Our Progressive Curriculum Guides Children through the 4 Phases of Learning to Swim 

The LifeCycle Swim School Youth Progressive Curriculum offers developmentally appropriate swim lessons for ages 6 months through 13 years. Personal safety and community responsibility are at the core of everything we teach. ​Program levels are clearly defined with motivating goals. We believe that every person should develop what we call the core competencies of swimming: confident, competent freestyle, breaststroke and elementary backstroke, plus all pool and open water safety and self-rescue skills. Swimming is the long game. We recommend at least 13 years of consistent lessons and exposure to water to help kids develop these core skills so that they can enjoy a lifetime filled with safe and fun aquatic experiences.

Even though a student may have passed a level, skills and confidence can regress if not practiced. It's important to make pool-time part of a family's regular activities. 

SWIM LEVELS

BABY DISCOVERY & SURVIVAL 

Quick Look

• 6-18 Months
• ​Guardian-assisted​
• Max 6 Pairs : 1 Teacher​
• ​30 Minutes
• Swim diapers required

Water Acclimation &
​Introduction to Survival skills
Guardian-Assisted Class

A gentle water acclimation and self-rescue class designed for babies 6-18 months. Learn how to safely support and hold the littlest ones, and how to prepare and inspire them to try skills. Babies start learning to self-rescue by rolling on their back, and holding the float. We also introduce safe water entry and exit. Songs and toys are used to engage and encourage children. No forceful submersions. Guardians learn safety strategies to keep children safe in, on and around water, including recommendations for the confusing array of flotation devices. Children must wear disposable swim diapers against their skin, and re-usable swim diapers as a second  layer.

Baby Discovery Goals

• Educate caregivers about water safety.
• Learn to safely hold, support and cue babies in the water.
• Safely enter and exit water.
• Safely experiment with breath holding and underwater discovery.
• Safely and gently teach the survival skills of rolling over and a back float hold.
• Experiment with arm and leg propulsion
• Enjoy a special bonding time between baby and guardian.

TODDLER SURVIVE & EXPLORE

Quick Look

• 12-36 Months
• Guardian-assisted​
• Max 6 Pairs : 1 Teacher
• ​30 Minutes
• If not toilet trained, swim diapers required

​Water Acclimation and Survival for Toddlers
Guardian-Assisted Class

A fun, splashy water acclimation and self-rescue class designed for toddlers. Learn how to safely support and hold toddlers, and how to prepare and inspire them to try skills. Toddlers start by learning to self-rescue by rolling on their back, then add in a swim-float-swim sequence to get to safety. Safe water entry and exit bookend these safety skills. We use songs and toys to engage and encourage children. Students practice our SafetyCycle, to help prevent against accidental or unsupervised water entry.  No forceful submersions. Guardians learn safety strategies to keep children safe in, on and around water, including recommendations for the confusing array of flotation devices. Children who aren't toilet trained must wear disposable swim diapers against their skin, and re-usable swim diapers as a second  layer.

Toddler Survive & Explore Goals

• ​Educate caregivers about water safety.
• Learn to safely hold, support and cue toddlers in the water.
• Safely enter and exit water.
• Safely experiment with breath holding, bubbles and underwater exploration.
• Safely and gently teach rolling over and a back float hold.
• Introduce and practice swim-float-swim sequence with rudimentary propulsion.
• SafetyCycle for toddlers: Jump in > Turn around > Grab wall > Climb out.​
• Enjoy a special bonding time between toddler and guardian.

PRESCHOOL BUBBLE BUDDY

Quick Look

• 4-6 Years
• Private/Semi-private (30-min)​
• 3 Student: 1 Teacher (35min)
• Students develop comfort in the water

Independent Water Acclimation & Safety for Older Toddlers and Preschoolers

Our first non-guardian-assisted class where preschool age children can develop an independent, positive attitude about water. Students learn safe practices in, on and around water, with special emphasis on how to avoid accidental entries, and what to do if one happens, introducing our SafetyCycle drill to students.  Children learn how to safely enter and exit the water.  Students learn breath control, floats and arm and leg action. 

