| Make a big splash with the kids this summer by enrolling them in swimming lessons through a National Swimming Program! The American Red Cross is a quality organization with a swimming program that is available at many local recreational centers throughout the country. This six level aquatic program is designed so that kids of all ages and abilities can participate, get fit and have fun learning how to swim. “Parents often feel that it’s so important to teach their kids skills like ballet, karate, baseball, and other stuff,” says Jessica Sims a local aquatic director that hosts the Red Cross Aquatics program, “that stuff is all well and good, but swimming is a skill that could potentially save their child’s life.” Sims goes on to say “Swimming is not a skill that can be learned in just one summer, it’s a skill that has to consistently be worked on.” Consistency is a big part of the American Red Cross Program as each level builds upon the next. Kids learn and practice until they advance to the next level where previously learned skills are reviewed and new skills are introduced. Water safety is also a main focus in each level so that children can learn how to be safe in and around a pool. This program designed by a panel of aquatic experts is structured to help each child become a better and safer swimmer. Below is an in-depth overview of the six level American Red Cross Aquatics Program. This information was provided to childnparent.com courtesy of the American Red Cross National Headquarters and Jessica Sims, an aquatic director at a local facility which is an authorized provider of the American Red Cross Aquatics Program. Parent and Child Purpose: To help children develop Swimming Readiness The minimum age requirement for this class is six months. Instructors lead parents in water exploration activities designed to be fun and educational. Pre-school songs are used to help the child feel more comfortable blowing bubbles, floating in a semi-back float position, performing front arm motions and kicks. Spending quality time with a child in a Parent and Child Aquatic class is sure to be a memorable and fun experience. There are no recommended pre-requisites to enter level 1 of the American Red Cross Swimming Program. Authorized providers of the American Red Cross Swimming Program will place the child based on their individual swimming skills. Basic Water Safety Rules are emphasized and taught at each skill level. Level 1: Introduction to Water Skills Purpose: To help the children feel comfortable in the water. The child is very supported in this level by the instructor as they learn basic water safety and swimming skills. Children are taught the basic swimming arm stroke and leg kick motions and how to use them together. Children are also instructed on how to “blow bubbles” how to front and back float and how to safely enter the water without assistance. Children can have fun in this level by learning how to open their eyes and pick up a submerged object underwater. Water safety skills that are taught include how to use a life jacket, how to recognize a swimmer in distress and basic water safety rules. Level 2: Fundamental Aquatic Skills Purpose: Give children success with fundamental skills. Level 2 enables the student to become more independent in the water, as Level 1 swimming and safety skills are reinforced and advanced. Students are taught how to tread water. Students are also taught and encouraged to practice submerging the entire head while practicing breath control as learned in level 1. Children are also taught bobbing in the water, the jellyfish float, front and back glide and how to swim using combined strokes on front and back. Water safety skills are advanced as students become familiar with wearing a life jacket in the water. Students will also learn how to recognize a swimmer in distress, and how to get help. Level 3: Stroke Development Purpose: Build on the skills in level 2 by providing additional guided practice. This level is more advanced as the child is much more independent in the water and ready to learn a combination of more technical aquatic skills. Students are taught how to do the butterfly-kick and as well as a front and back glide. Students are also instructed in the front and back crawl. Rotary breathing is introduced and students continue to learn how to pick up submerged objects underwater. A kneeling or standing dive is introduced. Water Safety skills are further advanced with the instruction of the reach assist method and a 30 second survival float. Level 4: Stroke Improvement Purpose: Develop confidence in the strokes learned and improve other aquatic skills. This level is designed to help the student become more proficient in the strokes they have learned so far and introduces the student to some new skills. Elementary backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly are taught and refined. The front and back crawl is also practiced. The student is exposed to safe diving rules and instructed how dive from a stride position and how to execute a shallow dive. A feet first surface dive is also taught and students are instructed in the throwing assist method. Level 5: Stroke Refinement Purpose: Provide further coordination and refinement of strokes. This level allows the student to practice and develop endurance in strokes learned. Water safety skills are further advanced with water survival skills and rescue breathing. The standing dive is taught along with a tuck and pike surface dive. Students are instructed in open turns on front and back as well as the front and backstroke flip turn. Students continue to refine and practice the front and back crawl, elementary backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke and side stroke. Level 6 Fitness Swimmer: Swimming and Skill Proficiency Purpose: Refines the strokes so students swim with ease, efficiency, power and smoothness over greater distances. Level 6 is designed with “menu” options. Each of these options focus on preparing students to participate on swim teams and in more advanced courses, such as Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard Training. These options include: Personal Water Safety Lifeguard Readiness Fundamentals of Diving Fitness Swimmer The American Red Cross also offers a program called Guard Start which is a life guarding course designed for 11 to 14 year olds. The content of the program includes multiple units in five categories: prevention, fitness, response, leadership and professionalism. The entire program totals 50 lessons and is designed to prepare students to pass the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Program. To participate in Guard Start, the student must be able to: Swim the front crawl for 25 yards continuously while breathing to the front or side. Tread water for one minute using arms and legs Submerge and swim a distance of 10 feet underwater. The American Red Cross is a quality organization that offers a quality aquatics program. There are different national swimming programs available through out the country so be sure to verify before registration that is it the American Red Cross Aquatics Program. You can clink on the link below to enter your zip code and find the American Red Cross Chapter nearest you. Your local American Red Cross chapter can give you information on aquatic facilities who are authorized Red Cross providers in your area. You can also view information on other swimming programs that may be available in your area by checking out the links below. Remember a prepared parent is a good parent. So, when those summer boredom blahs hit your house, pack up the kids, take them to the local rec and sign them up for the American Red Cross Six Level Aquatic Program. It will give your kids something fun to do, and you can have peace of mind knowing that your kids are learning how to be safer around the water. National American Red Cross Website. Contact your local chapter for the nearest authorized provider of the American Red Cross Aquatic Program. Water safety tips for parents to help kids stay safe around water. YMCA Basic information on the YMCA swimming program. Starfish Basic information on the Starfish swimming program. |
