Swim Kids Courses (adapted from the Red Cross Program)
Age: 5 to 13 years old
Fee: $80 first child / $75 other children
Duration: 12, 55-minutes lessons, 1 lesson per week
Level 1: Your child learns how to stay safe in the water and the pool. Beginner skills include floating, gliding and kicking. Children build up endurance skills by trying to swim back and front crawls.
Level 2: Your child learns flutter kicks and floatation glides. Children continue developing beginner skills for front and back crawl. Deep-water activities are introduced as well as usage of a personal floatation device (PFD). Basic leg movements are practised to build endurance. The child is encouraged to swim several laps.
Level 3: This level introduces your child to the crawl, back crawl and diving. Basic criteria for knowing where and when to swim are also explained. Basic leg movements are practised to improve endurance. The child is encouraged to swim several laps.
Level 4: Crawl and back crawl techniques are further developed. Children learn water entry practices including the kneeling dive and supporting his or her body at the surface in deep water. Children develop additional awareness of personal water safety by understanding their own limits. Endurance is developed by swimming laps.
Levels 5 and 6: Combined levels (crawl and back crawl), introduction to back whip kick, the elementary back stroke and the front dive in the stop position. Children receive basic instruction in boating safety and in helping distressed swimmers by throwing them a buoyant object. They are also introduced to safety on ice. Endurance is developed with leg kicks (dolphin movement) and through several consecutive swimming laps.
Levels 7 and 8: Combined levels (crawl, back crawl and elementary back stroke), introduction to front whip kick and the breast stroke. Children learn the signs of airway obstruction. They also increase their endurance by treading water for longer periods. This technique helps them remain at the surface should they ever fall in the water. Endurance is developed through continuous swimming.
Levels 9 and 10: Combined levels (crawl, back crawl, elementary back stroke and breast stroke), children are introduced to the butterfly stroke and the side stroke. Types of swimming strokes are evaluated for techniques acquired and distances achieved.
