Swim Lessons
From preschoolers to adults, we specialize in all aspects of water safety and lifelong swim skills ranging from overcoming fear of water to upper level stroke development. Learning to swim at the Y is about more than just stroke development. It's a swimmer-centered approach, where students learn through play, hands-on exercises and creative repetition. Children are taught in small groups with swimmers at their skill level. When ready, swimmers can apply their skills to upper level programs like swim team, lap swimming for exercise, lifeguard training and Masters Swimming.
Swimming is an activity you can enjoy your whole life. Let the Y help your family discover the exercise, sport and fun that is swimming!
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This quick guide will help you
choose the swim stage that is
appropriate for your or your child.
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SWIM STAGES
SWIM STARTERS >
Accompanied by a parents, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills.
A/WATER DISCOVERY Parents accompany children in stage A, which introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatics environment through exploration and encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water. Stage A is offered to children through age 5.
B/WATER EXPLORATION In stage B, parents work with their children to explore body positions,
floating, blowing bubbles, and fundamental safety and aquatic skills.
Stage B is offered to children through age 5.
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SWIM BASICS >
Students learn personal water safety and achieve basic swimming competency by learning benchmark skills.
1/WATER ACCLIMATION Students develop comfort with underwater
exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body
of water. This stage lays the foundation that allows for a student's
future progress in swimming. Stage 1 is offered to children aged 3-5
years, 5-8 years and 8-12 years, teens 12-17 years, and adults age 18
and up.
2/WATER MOVEMENT In stage 2, students focus on body position and control, directional
change, and forward movement in the water, while also continuing to
practice how to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of
water. Stage 2 is offered to children aged 3-5 years, 5-8 years and 8-12
years, teens 12-17 years, and adults age 18 and up.
3/WATER STAMINA In stage 3, students learn how to swim to safety from a longer distance
than in previous stages in the event of falling into a body of water.
This stage also introduces rhythmic breathing and integrated arm and leg
action. Stage 3 is offered to children aged 3-5 years, 5-8 years and
8-12 years, teens 12-17 years, and adults age 18 and up.
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SWIM STROKES >
Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke development.
4/STROKE INTRODUCTION Students in stage 4 develop stroke technique in front crawl and back
crawl, and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety
is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. Stage 4
is offered to children aged 3-5 years, 5-8 years and 8-12 years, teens
12-17 years, and adults age 18 and up.
5/STROKE DEVELOPMENT Students in stage 5 work on stroke technique and learn all major
competitive strokes. The emphasis on water safety continues through
treading water and sidestroke. Stage 5 is offered to children aged 5-8
years and 8-12 years, teens 12-17 years, and adults age 18 and up.
6/STROKE MECHANICS | STROKE & TURN Students
learn butterfly while continuing to develop endurance while refining
breaststroke, back and front crawl and diving. Flip turns and diving
from the block are introduced and learn about competitive swimming.
Swimmers should successfully complete Stage 5 / for ages 6-12.
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Private & Semi-Private Swim Lessons
YMCA aquatics offer private and semi-private lessons to allow students to work one-on-one with an instructor on their particular goals and needs. Whether you child is not able to submerge or wants to work on upper-level stroke development, the Y has an instructor that can meet your needs and schedule. Register below.
Private swim lesson contacts
Doylestown, Becky Connor 215.348.8131, x1159
Fairless Hills, Nicole Pipito 267.540.8680
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Private/Semi-Private Swim Lessons (all ages)
Private Swim Lessons (3 yrs to adult)
Semi-Private Swim Lessons (3 yrs to adult)
Parent/Child Swim Lessons (6 mos to 5 yrs)
Stage A Water Discovery - Parent/Child Swim Classes (6 to 18 mths)
1:12 ratio; Stage A introduces infants and toddlers to the aquatic environment and
encourages them to enjoy themselves while learning about the water with a parent/
caretaker whom they trust
Stage B Water Exploration - Parent/Child Swim Classes (19 to 36 mths)
1:10 ratio; Parents work with their toddlers to learn fundamental safety and pre-swimming skills like floating, blowing bubbles paddle stroke and kicking. Skills are taught in the context of repetitive songs, fun activities and drills which reinforce physical learning and encourage positive interaction between parent and child.
Stage B Water Exploration - Parent/Child Swim Classes (6-18 months))
1:10 ratio; Parents work with their toddlers to learn fundamental safety and pre-swimming skills like floating, blowing bubbles paddle stroke and kicking. Skills are taught in the context of repetitive songs, fun activities and drills which reinforce physical learning and encourage positive interaction between parent and child.
Stage 1 Water Acclimation- Parent/Child Swim Classes (3 to 5 yrs)
1:8 ratio;Kids learn safe water habits, underwater exploration, how to swim to safety and exit the water. Lessons are a mix of activities, games and drills. Preschoolers develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water. This class is for kids who aren’t yet comfortable working with an instructor without a parent in the water.
Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Preschool (age 3-4 years)
1:3 ratio; Students become comfortable with underwater exploration and learn to how to safely get out of the water if they fall in. Move to Stage 2 when you are willing to go under water voluntarily, you can front and back float, and glide with assistance.
Stage 1 Water Acclimation, Preschool (age 4-5 years)
1:3 ratio; Students become comfortable with underwater exploration and learn to how to safely get out of the water if they fall in. Move to Stage 2 when you are willing to go under water voluntarily, you can front and back float, and glide with assistance.
