Red Cross Swim Kids
10-level program for ages 6 and up This program for school aged children will help swimmers develop all six swimming strokes (front and back crawl, elementary back stroke, breast stroke, butterfly, sidestroke), actively learn how to be safe around the water, and increase their fitness and endurance through fun activities. Children will be challenged to achieve personal bests in distance and time, which will be a strong motivator through all 10 levels.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 1 This is an entry level for children ready to move in shallow water. This level provides an orientation to the water and the pool area and introduces floats and glides with kicks. Children build their endurance by improving distance. 5 m
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 2 This level helps the child build skills in front and back swims. Children are introduced to deep water activities and proper use of a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). Endurance is built on flutter kicking with assisted glides. 10 m
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 3 This level provides an introduction to front crawl as well as the foundation for making wise choices on where and when to swim. Diving is introduced and children will work on floats and changing direction. Endurance is achieved by building strength in flutter kick and a 15-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 4 The front crawl, back glide and shoulder roll for back crawl are further developed. Children work on kneeling dives, surface support and developing a greater sense of self-safety by understanding their own limits. Endurance is built through a 25-m swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 5 Back crawl is introduced, along with sculling skills and whip kick on the back. Children try stride dives and receive an introduction to safe boating skills. Endurance is developed through dolphin kick and a 50-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 6 Front and back crawl continue to be refined as the elementary back stroke is newly introduced. Children are also introduced to safety on ice, elementary rescue of others with throwing assists, treading water and the front dive. Endurance is built through a 75-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 7 Level 7 continues to build skills and endurance for front crawl, back crawl and elementary back stroke and introduces whip kick on the front. Children learn about airway and breathing obstructions, and participate in timed treading water for increasing endurance. Endurance is built through timed treading water and a 150-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 8 Level 8 provides an introduction to the breast stroke, feet first surface dives, and rescue entries. Children learn about the dangers of open water, hypothermia, and the performance of rescue breathing on children and adults. Endurance is built on the dolphin kick and a 300-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids - Level 9 Front crawl, back crawl, elementary back stroke and breast stroke continue to be refined. In this level children are encouraged to try combining different strokes and kicks for fitness. They also work on head-first shallow dives and standing dives and learn about wise choices, peer influences, and self-rescue from ice. Endurance is built through a 400-metre swim.
Red Cross Swim Kids Level - 10 Further refinement of strokes, with an introduction to butterfly and scissor kick as a warm-up/cool down stroke for fitness. Children learn about sun safety, rescue of others from the ice, and head-first and feet-first surface dives. Endurance is built using dolphin kick and butterfly drills and a 500-metre swim.
Please click here for an Aquatics Program Conversion Chart (from AquaQuest to Red Cross Swim Kids)
Click here for Red Cross Swim Kids Levels 1 to 4 Registration Form (PDF)
Click here for Red Cross Swim Kids Levels 5 - 10 Registration Form (PDF)
- Back to Swimming Programs page.
