The parent/child swim program introduces infants and toddlers to the joys of swimming under the care and love of their parents. As a parent, you will learn about the importance of supervision, water safety and how to encourage and guide your child to become more familiar with being in the water and increasing their comfort in the water.

Preschoolers will be introduced to swim movement skills, gain independence, develop a sense of comfort and confidence in the water and learn basic water safety. Swimmers are introduced to assisted swim and water movement skills.

Swimmers will be introduced to swim movement skills, gain independence, develop a sense of comfort and confidence in the water and learn basic water safety. Swimmers will be challenged to swim independently, learning the skills to help them swim to safety should an accident occur and preparing them for stroke development.

In Otter, the first level of the YMCA swim program, students develop comfort in the water and will work toward underwater exploration. Swimmers will learn basic water safety and how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.  

In Seal, the second level of the YMCA swim program, swimmers are comfortable in the water and will work toward increasing their skills by learning how to properly kick and roll in the water. Swimmers will learn basic water safety and the basics of breathing while swimming on their front and back. Students safely spend some time in deep water (over the student's head) to build comfort where they cannot touch the bottom.

In Dolphin, the third level of the YMCA swim program, swimmers continue to develop the ability to breathe while swimming and increase their endurance in the pool. Students will learn to tread water and underwater swimming to increase their comfort in deep water should an unexpected fall into water occur.

In Swimmer, the fourth level of the YMCA swim program, students develop front and back crawl strokes and continue building endurance in the pool. Students will increase the length of time they can tread water and begin to build the skills necessary for other aquatic activities such as synchronized swimming, lifesaving and water polo.

Swimmers have now developed the basics of swimming and are ready to develop strokes and endurance. Students in Stars 1 and 2 develop stroke techniques in front crawl and back crawl, and they learn whip kick, elementary backstroke and breaststroke. Water safety and competitive swimming skills are all introduced and developed throughout the program. 

Swimmers are now ready to move into more advanced swim strokes and aquatic skills. Basic strokes like front and back crawl are at an advanced standard. Breaststroke and elementary backstroke are at intermediate levels and sidestroke and dolphin kick are introduced. Aquatic skills are sourced from a variety of aquatic activities like water polo, synchronized swimming and so much more!

Students in Star 5-7 develop stroke techniques in sidestroke, dolphin kick, and butterfly. Competitive swim skills, aqua fitness and synchronized swimming continue to develop throughout the program. The Star 5-7 program includes focus on leadership and lifesaving skills to set your swimmer on a path to aquatic leadership and advanced aquatic skills.

If you are not sure what level your child should be registered in, take our short “Find Your Swim Level” survey below. Ensuring your swimmers are registered for the right swim level is for both their learning and safety. Each level introduces new skills to advance their comfort level, endurance and ability to swim in different depths of water. It is important that swimmers successfully complete each level before moving on.

Your child’s swim lessons progress cards are available online 1-2 days after the conclusion of the full swimming session. Click the link for your branch to find your card. 

While swimming lessons are only for members, our Member Access Program can help if financial circumstances impact your ability to join.

Minimum height requirements are site-specific. Children 7 years of age and under will not be allowed entry into the pool unless accompanied by a Parent/Guardian/Caregiver at a ratio of 1 Parent/Guardian/Caregiver to 4 children.

CHILDREN 7 YEARS AND UNDER

Children 7 years and under who cannot swim:

• Must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian/Caregiver at a ratio of 1:4.
• Parent/Guardian/Caregiver must be within arm’s reach of the child(ren).
• Are restricted to the shallow end.
• Must wear a Lifejacket/PFD (Personal Floatation Device) unless the ratio is 1:1.

Children 7 years and under who can swim:

• Upon demonstration of swimming ability may enter the pool without a Lifejacket/PFD.
• Must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian/Caregiver at a ratio of 1:4.
• Parent/Guardian/Caregiver must be within arm’s reach of the children.

CHILDREN 8 YEARS AND OLDER

Children 8 years and older who do not meet the height requirements and cannot swim:

• Must be accompanied by a Parent/Guardian/Caregiver at a ratio of 1:4.
• Parent/Guardian/Caregiver must be within arm’s reach of the children.
• Are restricted to the shallow end.
• Must wear a Lifejacket/PFD unless the ratio is 1:1.

Children 8 years and older who do not meet the height requirement but can swim:

• Upon demonstration of swimming ability may enter the pool without a Lifejacket/PFD.
• Children 8 years and older who meet the height requirement and cannot swim:
• Are restricted to the shallow end.
• A Lifejacket/PFD is optional.

The on-site Swim Lesson Supervisor/Lifeguard has the right to prevent access to any part of the pool or the Aquatic Centre in its entirety should there be any safety concerns regarding the patron’s use of the facility.

The YMCA in Canada has taught thousands of children, youth and adults to swim through our nationally-accredited swim programs since we offered our first swimming lesson over 100 years ago.

YMCA Canada, the Canadian Red Cross and the Lifesaving Society worked together to produce the chart below as a tool to help determine a swimmer’s readiness to begin in a particular level of our swim programs. Keep in mind, each swimmer is unique and their differences, strengths and situations affect their readiness and progress through swim levels.