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  Preschool Aquatic Schedule

YMCA Preschool Instruction (3-5 yrs)
Each new level builds upon the skills and knowledge mastered in the previous level.  Listed are minimal skills required to enter each level. If you are not sure what level is best for your child, please contact our Aquatic Director prior to registration.  The following programs are designed without parental participation.  Parents are advised to stay in the pool area to observe from a distance, allowing for the proper learning environment.

Pikes
For the beginner swimmer.  Objective: Basic water adaptation skills, getting face wet, and paddle stroke with a bubble or other flotation device.

Eels
Pre-Skills: Gets face wet comfortably and is able to paddle stroke with a barbell/bubble in prone position. Objective: Learning to swim, without a bubble, 15 feet unassisted and become comfortable in the deep end of the pool.

Rays
Pre-skills:  Able to successfully complete 15 yards of beginning freestyle (on top of the surface with face in water and over arm recovery), jump, kneeling dive, and treading water for 30 seconds.  Objective: Front crawl with rotary breathing and beginning backstroke.

Starfish
Pre-skills: Able to successful swim 15 yards front crawl, with rotary breathing and beginning backstroke.  Objective: Front crawl with rotary breathing, elementary backstroke, and back crawl, 25 yards.

Super Starfish
Pre-skills: Instructor recommendation for the advanced swimmer who is under 6 years old.  Objective: Front crawl, elementary backstroke, back crawl, diving from platform, and beginning breaststroke, 50 yards.

The West Essex YMCA Aquatic Department is strongly enforcing the minimum number of class participants to 4 children. This is to ensure that your child receives the “class” experience with his/her peers. Please be advised that if your child’s class does not meet this requirement, you will be asked to move your child to a different class.