Swim Preschool

Canadian Red Cross – Swim Preschool Program

Parent & Tot

Starfish (4 to 18 months)

An introductory class for babies and their parent or caregiver. To enter this level, babies must be able to hold their head up. The goal of this orientation to water class is to experience buoyancy, movement, entries, and songs and play in the water.

Duck (18 to 30 months)

For toddlers or older babies with a parent or caregiver. Toddlers build confidence while enjoying the water through games, songs and active water play.

Sea Turtle Level 1 (30 to 36 months)

A transitional level for preschoolers and their parents. Parents can gradually transfer the preschoolers to the care of the Instructor. This level develops skills in swimming, glides, and floating and builds awareness of deep water and safe entries.

Preschool – 3+ years without parent  

Sea Otter (3 – 5 years)

A transitional level for preschoolers and their parents. Parents can gradually transfer the preschoolers to the care of the Instructor. This level develops skills in swimming, glides, and floating and builds awareness of deep water and safe entries.

Salamander Level (3 to 5 years)

Preschoolers actively learn new swimming skills including assisted floats and glides through games and songs. The fun includes learning to jump into chest deep water.

Sunfish Level (3 to 5 years)

Assisted by an Instructor, preschoolers work on stroke and skills progressions. Learning also focuses on good judgement in, on and around the water, and entries and floats in deep water.

Preschool – Crocodile Level (3 to 5 years)

Preschoolers start independent glides and kicking in deep water. Endurance is built through increasing distance for front and back swims. Swimmers learn about the dolphin kick and try synchro skills in the water.

Whale Level (3 to 5 years)

In Whale, children will learn to swim independently and participate in team games. Preschoolers will increase their distance and improve skills in front and back swims. Swimmers also learn about throwing assists to help another person in the water.

Mascot Songs for Swim Preschool Program

Starfish

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Starfish, starfish in the sea,
Floating ‘round so happily.
Blowing bubbles, that’s the way,
Leap of the side and then you’ll say-
Starfish, starfish in the sea,
Floating ‘round so happily.

Duck

Tune: Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

Little duckies love to be….floating swimming, happily
Kicking in the water round –
Blowing bubbles, hear the sound.
Little duckies love to be…floating, swimming, happily.

Sea Turtle 1

Tune: I’m a little teapot

I’m a little Sea Turtle, swimming by,
Jump in the water, time will fly!
When I want to get in, I first ask,
Mom says yes, so make a splash!

Salamander

Tune: Where oh where has my little dog gone

Where, oh where, is sal-am-an-der?
He blends right into the tree!
Oh there he is, on that nice warm rock,
Then he jumps in the deep of the sea!

Sunfish

Tune: Teensy Weensy Spider

Sunfish in the water – swimming all around,
Swimming all together, making not a sound.
Gliding in the water, look for things that float,
Sunfish in the water, fast as any boat!

Crocodile

Tune: London Bridge

Crocodiles like to swim and play,
Swim and play, swim and play
Crocodiles like to swim and play in the wa-ter!

Whale

Tune: If you’re happy and you know it

When you splash like a whale, kick around!
When you swim like a whale safe and sound.
When you splash like a whale,
You wanna use your great big tail…
When you splash like a whale, come on down!

Red Cross Swim Preschool Program Content

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Starfish Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Getting wet (assisted)
  • Supports and hold techniques for the caregiver
  • Submersion (optional)
  • Intro to rhythmic breathing: breath control (assisted)
  • Buoyancy and movement (assisted)

Positions:

  • Front position (assisted)
  • Back position (assisted)
  • Vertical position (assisted)

Moves:

  • Move forward (assisted)
  • Move backward (assisted)
  • Arm movement (assisted)
 Water activities:
play and songs
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  • Entries and exits (caregiver and child)
  • Show how to stay warm
  • When and how to get help
  • Choking prevention

 

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Duck Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Getting wet (assisted)
  • Submersion (optional)
  • Intro to rhythmic breathing: breath control (assisted)
  • Buoyancy and movement (assisted)

Moves:

  • Move forward (assisted)
  • Move backward (assisted)

Floats:

  • Front float and recovery (assisted)
  • Back float and recovery (assisted)
 Water activities:

  • Play and songs
  • Uses buoyant object for support (assisted)
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  •  “Stop! Look! Ask!”
  • Shallow Water entries and exits (caregiver and child)
  • PFD and Me (assisted)
  • Show how to stay warm
  • Buoyant objects
  • Change direction (assisted)
  • When and how to get help
  • Choking prevention
  • Choking response

