Swim Lessons – A Guide For Parents
Swim Kids – A Guide
The Raymond Aquatic Centre offers
the Red Cross swim program Swim
Kids. We offer 3 Preschool classes,
Swim Kids levels 1-10 and private lessons.
Important Things to Know About Lessons:
 Red Cross programs are based on continuous evaluation. There is no test
date. A skill must be demonstrated to standard at least 3 times during
the session.
 Red Cross programs are not based on pass or fail system. Skills & levels
are either complete, meaning they have performed to standard at least
3 times, or incomplete, meaning that they have not.
 Students cannot complete a level if their skills are still weak.
 Parents should bring past report cards on the first day of lessons. These
will be returned to you at the end of the session.
 On the first day of lessons, your child’s instructor evaluates each student
& may recommend your child be placed in another level.
 Each session of lessons is two weeks long, with 8 lessons per session.
Unless there is a holiday, your child will be attending lessons Monday to
Thursday for both weeks.
 Parents are welcome to watch; however, we ask that you stay on the
artificial turf or next to the building. We appreciate your cooperation!
Preschool Program
This year we are offering a Parented Preschool class, for those children 4-30
months accompanied by a caregiver. This class is an orientation to water –
participants experience buoyancy and movement in the water along with
water safety for caregivers.
Preschool is for children ages 3-5 years who are comfortable attending
without a parent or guardian. It encompasses the three Red Cross levels Sea
Turtle, Salamander and Sunfish. Our instructors teach swimming and water
safety skills with fun games and songs.
Preschool Plus is for children ages 4-5 who are very comfortable in the water
and can float without assistance. This class encompasses Red Cross levels
Crocodile and Whale.
Sea Turtle – Children become acquainted with the aquatic
environment and comfortable with basic front and back float positions.
Salamander – Children learn floats and glides in chest deep water
with their instructor’s assistance, working towards swimming 2m unassisted.
Sunfish – Children work on skill and stroke progression, as well as
good judgment in and around shallow and deep water, with minimal instructor assistance.
Crocodile – Children learn to swim 5 m on their front and back, the dolphin kick, and begin rhythmic breathing.
Whale – Children learn to swim 10 m, and do the front crawl for 7 m on their front and back. They also learn to support
themselves at the surface for 20 seconds.
Swim Kids is for children ages 6 and up.
 Swim Kids 1 – Children learn to perform floats &
glides with kicks & demonstrate them without help of
instructor. Distance swim 5m.
 Swim Kids 2 –Children build skills in front & back
swims. Intro to deep water activity & proper use of a
Personal Flotation Device. Distance swim 10m.
 Swim Kids 3 – Refinement of glides with kick, with
intro to front crawl and diving. Work on the
foundation for making wise choices on where & when
to swim. Distance swim 15 m (1 width of pool).
 Swim Kids 4 – Intro to back crawl, plus practicing
front crawl skills. Children work on kneeling dives,
surface support & developing a greater sense of self-
safety. Distance swim 25m (1 length of pool).
 Swim Kids 5 – Back crawl, sculling skills &
introduction to whip & dolphin kick. Learn safe
boating skills & self rescue in cold water. Distance
swim 50m (2 lengths).
 Swim Kids 6 – Front & back crawl refined, intro to
elementary backstroke. Intro to safety on ice, basic
rescue of others, treading water & the front dive.
Distance swim 75m (3 lengths).
 Swim Kids 7 – Continue to build skills and
endurance for front crawl, back crawl, & elementary
back stroke. Introduces whip kick on the front. Learn
airway & breathing obstructions & participate in
timed treading water for increasing endurance.
Distance swim 150m (6 lengths).
 Swim Kids 8 – Intro to breaststroke, surface dives, &
rescue entries. Children learn about dangers of open
water & hypothermia & about rescue breathing.
Distance swim 300m (12 lengths).
 Swim Kids 9 – Stroke improvement across the
board. Learn self rescue from ice, complications of
rescue breathing, & boating regulations. Intro to
alternative surface dive & rescue entries. Distance
swim 400m (16 lengths).
 Swim Kids 10 – Refinement of strokes, intro to
butterfly & scissor kick. Sun safety & rescue of others
from ice. Distance swim 500m (20 lengths).