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**Please note the new Preschool Levels for children 4-5 years old!**
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. The average ages given below are meant as a guideline.
Parent-Tot Swim
(Ages 2-4 years old)
Parent must be in the water with the child.
Class length is 30 minutes. Class is limited to 8 swimmers.
For children with little previous water experience, may prefer flotation device, reluctant to submerge, or who prefers parent in the water. Use swim diapers if necessary.
Preschool Level 1
(age 4-5)
Orients children to aquatic environment and helps them gain basic water skills. Learn how to enter and exit water using stairs, side and ladder. Submerge mouth, nose and eyes; back float; tread water
Preschool Level 2
(age 4-5)
Helps children gain independence in their skills and develop comfort in the water. Open eyes and retrieve object; bob in the water; front and back floats; tread water
Preschool Level 3
(age 4-5)
Helps children start to gain basic swimming propulsion skills. Enter water by jumping in; fully submerge and hold breath; front, jellyfish, and tuck floats; back float and glide; change direction of travel on front and back
Level 1- Introduction to water skills
(age 6 and up)
Level 1 - helps students feel comfortable in the water. Includes: Blow bubbles through mouth and nose; bobbing; open eyes and retrieve submerged object; front and back glides and floats; treading water; roll from front to back and back to front
Level 2- Fundamental Aquatic Skills
(Average age 6-8)
Level 2 - gives students success with fundamental skills. Includes: Entering and exiting by stepping or jumping from side of pool; fully submerge and hold breath; front, jellyfish and tick floats; front and back glides and floats; treading water; finning arm action
Level 3 - Stroke Development
(Average age 6-9)
Level 3 - builds on the skills learned in Level 2. Includes: enter by jumping from side of pool; headfirst entries from side in sitting and kneeling positions; bobbing while moving toward safety; rotary breathing; survival float; flutter, scissor, dolphin and breast stroke on front; front crawl and elementary back stroke
Level 4 - Stroke Improvement
(Average age 7-10)
Level 4 - develops confidence in the skills learned. Includes: headfirst entries from side in compact and stride positions; swim under water; feet first surface dive; survival swimming; front crawl and back stroke open turns; tread water using two different strokes; flutter and dolphin kicks on back
Level 5 -Stroke Refinement
(Average age 8-11)
Level 5 - provides further coordination and refinement of strokes. Includes: shallow angle dive from side then glide and begin front stroke; tuck and pike surface dives; submerge completely; front flip turn and backstroke flip turn while swimming; sculling
Level 6- Swimming and Skill Proficiency
(Average age 10-12)
Level 6 - Refines the strokes so swimmers swim with ease, efficiency, and power over greater distances; helps prepare participants for more advanced courses or other aquatic activities
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