Fairfield YMCA Swim Lessons

Parent/Child Aquatic Program

The goals of this program are to learn water orientation and adjustment skills, have fun, get exercise, receive parent education, learn safe water adjustment, and learn approiate use of personal floation devices (PFD’s).  Requires the in water participation of a parent, guardian or other adult who is trusted by and legally responsible for the child and swim diapers and tight fitting rubber pants must be worn.  Click on the following link for our Summer Swim Lesson Schedule for details on when the following classes are offered.

Parent/Child Class Levels

Shrimp/Kippers (6-12 months):  Child can control their head and sit and stand with or without support from a parent/aid’s hands.

Inia/Perch (12-36 months):   Child can stand without support and can walk or jump with or without support from parent /aid.

   
Preschool/School Aged and Adult Aquatic Programs

The goals of this program are to learn begining swimming skills built around the YMCA’s five main components of personal safety, personal growth, stroke development, water sports and games, and rescue. 

 Pre-school Aquatics Class Levels:  All participants must be between 3 and 5 years old by the start of the first class.

Pike (3-5 years):  Child does not need to posess any swimming ability.

Eel (3-5 years):  Child must be able to swim 5 feet without a flotation devise and float on their back independently

Ray (3-5 years):  Child must be able to swim the width of the pool on their front and back without a flotation devise and jump in and recover in the deep end of the pool.  Child also has no fear of deep water.
 
Starfish (3-5 years):  Child is able to swim rudementry freestyle the length of the pool (25 yards) without a flotation devise and swim on their back.

 Youth and Adult Aquatic Program:  All participants must be between 6 and 12 years old by the start of the first class.

Polliwog (6-12 years):  Child does not need to posess any swimming ability.

Guppy (6-12 years):  Child has mastered swimming the width of the pool on both their front and back, can jump and recover in deep water, and has no fear of deep water.

Minnow (6-12 years):  Child has mastered front crawl with rotary breathing, rudementary back stroke, diving, and can swim the length of the pool without stopping.

Fish (6-12 years):  Child has mastered front crawl, back stroke, rudementary breast stroke, diving, and is comfortable with swimming two lengths of the pool without stopping.

Flying Fish/Shark (6-12 years):  Child has mastered front crawl, back stroke, breast stroke, diving, and is comfortable swimming 4 lengths of the pool without stopping.

 
Adult Lessons:  Participant must be at least 12 years old

 A student’s abilities are assesed and they are grouped as beginners, intermediate, and advanced.  Students may be non-swimmers, too old for youth swim lessons or they may be swimmers needing to develop their stroke for entry into a lifeguard class or triathalon .