Preschool  Level 1

(3 -5 years)

This level familiarizes children approximately 3 to 5 years of age to the aquatic environment and helps them acquire basic aquatic skills.  The course also helps participants begin to develop positive attitudes and safe practices in and around water.  There are no skills prerequisites for Preschool Level 1.

• Independently enter & exit the water using the ramp, ladder, side

• Blow bubbles, with support

• Submerge mouth, nose, eyes, with support

• Open eyes underwater and retrieve objects (shallow water), with support

• Front & back glide, 2 body lengths, assisted

• Back float, 3 seconds. assisted

• Recover from front & back glide to vertical position, assisted

• Roll from back to front & front to back, with support
• Explore arm & treading actions, chest-deep water, with support
• Alternating & simultaneous arm & leg action on front & back, 2 body lengths with support
• Combined arm & leg actions on front & back, 2 body lengths with support
• Enter water, blow bubbles 3 seconds, exit water (can do with support)
• Glide on front, roll to back, recover to vertical position (with assistance)
• Various water safety topics 

Preschool Level 2

(3-5 years)

The purpose of Preschool Level 2 is to build on and improve skills learned in Preschool 1.  Participants must be able to successfully complete all of the Preschool Level 1 exit skills.

• Enter shoulder deep water by stepping in

• Exit water by using ladder & side

• Bobbing, 5 times

• Open eyes underwater and retrieve object in chest deep water

• Front & back glide, 2 body lengths, with assistance

• Front float (3 sec.) & back float (5 sec.), with assistance

• Recover from front & back floats & glides to a vertical position, assisted in chest-deep water

• Roll from front to back & back to front, with support

• Tread water, 15 seconds, with assistance

• Combined arm & leg actions on front & back, 3 body  lengths, assisted

• Finning arm action on back, 3 body lengths, assisted

• Front glide, roll to back, back float, recover to vertical position (with assistance)

• Back glide, roll to front, recover to vertical position (with assistance)

• Swim using arms & legs on front, roll to back, back float, roll to front, continue swimming (with assistance)

• Various water safety topics

Preschool Level 3

(3-5 years)

The purpose of Preschool Level 3 is to increase proficiency and build on basic aquatic skills learned in Preschool Levels 1 & 2.  Safety concepts and skills taught in previous levels are reinforced and new skills are introduced.

All exit skills must be performed independently in order to successfully complete the level.

•  Jump in to shoulder-deep water

• Fully submerge & hold breath, 10 seconds

• Bobbing, 10 times, chest deep water

• Rotary breathing, 5 times

• Front float, 10 seconds (jellyfish, tuck)

• Back float, 15 seconds

• Back glide, 3 body lengths

• Recover from a front & back float or glide to a vertical position

• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back

• Tread water, 30 seconds

• Combined arm & leg action on front & back, 5 body lengths

• Finning arm action on back, 5 body lengths

• Step in from side, push off bottom, tread/float 15 seconds, swim on front/back 5 body lengths, exit water

• Back float, 15 seconds, roll to front, recover to vertical position

• Swim on front using arms & legs 5 body lengths, roll to back, float 15 seconds, roll to front, swim 5 body lengths

• Various water safety topics

Preschool Level 4

(4-6 years)

This level is exclusive to the Cumming Aquatic Center.  We have found that we have many preschoolers who are able to successfully complete Preschool Levels 1, 2, and 3 but are still too young, and lack the strength and endurance for the Learn to Swim classes. 

•  Continue to work on Preschool 3 skills in order to increase strength and endurance

• Headfirst entry from the side in a sitting & kneeling position

• Bobbing while moving to safety, 10 times

• Rotary breathing, 10 times

• Front float, 20 seconds

• Back float, 1 minute

• Tread water, 1 minute

• Streamlining with dolphin & flutter kick

• Change from vertical to horizontal position on front & back in deep water

•  Front crawl with rotary breathing, 10 yards

• Demonstrate elementary backstroke, 10 yards

• Jump in to deep water, recover, tread or float 30 seconds, rotate 1 full turn, swim 15 yards, exit the water

• Push off streamlined, swim front crawl 10 yards, change position / direction, swim elementary backstroke 10 yards

• Various water safety topics