Bubble Buddy Goals

• Develop comfort in the water.
• Learn developmentally appropriate water safety.​
• Safely enter and exit water.
• Introduce breath control and bubbles.
• Execute our SafetyCycle: Jump in > Turn around > Grab wall > Climb out.
• Introduce back and front float.
• Introduce rudimentary kicking and arm motions.

FLOATER

Quick Look

• 4-7 Years
• Private / Semi-private (30min) or
• 3-Student:1Teacher (35min)
• ​Students can float, and perform the SafetyCycle

Introduction to Basic Survival and Fundamental Water Skills

Water acclimated students learn front and back floats, with emphasis on survival back float. Simulated "accidental falls" let kids practice floats and quick water exit. Games help advance breath control and bubble skills. Students improve their arm and leg propulsive actions. Parents learn safe practices in and around water. No prior experience required. Students must achieve the class goals before advancing to Paddle Pals.

Floater Goals

• Improve comfort in the water.
• Learn developmentally appropriate water safety.​
• Blow bubbles and submerge.
• Safely enter and exit water.
• Execute our SafetyCycle: Jump in > Turn around > Grab wall > Climb out.
• Float on back and front, and roll over to each position
• Introduce propulsion

PADDLE PAL

Quick Look

• 5-7 Years
• Private / Semi-private (30min) or
• 3-Student : 1 Teacher (35min)
• Students can perform the SafetyCycle

Strengthening Survival Skills and Building Independent Propulsion

In private lessons or our fun, mini-group atmosphere, students will develop simple, safe, independent locomotion. They'll learn to glide and float without support, leading to independent movement on back and front. They'll apply their growing coordination and attention skills to more coordinated movements, laying the foundation to learn formal, more difficult strokes later. Our SaferSooner method lets each child develop a propulsion method as soon as possible, suited to their natural abilities. Some will swim on their back first, and some will swim on their front first. Students must achieve class goals before advancing to Deep Divers.

Paddle Pal Goals

• ​Jumping SafetyCycle - independent
• Front and back Safety glides (glide from wall > roll over)
• ​Swim-float-swim sequence
  
• Paddle stroke, 10 yards.
• Rudimentary Elementary backstroke, 10 yards 
• Tread for 20 seconds
• Learn developmentally appropriate water safety.​​

DEEP DIVER

Quick Look

• 6+ Years
• Private / Semi-private (30min) or
• 3-Student:1 Teacher (40min) 
• ​Students achieve Basic Water Competency

Enhanced Deep Water Survival and
​Formal Stroke Introduction

Water safety drills hone students' decision-making in the water so that kids learn to avoid accidents and exhaustion which can lead to serious consequences. Students improve their deep water skills such as treading and floating, learn how to link skills together, and how to extract themselves from negative situations. ​Students are introduced to freestyle, the most efficient and practical face-in-the-water stroke.  Students will improve their form on previously learned skills such as elementary backstroke and streamline glides. Students learn deep water entries: pencil jumps and diving progression. It's highly recommended that at a minimum, all students pass Deep Diver goals so that they have Basic Water Competency. Even though a student may have passed Deep Divers, skills and confidence can regress if not practiced. It's important to make pool-time part of  a family's regular activities. We highly recommended that students take additional swim levels to improve coordination, further increase confidence and learn more strokes. Students must achieve class goals before advancing to Swim Jam.

Deep Diver Goals

• ​Jumping SafetyCycle: jump in deep water & submerge > re-surface > tread and/or survival float for 1-minute > turn 180 > orient to an exit > swim calmly on belly or back 25 yards > exit the pool without using steps or ladder.
• Freestyle, 15 yards.
• Elementary backstroke 15 yards.
  
• Tread 30 seconds
• Tread/Survival float for 60 seconds
• Sitting dive  ​
• Learn developmentally appropriate water safety.​​

 Basic Water Competency is achieved after reaching these goals.

