Swimming for Children (ages 2-12)

Recreation Services

Swimming for Children (ages 2-12)

The Brock pool will be closed April 1st - August, 2013 for maintenance. First Aid/CPR - Courses will be offered over the Spring & Summer. Fall Swim Registration: Saturday, August 16th, 9am-12nn.

Parent & Tot

Spend quality time with your child while you both have fun and learn and socialize.

Through structured in-water interaction between parent and child, we stress the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skills. We provide Lifesaving Society Water Smart® tips on keeping your child safe in any aquatic setting. Certified instructors provide guidance and answers to your questions.

Parent & Tot is designed for the 2 to 3-year-old to learn to enjoy the water with the parent.

Parent & Tot curriculum-at-a-glance

Preschool

Program Overview

Give your child a head start on learning to swim. The Lifesaving Society Preschool Program develops an appreciation and healthy respect for the water before these kids get in too deep.

In our basic aquatic progressions we work to ensure 3 to 5-year olds become comfortable in the water and have fun acquiring and developing a foundation of water skills. We incorporate Lifesaving Society Water Smart® education in all Preschool levels.

Preschool curriculum-at-a-glance

Preschool A

We encourage the parent to participate until their child lets them know they can do it themselves (thank you very much!). These preschoolers will have fun learning to get in and out of the water. We'll help them jump into chest deep water. They'll try floats on their front and back, and glides on their back while wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They'll learn to get their face wet and blow bubbles underwater.

Prerequisite: 3-4 years.

Preschool B

These preschoolers learn to jump into chest deep water by themselves, and get in and get out wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They'll submerge and exhale underwater. While wearing a Personal Flotation Device they'll glide on their front and back.

Prerequisite: 3 or 4 years, and completed Pre-school A.

Preschool C

These youngsters will try both jumping and a side roll into deep water while wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They'll recover objects from the bottom in waist-deep water. They'll work on kicking and gliding through the water on their front and back.

Prerequisite: 3 or 4 years, and completed Preschool B.

Preschool D

Advanced preschoolers will learn to do solo jumps into deeper water and get out by themselves. They'll do side roll entries and open their eyes underwater. They'll master a short (3–5 m) swim on their front and gliding and kicking on their side.

Prerequisite: 3 or 4 years, and completed Preschool C.

Preschool E

These youngsters get more adventuresome with a forward roll entry wearing a PFD and holding their breath underwater for up to 10 sec. They'll work on longer front and back crawl swims, interval training and get a giggle out of whip kick.

Prerequisite: 3 or 4 years, and completed Preschool D.

Swimmer

Program Overview

The Lifesaving Society's 6-level Swimmer program makes sure your children learn how to swim before they get in too deep.

Swimmer progressions accommodate children 5 years and older including absolute beginners as well as swimmers who want to build on the basics.

We stress lots of in-water practice to develop solid swimming strokes and skills. We incorporate Lifesaving Society Water Smart® education in all Swimmer levels.

Swimmer curriculum-at-a-glance

Swimmer 1

These beginners will become comfortable jumping into water with and without a Personal Flotation Device. They'll learn to open their eyes, exhale and hold their breath underwater. They'll work on floats, glides and kicking through the water on their front and back.

Prerequisite: 5 years, beginner, non-swimmer, or Preschool A, B or C.

Swimmer 2

These advanced beginners will jump into deeper water, and learn to be comfortable falling sideways into the water wearing a Personal Flotation Device. They'll be able to support themselves at the surface without an aid, learn whip kick, swim 10–15 m on their front and back, and be introduced to flutter kick interval training (4 x 9–12 m).

Prerequisite: 5 years, Swimmer 1 or Preschool D or E.

Swimmer 3

These junior swimmers will dive and do in-water front somersaults. Their new bag of tricks includes handstands and completion of the Canadian Swim to Survive® Standard. They'll work on 10–15m of front crawl, back crawl and whip kick. Flutter kick interval training increases to 4 x 25 m.

Prerequisite: 5 years, Swimmer 2.

Swimmer 4

These intermediate swimmers will swim 5 m underwater and lengths of front, back crawl, whip kick, and breaststroke arms with breathing. They'll cap it all off with front crawl sprints over 25 m and 4 x 25 m front or back crawl interval training.

Prerequisite 5 years, Swimmer 3.

Swimmer 5

These swimmers will master shallow dives, cannonball entries, eggbeater kicks, and in-water backward somersaults. Surface dives will take them down to underwater swims. They'll refine their front and back crawl over 50 m swims of each, and breaststroke over 15–25 m. Then they'll pick up the pace in 25 m sprints and two interval training bouts: 4 x 50 m front or back crawl; and 4 x 10–15 m breaststroke.

Prerequisite: 5 years, Swimmer 4.

Swimmer 6

These advanced swimmers will rise to the challenge of sophisticated aquatic skills including stride entries, compact jumps and lifesaving kicks like eggbeater and scissor kick. They'll develop strength and power in head-up breaststroke sprints over 25 m. They'll easily swim lengths of front crawl, back crawl, and breaststroke, and they'll complain about the 300 m workout.

Prerequisite: 5 years, Swimmer 5.

Canadian Swim Patrol

Overview

The Lifesaving Society's 3-level Canadian Swim Patrol program provides enriched training for those who want to develop swim strokes and skills while having fun in the challenging world of lifesaving. Swim Patrol develops swimming strength and efficiency with emphasis on Water Smart® behaviour. Skill drills enhance capability in the water, good physical conditioning and lifesaving judgment.

Canadian Swim Patrol curriculum-at-a-glance

Rookie Patrol

Swimmers continue stroke development with 50 m swims of front crawl, back crawl and breaststroke. Lifesaving sport skills include a 25 m obstacle swim and 15 m object carry. First aid focuses on assessment of conscious victims, contacting EMS, and treatment for bleeding. Fitness improves in 350 m workouts and 100 m timed swims.

Recommended: Swimmer 6 or ability to swim at least 100 m continuously.

Ranger Patrol

Swimmers develop better strokes over 75 m swims of each stroke. They tackle lifesaving sport skills in a lifesaving medley, timed object support and rescue with a buoyant aid. First aid focuses on assessment of unconscious victims, treatment of victims in shock and obstructed airway procedures. Skill drills develop a strong lifesaving foundation.

Recommended: Rookie Patrol.

Star Patrol

Swimmers are challenged with 600 m workouts, 300 m timed swims and a 25 m object carry. Strokes are refined over 100 m swims. First aid focuses on treatment of bone or joint injuries and respiratory emergencies including asthma and allergic reactions. Lifesaving skills include defence methods, victim removals and rolling over and supporting a victim face up in shallow water.

Recommended: Ranger Patrol.

Next Steps...

Lifesaving levels: