HOW TO CHOOSE THE CORRECT LEVEL OF LEARN - TO - SWIM CLASS
• Review the skills listed for each class.
• Can your child complete all the skills listed? If so, advance to the next level. If not, enroll in that class.
• Adults and teens should consider Adult Swim Lessons.

AMERICAN RED CROSS
SWIMMING & WATER SAFETY
The American Red Cross offers a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate swim program that teaches you, your child or other family members how to swim skillfully and safely. The prerequisite for each level is the successful demonstration of skills from the preceding level, except for Level 1, which has no prerequisites. Each level also includes lessons in water safety.

To choose the correct level for your child, review the skills listed for each class and if your child can complete all the skills listed, advance to the next level. If not, enroll in that class. Only Parent & Child and Preschool aquatics are age-based, while the other levels are skill-based.

Parent & Child Aquatics
Level 1 - (Ages 6 Months to 3 Years)
Provides experiences and activities for children to-

• Learn to ask for permission before entering the water
• Learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe manner
• Feel comfortable in the water
• Explore submerging to the mouth, nose, eyes and completely
• Explore buoyancy on the front and back position
• Change body position in the water
• Learn how to play safely
• Experience wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket

Parent & Child Aquatics
Level 2 - (Ages 6 Months to 3 Years)
Builds upon the skills learned in Level 1 and providesexperiences and activities for children to-

• Establish expectation for adult supervision
• Learn more ways to enter and exit the water in a safe manner
• Explore submerging in a rhythmic pattern
• Glide on the front and back with assistance
• Perform combined stroke on front and back with assistance
• Change body position in the water
• Experience wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in the water

Preschool Aquatics
Level 1 - (Ages 4-5)
Orients children to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills.

• Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
• Blow bubbles through mouth and nose
• Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back glides & recover to a vertical position
• Back float & recover to vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Tread with arm and hand actions
• Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
• Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back

Preschool Aquatics
Level 2 - (Ages 4-5)
Helps children gain greater independence in their skills and develop more comfort in and around water.

• Enter water by stepping in
• Exit water using ladder, steps or side
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back floats and glides
• Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Tread water using arm and leg actions
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
• Finning arm action on back

Preschool Aquatics
Level 3 - (Ages 4-5)
Helps children start to gain basic swimming propulsive skills to be comfortable in and around water.

• Enter water by jumping in
• Fully submerge and hold breath
• Bobbing
• Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
• Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
• Back float and glide
• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
• Tread water using arm and leg actions
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
• Finning arm action on back

Learn-to-Swim
Level 1 - Introduction to Water Skills
Helps participants feel comfortable in the water.

• Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
• Blow bubbles through mouth & nose
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water & retrieve submerged objects
• Front and back glides and floats
• Recover to vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Tread water using arm & hand actions
• Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
• Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back

Learn-to-Swim
Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills
Gives participants success with fundamental skills.

• Enter and exit water by stepping or jumping from the side
• Fully submerge and hold breath
• Bobbing
• Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects
• Front, jellyfish and tuck floats
• Front and back glides and floats
• Recover to vertical position
• Roll from front to back and back to front
• Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
• Tread water using arm and leg actions
• Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
• Finning arm action

Learn-to-Swim
Level 3 - Stroke Development
Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water.

• Enter water by jumping from the side
• Headfirst entries from the side in sitting and kneeling positions
• Bobbing while moving toward safety
• Rotary breathing
• Survival float
• Back float
• Change from vertical to horizontal position on front and back
• Tread water
• Flutter, scissor, dolphin and breaststroke kicks on front
• Front crawl and elementary backstroke

Learn-to-Swim
Level 4 - Stroke Improvement
Develops confidence in the skills learned and improves other aquatic skills.

• Headfirst entries from the side in compact and stride positions
• Swim under water
• Feetfirst surface dive
• Survival swimming
• Front crawl and backstroke open turns
• Tread water using 2 different kicks
• Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
• Flutter and dolphin kicks on back

Level 5 - Stroke Refinement
Provides further coordination and refinement of strokes.

• Shallow-angle dive from the side then glide and begin a front stroke
• Tuck and pike surface dives, submerge completely
• Front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming
• Front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, breaststroke, sidestroke and butterfly
• Sculling

Learn-to-Swim
Level 6 - Swimming and Skill Proficiency
Refines the strokes so participants swim them with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with “menu” options that focus on preparing participants for
more advanced courses, including the Water Safety Instructor, or other aquatic activities, such as competitive swimming or diving.

Options include:
• Fitness Swimmer
• Personal Water Safety
• Fundamentals of Diving

JCPRD Activities Web Catalog
To view and enroll on-line to any of the Learn To Swim or the Roeland Park Aquatic Center programs and activities, please click on the Programs and Activities at this facility button below:

> Back to the JCPRD's Aquatics page.