Swimming is a life skill. It also serves as great exercise and a challenging sport. For our kids, many of their childhood memories will be centered around water: swimming in the pool, cannonballs off the diving board, beach vacations, fishing, even bath time. Although it might not seem like swim lessons would apply to something as routine as taking a bath, there’s so much more to lessons than splashing and dunking.
At the Y, we offer lessons for all ages, family swim, a competitive swim team and adaptive swim programs for children and adults with special needs so we can all enjoy the pleasures of an aquatic environment. With drowning remaining a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in children, with drowning rates being highest for children between the ages of 1 and 2, it’s important to make swim lessons a priority.
Parent/Child Lessons: These lessons are intended for children 6 months+ and their caregiver with the goal of becoming comfortable in the water. We balance teaching caregivers about water safety with imaginative, free play for the little ones.
Preschool Swim Lessons: Between the ages of 3 and 5, caregivers do not accompany their children into the water. These lessons focus on fun, pre-swimming learning skills, water adjustment through games and songs, use of personal floatation devices and diving safety. Lessons are progressive, and kids are placed in a level according to their ability.
Youth Swim Lessons: For children between the ages of 6 and 14, lessons are student-centered and use a problem-solving, guided discovery teaching approach. The emphasis is on learning, not passing or failing. Each level is divided into five components, including personal safety, personal growth, water sports and games, stroke development and rescue. Kickboards and series swimming are also incorporated to increase strength and endurance.
Adult Swim Lessons: For ages 14 and up, swim lessons focus on stroke development, endurance, strength and minimization of fear in the water. Students will learn floating, front and back crawl (among other strokes) and treading water.
Don’t delay in signing up your child or yourself for swimming at the Y! All lessons are available in group, semi-private and private formats. For more information on swim lessons and all of the other activities the Y offers, visit www.bnymca.org.
