Preschool

PARENT/CHILD LEVELS (ages 6–36 months with a parent/caregiver 16 years or older)

• Builds basic water safety skills for parents and children, helping infants and young children become comfortable in the water.
  • These basic skills include:
    • Maintaining a front and back position
    • Blowing bubbles
    • Voluntarily submerging under water
  • PARENT TOT 1: 6-18 months
  • PARENT TOT 2:18-36 months

PRESCHOOL LEVELS  (ages 3–5)

• Gives young children a positive, developmentally appropriate aquatic learning experience that emphasizes water safety, survival and foundational swimming concepts.*
  
• PRESCHOOL 1– Introduces safety around water and water exploration.
• PRESCHOOL 2– Builds on the skills introduced in Preschool 1, with participants improving these skills and learning more advanced skills.
• PRESCHOOL3– Increase proficiency and build on skills learned in Preschool 1 and 2, increase distance and endurance, and work on independence
• *For safety reasons, goggles are not permitted during Pre-K swim lessons, as children need to learn how to safely open their eyes underwater

School-Age (ages 5-12)

Based on a logical, five-level progression that helps swimmers about 5+ years old and adults develop their water safety, survival and swimming skills. It is designed to give participants a positive learning experience.

• LEVEL 1: Intro to Water Skills – Helps to teach participants how to be comfortable in the water.
• LEVEL 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills – Introduces basics of strokes, buoyancy and skills of swimming.
• LEVEL 3: Stroke Development– Builds on the skills in Level 2 through additional guided practice in deeper water. Introduction to more advanced strokes.
• LEVEL 4: Stroke Improvement – Works on the three basic strokes: front and back crawl, and breaststroke. Introduction to dives and butterfly.
• LEVEL 5: Stroke Refinement – Refinement of four strokes and dives. Introduction to lap based swimming.
• Pre-Swim Team – Rule the pool, strengthen your swimming skills and learn new techniques in our pre-swim team practice. This class offers swimmers age 10–14 (swim level 4 and above) the opportunity to explore what it is like to be on a swim team! 

Swim Level Assessment

If your child is new to swimming, hasn’t taken lessons before, or hasn’t been in the pool for more than three months, please sign them up for level one in their age group. If you believe they’re ready for a higher level, please schedule a swim lesson level assessment first.

• Ask the aquatics manager for an assessment.
• Assessments take place in the water and last about 10 minutes.
• No registration necessary.
• Available any time during open swim.

Swim Lesson Information for Parents & Participants

• We use the American Red Cross Swim Lesson program.
• A lifeguard will be on duty for all swim lessons.
• Register for swim lessons at least one week before class start.
• If a class is full, you can add your child to the waiting list. If a space becomes available, our staff will contact you.
• Group lessons may have up to eight children in the lesson.
• Group lessons are 30 minutes.
• Parents must remain present during the lessons.
• For Pre-K levels, swim belts may be used as an additional tool to assist in buoyancy.
• If participant is not potty trained, they must wear a swim diaper. No cloth diapers are allowed. Swim diapers are available for purchase at Guest Services.
• Pools are heated, but during the cooler temperatures we recommend swim shirts.
• There are no makeup classes or refunds for lessons that are missed due to participant choice.
• All cancellations must be submitted in writing at least one week before the registration deadline to receive a refund. See page 3 of our recreation catalog for full cancellation policy
• Lesson rates are subject to change
• Scholarships are available to Inver Grove Heights residents! Learn more about scholarships.