 

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Sea Turtle Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Getting wet
  • Intro to rhythmic breathing: breath control
  • Buoyancy and movement (assisted)
  • Shallow water movement

Floats:

  • Front float and recovery, 3 sec. (assisted)
  • Back float and recovery, 3 sec. (assisted)

Glides: front and back glide and recovery (assisted)

Swims:

  • Basic kick on front (assisted)
  • Front swim (assisted)
 Water activities:

  • Play and songs/relay
  • Kick on front using buoyant aid, 2 m (assisted)
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  •  “Stop! Look! Ask!” (find the adult)
  • Entries and exits (assisted)
  • Jump into chest deep water (assisted)
  • Jump into chest deep water and return (assisted)
  • PFD and Me (assisted)

 

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Salamander Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Open eyes under water (attempted)
  • Rhythmic breathing 3 times

Floats:

  • Front float and recovery, 3 sec.
  • Back float and recovery, 3 sec.
  • Roll over float, 6 sec. (assisted)

Glides:

  • Front glide 3 sec.
  • Front glide with kick, 5 sec. (assisted)
  • Back glide, 3 sec. (assisted)
  • Back glide with kick, 5 sec. (assisted)
  • Roll-over glide with kick, 6 sec. (assisted)

Swims: front swim, 2 m ssisted)

 Water activities:

  • Play and songs
  • Kick on front using buoyant aid, 2 m

Distance swim: 2 m
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  •  “Stop! Look! Ask!” (find the adult)
  • Jump into chest deep water
  • PFD and Me (assisted)
  • Buoyant objects
  • Surface support (assisted) 5 seconds

 

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Sunfish Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Rhythmic breathing 5 times (2 ways)
  • Weight Transfer, shallow water

Glides:

  • Front glide, 5 sec.
  • Front glide with kick, 1 m
  • Back glide, 5 sec.
  • Back glide with kick, 1 m
  • Roll over glides, 5 sec.
  • Side glide with kick, 3 sec. (assisted)

Swims: front swim, 2M

 Water activities:

  • introduction to synchronized swimming (floats) 

Kicking drills: kick with buoyant aid, 5 m

Distance swim: 5 m
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  • “Stop! Look! Ask!”
  • Slip into deep water
  • Jump into deep water (assisted)
  • PFD and Me
  • Change direction in shallow water
  • Surface support, 5 sec.
  • Jump into chest deep water, surface support, 5 sec.
  • Front float and recovery, 5 sec., deep water
  • Back float and recovery, 5 sec. deep water
  • “Stop! Call for help!”

 

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Crocodile Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Rhythmic breathing 10 (2 ways)
  • Weight transfer, shallow water

Glides:

  • Front glide with kick, 3×2 m
  • Back glide with kick, 2 m
  • Side glide with kick, 1 m

Swims:

  • Front swim, 5 m
  • Back swim, 5 m
 Water activities:

  • intro to synchronized swimming (bathtub and floats)

Kicking drills:
kick with buoyant aid, 10 m

Strokes: Dolphin Kick (assisted)

Distance swim: 10 m
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  •  “Stop! Look! Ask!”
  • Jump into deep water
  • PFD and Me: deep water
  • Change direction in deep water (assisted)
  • Surface support, 10 sec.
  • Jump into deep water, surface support, 5 sec.
  • “Stop! Call for help”

 

Red Cross Swim Preschool – Whale Level
Swimming Fitness Activities Skills and Water Safety
  • Rhythmic breathing (front to side glide) 10 times

Glides:

  • Front glide with kick, 3 x 5 m
  • Back glide with kick, 3 x 5 m
  • Side glide with kick, 5 m

Swims:

  • Front swim, 7 m
  • Back swim, 7 m
  • Continuous swim, 10 m
 Water activities:

  • Intro to synchronized swimming (somersaults, bathtub and floats)
  • Relay activities

Kicking drill: 2×10 m

Whale Kick (Dolphin Kick harder)

Distance swim: 2×10 m
  • Facility orientation and active supervision
  • When and where to swim
  • “Stop! Look! Ask!”
  • Change direction in deep water
  • Surface support, 20 sec.
  • Jump into deep water, surface support, 20 sec.
  • “Stop! Throw! Call for help”, throwing assist