SWIM JAM

Quick Look

• 6+ Years
• Private / Semi-private (30min)
  

or

• Max 4 Student Group (40min)
• 1 Teacher​
• Students improve coordination of 3 strokes, and learn breaststroke

Intermediate Safety; Stroke Introduction & Development; Building Stamina

In private lessons or our fun small group atmosphere, students will further develop freestyle, and refine backstroke and elementary backstroke. As these strokes improve, their confidence leaps ahead, helping them to learn breaststroke, and dolphin kick for butterfly. By knowing additional strokes swimming becomes safer and more fun. Students will continue their diving progression, advancing to kneeling dive. Water safety skills are amped up, and they'll build stamina to swim for longer distances.

Swim Jam Goals

• ​Refine freestyle, backstroke and elementary backstroke.
• Breaststroke, 15 yards
  
• Dolphin kick, above and under water
• Learn swimming etiquette.
• Kneeling dive.
• Tread for 90 seconds.
• Swim 50 yards using two different strokes.

HYDRO-BOOST

Quick Look

• 7+ Years
• Private / Semi-private (30min)
  

or

• Max 5 Students:1 Teacher (40min)​​
• Students improve coordination of 4 strokes, and learn butterfly.

Stroke Introduction & Development; Building Endurance; Advanced Safety

In private lessons or our fun, small group atmosphere, students will further refine freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and elementary backstroke. Students learn butterfly, integrating the dolphin kick introduced in Swim Jam. Strokes at this level will be more coordinated and smooth. Students will learn more advanced diving skills. Water safety skills are amped up, and their endurance will improve. Students must achieve class goals before advancing to Aqua Racers.

Hydro-Boost Goals

• Further refine freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke and breaststroke.
• Butterfly, 25 yards
  
• Tread for 2 minutes.
• Standing dive.
• ​Swim 75 yards using any 3 strokes.
  

AQUA RACERS

Quick Look

• 8+ Years
• Private / Semi-private (30min)

or

• Max 6 Students : 1 Teacher (40min)
• Students learn what it's like to be on a swim team and continue to refine strokes.

Stroke Refinement, Introduction to Racing & Building Endurance; Advanced Safety

In private lessons or our fun group atmosphere, students will further refine all four racing strokes, aiming for efficiency and endurance. Students will get an introduction to formal racing, learning technical skills such as diving from a block, flip-turns, open turns and pull-outs.  Students will learn swim team practice techniques such as sprints and kickboard drills.  Students learn how to use a pace clock, and check their heart rate. Advanced water safety includes an introduction to safe practices when open water swimming. Students must achieve class goals before advancing to Aqua Power.

Aqua Racer Goals

• Further refine freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
  
• Learn racing techniques such as flip turn, open turn and pull-outs
• Tread for 3 minutes
• Competitive dive from block
• ​Swim a 100IM using all proper turns and pull-outs
  
• Swim 200 yards, using at least three strokes.
  

AQUA POWER

Quick Look

• 8+ Years
• Private / Semi-Private (30min)
  

or

• Max 6 Students : 1 Teacher​ (45 Min)
• ​Students refine all racing strokes and skills, aiming for power and efficiency.

Advanced Stroke Refinement & Endurance; Intro to Lifeguarding Safety

In private lessons or our fun group atmosphere, students will further refine all racing strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Advanced hydrodynamics will be applied and students will be challenged to improve their efficiency and power, aiming for speed and increased endurance. Students will also refine competitive dive and racing turns. Students will get an introduction to lifeguard skills such as sidestroke and surface dives.

Aqua Power Goals

• Further refine freestyle, backstroke, elementary backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.
  
• Introduce sidestroke
  
• Tread for 2 minutes.
  
• Refined dive from the block
  
• Feet & headfirst surface dives
  
• ​Swim 200IM using all proper turns and pull-outs.
• Swim 300 yards using at least 3 strokes.