In order to be eligible for a refund, please complete a Refund Request form and turn it in at the Rosemeade Rec Center or Crosby Rec Center prior to the start or end of the class. NO refunds will be awarded after a swim lesson session has ended. If the class has not started, a refund will be given less a $5 administrative fee. If the class has already started, only pro-rated household credits will be considered and the merit of request will be on a case-by-case basis. A $5 administrative fee will be deducted from the credit. If your child is sick, please provide a copy of a doctor's note along with your refund request. Any change in class registration or transfers to another class will incur a $5 transfer fee.

Classes will only be canceled due to severe weather which includes, but is not limited to, lightning in the immediate area, severe thunderstorms, hail, and excessive winds related to weather warnings. Classes ARE NOT canceled due to rain or cool weather. Please call the swim class hotline at 972-695-2355 and press 11#, 30 minutes prior to your class time for inclement weather information.  You may also view the status of swim lessons here and sign up for text notifications.

This course will teach parents safety information and techniques to help orient their children to water. It also provides direction on how to supervise water activities in a responsible manner. This program is a bonding experience that will fill parents and children with wonderful lifelong memories.

Our instructors follow a plan to introduce water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate for infants and toddlers. Routines and the familiar are extremely important to this age group. Each class uses toys, songs, fun and games to keep the children engaged and enjoying the water experience. Parents are encouraged to get wet and enjoy the program with your child. Swim diapers are recommended to take this course.

In Parent and Tot, fun activities are provided to teach children to:

• Learn more ways to enter and exit the water safely
• Feel comfortable in the water
• Submerge and explore breath control
• Explore floating on the front and back
• Glide on the front and back with assistance
• Perform combined stroke on front and back with assistance
• Change body position in the water

Parents will also learn:

• How to hold and support your child in the water
• Valuable water safety information to make your family safer in and around the water

Where do you go from here?

Children move through Parent and Tot based on their comfort level with the water. After successfully completing the course, children who are about 3 years of age are eligible for Preschool Aquatics. 

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

Preschool Aquatics consists of three levels. For each level, our instructors follow a plan to introduce new swimming and water safety skills that are developmentally appropriate for young children. Preschool Aquatics puts the “fun” in fundamentals. Each class is loaded with enjoyable, engaging and challenging activities that motivate children to want to perform and learn to swim.

In Preschool Level 1, your child is introduced to basic skills. These skills lay the foundation for future skill development of swimming strokes. Children will learn to:

• Enter the water unassisted
• Submerge their mouth and blow bubbles
• Exit the water safely
• Glide on front
• Roll to back and float
• Recover to a vertical position

In Preschool Level 2, children will:

• Float without support
• Recover to a vertical position
• Explore simultaneous and alternating arm and leg actions on front and back
• Learn self-help and basic rescue skills

In Preschool Level 3, children will:

• Build on the skills in Level 2
• Coordinate combined simultaneous arm and leg actions and alternating arm and leg actions
• Learn additional safety skills

Where do you go from here?

Children move through Preschool Aquatics based on their mastery of the skills required at each level. It is quite common for children to participate in several sessions of Preschool Aquatics before they are able to successfully demonstrate all skills. That is okay! Once your child has completed all levels of Preschool Aquatics, and they are at least 5 years of age, they are eligible to register for Learn to Swim Level 3.

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

In Level 1, Introduction to Water Safety Skills, your child is introduced to basic skills as the foundation for future skills. Certain milestones are necessary for completion of Level 1, including:

• Entering the water independently using ladder steps or side
• Traveling at least 5 yards, bobbing 3 times then safely exiting the water
• Gliding on front supported
• Rolling to a back float with support
• Recovering to a vertical position with support

Where do you go from here?

After successfully completing the skills in Level 1, children are ready to move on to Level 2 – Fundamental Aquatic Skills.

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

In Level 2, Fundamental Aquatic Skills, your child will build on the skills learned in Level 1. Some of the milestones that are necessary for completion of Level 2 include:

• Stepping from the side into chest-deep water
• Learn to float without support
• Learn to recover to a vertical position
• Explore various arm and leg actions for swimming on the front and back
• Learn the foundation for future stroke development

Where do you go from here?

After successfully completing the skills in Level 2, children are ready to move on to Level 3 – Stroke Development.

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

In Level 3, Stroke Development, your child will build on the skills learned in Level 2. Some of the milestones in Level 3 your child may learn are the:

• Survival float
• Front crawl
• Elementary backstroke
• Scissors and dolphin kick
• Fundamentals of treading water
• Safety rules for headfirst entries
• Early progressions for entering the water headfirst from the side of the pool

Where do you go from here?

After successfully completing the skills in Level 3, children are ready to move on to Level 4 – Stroke Improvement.

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

In Level 4, Stroke Improvement, your child will build on the skills learned in Level 3. Participants will obtain the following milestones in Level 4:

• Increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes for greater distances
• Build on the scissors kick and dolphin kick by adding arms for sidestroke and butterfly
• Learn the back crawl
• Learn the breaststroke
• Learn the basics of turning at a wall

Where do you go from here?

After successfully completing the skills in Level 4, children are ready to move on to Level 5 – Stroke Refinement.

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

In Level 5, Stroke Refinement, your child will build on the skills learned in Level 4. Participants in Level 4 will:

• Refine their performance of all strokes (front crawl, back crawl, butterfly, breaststroke, elementary backstroke and sidestroke)
• Increase their endurance by swimming familiar strokes for greater distances
• Learn flip turns on the front and back

Where do you go from here?

After successfully completing the skills in Level 5, children are ready to move on to Level 6 – Swimming and Skill Proficiency.

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

In Level 6, your child will build on the skills learned in Level 5 and refine swimming and water safety skills that were taught throughout the levels. Expectations are quite high in regards to distance and quality. Participants in Level 6 will:

• Continue to improve the quality and endurance of all six strokes learned throughout the six levels of Learn to Swim
• Prepare for more advanced courses like Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor
• Learn some basics of specialized aquatic activities, such as competitive swimming or diving

It is not important how quickly they move through a level, but that they acquire each skill.

How are participants evaluated?

Instructors follow a plan that details the skills to be introduced at each level along with performance expectations. Progress of participants is continuously monitored and evaluated and skills are checked off as they are achieved.

Near the end of the session, achievement cards are presented to children who have not completed all skills. The cards indicate which skills have been achieved and which skills need more work.

How can you help as a parent?

You play an essential role in your child’s aquatic experience. Your enthusiasm and guidance can make your child’s swim lessons fun and rewarding.

• Support your child by praising his or her effort in the pool.

• Bring a healthy snack and drink for your child for after the lesson to replace fluids and energy.

• Understand that children develop swimming skills at different rates. Remember, many children need to repeat a level multiple times to complete all of the skills.

• Ask the instructor which skills your child should review, and then make practicing at home or the pool fun!

How can you build on your child’s swimming experience?

• Give your child plenty of opportunities to develop strength, practice skills and increase his or her comfort level in the water by taking him or her to a local or family pool.

• Stay interested in your child’s progress. Ask your child to show you a skill learned in swim lessons and incorporate the skill into a game to play in the pool.