Preschool Swim Lessons

Children move through the first two levels based on their age and the next five levels based on skill and ability. Assisted by their parents, preschoolers learn basic swimming skills such as breath control, buoyancy, arm and body movements and progress to more advanced skills such as floating, gliding, kicking, and swimming up to 10 metres.

 Starfish (4-12 months)

Starfish (4-12 months) - with a parent or caregiver:

In the Starfish classes, you and your child will participate in a variety of fun activities that focus on water orientation and safety:
• You’ll review basic safety guidelines for supervising children in and near water.
• You’ll learn techniques to help your child have fun in the water.
• Your child will learn a variety of movement skills in the water by participating in fun activities with you.
• You and your child will participate in games and songs designed to make learning fun.

The Starfish level of Red Cross Swim Preschool is based on participation.

Duck (12-24 months)

Ducks (12-24 months) with a parent or caregiver:

• Techniques to help your child become comfortable in the water.
• Games and songs designed to make learning fun.
• Recognizing and responding to a choking incident.
• Helping your child to use floating objects for support.
• Helping your child become comfortable floating on the water’s surface.
• Personal floatation devices and how they should fit your child.

The Duck level of Red Cross Swim Preschool is based on participation.

Sea Turtle (24-36 months)

Sea Turtles (24-36 months) - with a parent or caregiver:

•  Orientation to water for toddlers and their parent/caregiver.
• Swimmers learn, through fun games and songs, how to combine skills, how to kick with a buoyant object and how to perform basic floats, glides, and kicks.

The Sea Turtle level of Red Cross Swim Preschool is based on participation, without formal evaluation

Sea Otter (3 to 5 years)

Sea Otter (3 to 5 years)

• Transitional level that transfers the preschooler to the care of the instructor.  All skills are assisted by the instructor.
• Using games and activities, swimmers learn to open their eyes under water, further develop basic floats and glides, and swim 1 metre.  They also learn age-appropriate water safety skills

Your child must master each of the Sea Otter skills before moving on to Salamander.

Salamander (3 to 5 years)

Salamanders (3 to 5 years): 

• Swimming a distance of two metres.
• Staying afloat for five seconds
• Learning to jump into chest-deep water safely – after getting permission from a parent or Instructor.
• Opening his or her eyes underwater – a necessary skill for finding the way to the surface.
• Floating on his or her front and back without assistance.
• Performing front, back and rollover glides.
• Learning how to stay safe in, on and around the water.

Your child must master each of the Salamander skills before moving to Sunfish.

Sunfish (3 to 5 years)

Sunfish (3 to 5 years):

• Swimming a distance of five metres.
• Stop! Look! Ask! an adult before entering the water – an important safety lesson.
• Jumping into chest-deep water and maintaining surface support for five seconds – an essential skill for entering deep water.
• Floating on his or her front and back in deep water.
• Performing front, back and rollover glides with kicking.
• How to stay safe in, on and around the water.

Your child must master each of the Sunfish skills before moving to Crocodile level

Crocodiles (3 to 5 years)

Crocodiles (3 to 5 years):

• Swimming five metres on front and back.
• Beginning use of rhythmic breathing as an important skill for the front crawl.
• How to help a distressed swimmer using the Stop! Call for help! method.
• Front, back and rollover glides with kicking for longer distances.
• Recognizing swimming skills as essential to water sports.
• Dolphin kick – a movement that increases kicking strength.
• How to stay safe in, on and around the water.

Your child must master each of the Crocodile skills before moving to Whale level.

Whales (3 to 5 years)

Whales (3 to 5 years):

• Swimming a greater distance – ten metres
• Jumping into chest-deep water and staying safe at the surface for 20 seconds – an important self-rescue skill
• Stop! Throw! Call for help! to aid a distressed swimmer
• Front crawl using appropriate technique for seven metres
• Back swim using appropriate technique for seven metres
• Learn how to stay safe in, on and around the water

Your child must master each of the Whale skills in order to successfully complete the Whale level. Children who are six years old or older are ready for the appropriate level of Red Cross Swim Kids.

Swim Kids Levels 1-10

Ages 6 and up (placed in level based on evaluation of mastered skills)

• Quality instructors with practical experience and more than 75 hours training.
• Children start at about age six, and continue through the 10 levels. Your child can seamlessly move from one level to the next, based on his or her own development as a swimmer. Every child progresses at a different rate, and it is not uncommon for children to repeat a level in order to strengthen a particular skill.
• Through drills and distance swimming kids learn all six strokes and develop proper breathing and swimming techniques while building endurance and embracing a healthy lifestyle.
• Water safety is important for all age groups. We teach skills ranging from self-rescue and preventing injuries to boating safety and diving.

Level 5

• Be a safe boater.
• Stay warm in cold water.
• Perform the front and back crawl.
• Increase swim distance to 50 metres.

Level 6

• Be safe on or near ice.
• Tread water for 1 minute and 30 seconds.
• Perform a front dive.
• Increase swim distance to 75 metres.

Level 7

• Recognize and assist in a choking incident.
• Practise whip and eggbeater kicks.
• Increase swim distance to 150 metres.

Level 8

• Recognize and prevent hypothermia.
• Perform rescue breathing for adults and children.
• Swim using the breast stroke.
• Increase swim distance to 300 metres.

Level 9

• Follow boating regulations.
• Make wise choices around the water.
• Refine strokes and build speed and endurance.
• Increase swim distance to 400 metres.

Level 10

• Practise sun safety.
• Recognize drowning risks and make wise choices around the water.
• Perform a surface dive with underwater swim.
• Perform the butterfly stroke.
• Increase swim distance to 500 metres.

What’s Next?

Lifesaving Club