The YMCA of Greater Brandywine offers swim lessons for all ages and stages. Our progressive swim lessons teach swimming skills, stroke technique and water safety while encouraging a lifelong love of the water.
 

Beginning in January 2024, all Swim Lessons last two months. Below are the stages of swim lessons offered.
 

Parent/Child Swimming Lessons

Two-Month Swim Semesters | Ages 6 months - 3 years

Accompanied by a parent, infants and toddlers learn to be comfortable in the water and develop swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences, while parents learn about water safety, drowning prevention and the importance of supervision.

Parent/Child classes help our youngest participants build a foundation for learning how to swim including body positions, blowing bubbles and fundamental safety and aquatics skills.
 

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Preschool Swim Lessons

Two-Month Swim Semesters | Ages 3 - 5 years

• Preschool Swim Basics
  Over the course of the semester, swimmers will progress from instructor-assisted skills to independent swimming on front and back – through age-appropriate games, drills, and activities which build stamina and develop proficiency. Each lesson emphasizes self-rescue skills, including asking permission, swim-float-swim, back float, wall grab and treading.
   
• Preschool Swim Stroke*
  Swimmers who have mastered all skills in the Preschool Swim Basics program can register for Preschool Swim Stroke with the recommendation of their instructor. Preschool Swim Stroke introduces freestyle, backstroke, and elementary backstroke, as well as butterfly and breaststroke kicks. 
   

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Youth Swim Lessons

Two-Month Swim Semesters | Ages 6 - 12 years

• Youth Swim Basics
  Swimmers will progress from instructor-assisted skills to independent swimming on front and back – through age-appropriate games, drills, and activities which build stamina and develop proficiency. Instructors emphasizes self-rescue skills, including asking permission, swim-float-swim, back float, wall grab and treading.
   
• Youth Swim Stroke 1*
  This swim lesson is designed for swimmers who have mastered basic water safety skills of the Youth Swim Basics program. Swim instructors focus on stroke technique and endurance, using age-appropriate games, drills and activities to build endurance and technical proficiency. Water safety skills continue to be emphasized in each lesson as swimmers begin to master common swim strokes, including freestyle, backstroke and elementary backstroke - as well as butterfly kicks and breaststroke kicks.
   
• Youth Swim Stroke 2*
  Instructors continue to build proficiency in freestyle and backstroke, while introducing swimmers to breaststroke, butterfly and sidestroke and standing dives. Water safety skills continue to be taught using age-appropriate games, drills, and activities.
   
• Youth Swim Stroke 3*
  Instructors work with swimmers to deepen proficiency in previously introduced skills through age-appropriate games, drills, and activities.

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* Families interested enrolling in Preschool Swim Stroke or Youth Swim Stroke are required to complete an evaluation prior to registration to ensure that your child's skill level is matched with the appropriate level of swim lesson. 

• If your child is currently enrolled in swim lessons at a YGBW branch, your child's swim instructor will recommend which swim lesson/level is the appropriate next step. 
• If your child is NOT currently participating in swim lessons at a YGBW branch, you can request an evaluation by contacting your local branch to schedule an assessment.

In addition to our leveled group classes, the YMCA of Greater Brandywine offers private and semi-private swimming lessons as well as group Diving lessons. Swim Teams are available for children interested in advanced swimming instruction and competition.