
Prerequisite: 6 – 18 months.
The second level of YMCA Preschool Swim Lessons, Bubblers, we work with you to introduce your child to new movements in the water, including holding the wall, kicking feet, and blowing bubbles. Parents get in on the fun by participating with their children.
Prerequisite: 19 months – 2 years old.
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.
In Bobbers, we’ll continue to introduce fun activities in the water to activate the movements that will eventually lead to swimming. By the end, your child will be comfortable having their face in the water and will have learned basic movements while being supported.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old.
In Floaters, we introduce floating and gliding, and continue to practice other movements. Through structured activities and play, children will also become comfortable submerging themselves underwater.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Bobbers (or an equivalent skill level).
In Gliders, children will combine kicking with gliding to learn how to propel themselves through the water.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Floaters (or an equivalent skill level).
In Divers, children will combine all the skills they have learned so far to swim on their front and back unaided for a distance of 10 metres. Your child will also learn to jump into and float in deep water unassisted.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Gliders (or an equivalent skill level).
In Surfers, we’ll continue to help your child develop front and back swimming skills and build up to a distance of 15 metres. And now that your child is comfortable jumping into the water, we’ll work on some creative, fun entries — ker-splash!
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Divers (or an equivalent skill level).
In Jumpers, we’ll introduce the front and back crawl, as well as underwater swimming. Children at this level will have achieved a foundation of swimming skills and be able to front swim a distance of 25 metres.
Prerequisite: 3-5 years old & Surfers (or an equivalent skill level).