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Determining the appropriate level for your child
Red Cross Guidelines
If your student has taken a Red Cross-sponsored swimming lesson in the past, refer to the last card he or she received. Please use the following guidelines. Please keep in mind that often children need to take a level more than once in order to pass it. All classes are open to students of all ages. The average ages given below are only meant as a guideline.
Parent-Tot Swim
Parent must be in the water with the child.
Class length is 30 minutes. Class is limited to 8 swimmers.
Sessions 3 & 5 - for children 2-5 years with little previous water experience, may prefer flotation device, reluctant to submerge, or who prefers parent in the water. Use swim diapers if necessary.
Level 1 - Introduction to water skills
(Average age 5-6)
Level 1 - helps students feel comfortable in the water. Includes: Put face in water, swim on back and front using leg and arm actions, safety rules, floating on back and front.
Level 2 - Fundamental Aquatic Skills
(Average age 5-8)
Level 2 - gives students success with fundamental skills. Includes: Opening eyes under water, swim on side, tread water, swim on front and back using combined strokes.
Level 3 - Stroke Development
(Average age 6-9)
Level 3 - builds on the skills learned in Level 2. Includes: Jump into water on side of pool, survival float, butterfly kick and body motion, dive from standing or kneeling position, submerge and retrieve an object, front and back crawl, bob with head fully submerged.
Level 4 - Stroke Improvement
(Average age 7-10)
Level 4 - develops confidence in the skills learned. Includes: Perform shallow dive, open turns swimming under water, treading water, front crawl, breaststroke, swim on side, butterfly.
Level 5 - Stroke Refinement
(Average age 8-11)
Level 5 - provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Includes: Tread water with two different strokes, standing dive, pike surface dive, front flip turn, backstroke flip turn, sidestroke.
Level 6 - Swimming and Skill Proficiency
(Average age 10-12)
Level 6 - is designed with 3 options that focus on preparing swimmers in different areas. The options include:
- Session 2 - Personal water Safety 6A
- Session 4 - Fitness Swimmer 6B
- Session 5 - Lifeguard Readiness 6C
These options begin to prepare students to participate in competitive swimming or lifeguard training. Because of the variety, swimmers may enroll in all 3 classes.
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