Learn to Swim 4-5 Years Old
The Red Cross preschool aquatics program aims to promote the developmentally appropriate learning of fundamental water safety and aquatic skills by young children. Students participating in this program will be presented with both aquatic and safety skills in a logical progression through three levels of courses. Each class focuses on safety skills, which can be presented through dry land activities. Safety topics include: swimming by a lifeguard chair, swimming with a buddy, knowing pool rules, “reach, throw, don’t go”, wearing a lifejacket, and sun safety. These topics are taught in a fun and engaging way!
The three levels in the Preschool Aquatics Program mirror the first three levels in the Red Cross Learn to Swim Program. The main difference between the two sets of programming is found in the techniques that are used to teach the various classes. The preschoolers will be taught using games and toys, rather than straight instruction. All of the levels in the Preschool Program are designed to streamline the advancement between preschool and the Learn to Swim Program (Ages 6 and up. Lessons are approximately 40 minutes per day and campers will have a rec swim in the afternoon to practice their skills and have fun in the water.
Level 1—Introduction to Water Skills
- Enter and exit water safely
- Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
- Exhale underwater through mouth and nose
- Open eyes underwater, pick up submerged object
- Change direction while walking or paddling
- Roll over from front to back and back to front with support
- Explore floating on front and back with support
- Explore swimming on front and back using arm and leg actions with support
- Use a life jacket
Level 2—Fundamental Aquatic Skills
- Submerge entire head
- Blow bubbles submerging head in a rhythmic pattern (bobbing)
- Open eyes underwater, pick up a submerged object in shallow water
- Float on front and back
- Perform front and back glide
- Change direction of travel paddling on front or back
- Roll over from front to back, back to front
- Tread water using arm and leg motions (chest-deep water)
- Swim on front, back, and side using combined arm and leg actions
- Move in the water while wearing a life jacket
Level 3—Stroke Development
- Jump into deep water from the side
- Dive from kneeling or standing position
- Submerge and retrieve an object in chest deep water
- Bob with the head fully submerged
- Rotary breathing in horizontal position
- Perform front and back glide using two different kicks
- Float on front and back in deep water
- Change from horizontal to vertical position on front and back
- Tread water using hand and leg movements
- Perform front and back crawl
- Butterfly—kick and body motion
- Perform the HELP and Huddle position