Youth Swim Lessons

Swim Lessons for all ages

When it comes to swimming and water safety, no one is trusted more than the YMCA, America's Swim Instructor. In fact, group swim instruction was developed by the YMCA in 1906. The YMCA swim lesson curriculum is designed to teach this lifelong skill to young people and adults of all skill levels in a safe environment. We offer swim lessons for the beginner and for those looking to improve their strokes.

All YMCA swim instructors are nationally certified and are trained in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration.
Private lessons and small group lessons offered.
A curriculum focusing on skills-based instruction with an emphasis on personal safety.

Provided take-home tools and resources to support students and families outside of the Y.
Students’ progress is tracked throughout the session and discussed with parents.
Mid-session reports given halfway through the session and certificates of achievement given at completion. (For Group Swim Lessons Only)
Variety of Y locations.

What age group does the student fall into?

Group Swim Lessons

Select the age range of the student to view swim lessons.

Parent & Child (6 months - 3yrs)

Parent & Child

Ages: 6 months - 3 years

With a parent in the pool, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim-readiness skills. Parents learn about water safety and drowning prevention.

Swim Starters

In this program, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim-readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention, and the importance of supervision.

Stage A: Water Discovery

Infants and toddlers are introduced to the aquatic environment and encouraged to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to respond to verbal cues and jump on land.

Ages: 6 month-3yrs | Qualifications: None

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Stage B: Water Exploration

You’ll work with your child to explore body positions, floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water.
Ages: 6 month-3yrs
Qualifications: Stage A: Water Discovery

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Preschool (Ages 3-5yrs)

Preschool Child

Ages: 3 - 5yrs

Kids learn safe water habits, underwater exploration, how to swim to safety and exit the water. Lessons are a mix of activities, games and drills.

Swim Basics

In this program, preschoolers learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills—swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab.

The stages offered are:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)

Preschoolers taking a water acclimation swim lesson at the Y

Stage 1: Water Acclimation

Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily.

Ages: 3-5yrs | Qualifications: None

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(Stages vary by Y location)
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Preschools taking Water Movement swim lessons at the Y

Stage 2: Water Movement

Preschoolers focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water and continue to practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to do a front and back float on their own.
Ages: 3-5yrs
Qualifications: (1) able to go underwater & comfortably open eyes without goggles, (2) able to float on front & back with minimal assistance, (3) able to jump in the pool, submerge & return to the wall with assistance.

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(Stages vary by Y location)
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Stage 3: Water Stamina

Preschoolers learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance than in previous stages. The class also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm/leg action. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to swim 10-15 yards on their front and back.

Ages: 3-5yrs
Qualifications: (1) able to float on front & back unassisted, (2) able to push off the wall on stomach with face submerged for 10 feet unassisted, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 feet unassisted, (4) able to jump into deep water and return to the wall unassisted.

View Offerings & Register
(Stages vary by Y location)
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

Swim Strokes

Having mastered the fundamentals, preschoolers learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique.

The stages offered are:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)

Pre-Schooler learning about swimming strokes at the Y

Stage 4: Stroke Introduction

Preschoolers learn the front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke kick, and butterfly kick. This class is for kids who aren’t yet able to swim 15 yards of front and back crawl.

Ages: 3-5yrs
Qualifications: (1) able to submerge & retrieve an object in chest-deep water, (2) able to swim front crawl 15 yards while taking a breath, (3) able to Swim-Float-Swim 15 yards, (4) able to jump in & tread water for 30 seconds (5) able to swim to wall & exit.

View Offerings & Register
(Stages vary by Y location)
You may register online or at our Welcome Center.

School-Age (Ages 5-12yrs)

School-Age Child

Ages: 5 -12 years

Starting with water safety and basic swimming competency, kids progress to learn about the four competitive swimming strokes.

Swim Basics

In this program, school-age kids learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning two benchmark skills—swim, float, swim and jump, push, turn, grab.

The stages offered are:
(Please click on the below stages to view details and to register.)

School Age students taking Water Acclamation swim lesson classes at the Y!

Stage 1: Water Acclimation

Kids develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable going underwater voluntarily.

Ages: 5-12yrs | Qualifications: None