Stage 2 Water Movement, preschool (3 to 5 yrs)
1:4 ratio; Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while continuing to practice how to safely get out of the water if they fall in. Move to Stage 3 when you can do a front and back float on your own, front and back glide for 5’ (preschoolers) or 10’ (school age).
Stage 3 Water Stamina, preschool (3 to 5 yrs)
1:5 ratio; Students learn to swim longer distances. They learn how to do rhythmic breathing and integrate movements of their arms and legs. Move to Stage 4 when you can swim 10 yards (preschool) or 15 yards (school age) on your front and back and swim-float-swim 15 yards (preschool) or 25 yards (school age)
Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, preschool (3 to 5 yrs)
1:6 ratio; Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. Move to Stage 5 when you can swim 15 yards doing the elementary backstroke, front and back crawl with rotary breathing, swim-float-swim 25 yards and 15 yards of breaststroke and butterfly kicks.
Youth Swim Lessons (6 to 12 yrs)
STAGE 1 Swim Basics - Water Acclimation, School-age (6 to 12 yrs)
1:5 ratio; Students become comfortable with underwater exploration and learn how to safely get out of the water if they fall in. Move to Stage 2 when you are willing to go under water voluntarily, you can front and back float, and glide with assistance.
STAGE 2 Swim Basics - Water Movement, School-age (6 to 12 yrs)
1:6 ratio; Students focus on body position and control, directional change, and forward movement in the water, while continuing to practice how to safely get out of the water if they fall in. Move to Stage 3 when you can do a front and back float on your own, front and back glide for 5’ (preschoolers) or 10’ (school age)
STAGE 3 Swim Basics - Water Stamina - School-age (6 to 12 yrs)
1:6 ratio; Students learn to swim longer distances. They learn how to do rhythmic breathing and integrate movements of their arms and legs. Move to Stage 4 when you can swim 10 yards (preschool) or 15 yards (school age) on your front and back and swim-float-swim 15 yards (preschool) or 25 yards (school age)
Stage 4 Stroke Introduction, school-age (6 to 12 yrs)
1:7 ratio;
Students develop stroke technique in front crawl and back crawl and learn the breaststroke kick and butterfly kick. Water safety is reinforced through treading water and elementary backstroke. Move to Stage 5 when you can swim 15 yards doing the elementary backstroke, front and back crawl with rotary breathing, swim-float-swim 25 yards and 15 yards of breaststroke and butterfly kicks.
Stage 5 Stroke Development, school-age (6 to 12 yrs)
1:8 ratio; Builds on endurance and introduces breaststroke and butterfly and reinforces water safety; meant for swimmers who are able to swim 15 yards front crawl with side breathing, 15 yards backstroke, 15 yards elementary backstroke, and 15 yards breaststroke and butterfly kick.
Stage 6 Stroke Mechanics, school-age (6 to 12 yrs)
1:10 ratio; Students learn butterfly while continuing to develop endurance while refining breaststroke, back and front crawl and diving. Flip turns and diving from the block are introduced and learn about competitive swimming.
Swim Evaluations (all ages)
Complimentary swim evaluations
Complimentary swim evaluations to help place your child in the correct class are available free of charge. Connect with our aquatics department at 215.348.8131.
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Youth Swim Lessons (6 to 12 yrs)
1 / WATER ACCULIMATION (6-12 yrs)
2 / WATER MOVEMENT (6-12 yrs)
3 / WATER STAMINA (6-12 yrs)
4 / STROKE INTRODUCTION (6-12 yrs)
5 / STROKE DEVELOPMENT (6-12yrs)
6 / STROKE MECHANICS (6-12 yrs)
Private/Semi-Private Swim Lessons (all ages)
Semi-Private Swim Lessons
1 / WATER ACCLIMATION (3-5yrs)
2 / WATER MOVEMENT (3-5 yrs)
3 / WATER STAMINA (3-5 yrs)
4 / STROKE INTRODUCTION (3-5 yrs)
Accelerated Swim Lessons (3-5 yrs)
Parent/Child Swim Lessons (6 mos to 5 yrs)
1 / WATER ACCLIMATION (2 1/2- 5 yrs)
A / WATER DISCOVERY (6-18 mths)
B / WATER EXPLORATION (19-36 mths)
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Youth Swim Lessons (6 to 12 yrs)
1 / WATER ACCLIMATION (6-12 yrs)
2/ WATER MOVEMENT (6-12 yrs)
3/ WATER STAMINA (6-12 yrs)
4/ STROKE INTRODUCTION (6-12 yrs)
Youth Accelerated Swim Lessons
Private/Semi-Private Swim Lessons (all ages)
Private Swim Lesson (3+ yrs)
Semi-Private Swim Lessons (3+ yrs)
1 / WATER ACCLIMATION (3-5 yrs)
2 / WATER MOVEMENT (3-5 yrs)
3 / WATER STAMINA (3-5 yrs)
4 / STROKE INTRODUCTION (3-5 yrs)
Parent/Child Swim Lessons (6 mos to 5 yrs)
1 / WATER ACCLIMATION (2 1/2-5 yrs)
A / WATER DISCOVERY (6-18 mths)
B / WATER EXPLORATION (19-36 mths)
