AQUATICS AT MARION YMCA

Parent Child Lessons

30 minute class

Ages:  6 months – 3 yrs

Develops water enrichment and aquatic readiness in children.

Stage A: Water Discovery – Parents accompany children in this stage, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water.  If not yet potty-trained, children need to wear swim-type diapers.

Stage B: Water Exploration –In this stage parent’s work with their children to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.

 SWIM BASICS

Preschool (3 – 5 yrs) 30 minute class

Youth (6 – 12 yrs)   45 minute class

Develops personal water safety and basic swimming skills in students of all ages.

Stage 1: Water Acclimation – This stage lays the foundation that allows for student’s future progress in swimming. Students in this stage focus on exploring the aquatic environment and personal skills with instructor help, Develop basic skills to propel and glide through the water, learn basic aquatic safety.

Stage 2: Water Movement – Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water while also continuing to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.

Stage 3: Water Stamina – Students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water. This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg action.

SWIM STROKES

Preschool (3 – 5 yrs)  OR Youth (6 – 12 yrs)

45 min class

Introduces and refines stroke technique in older students.

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction-Students in this stage develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick.  Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary back stroke.

*Stage 4 for Preschool ages (3 – 5 years) will not be taught in the deep end and a parent is required to be in the water with their child.  

Stage 5: Stroke Development – Students in this stage work on stroke technique and learn all major competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through treading water and sidestroke.

Stage 6: Stroke Mechanics – In this stage, students refine stroke technique on all major competitive strokes, learn about competitive swimming, and discover how to incorporate swimming into a healthy lifestyle.