Alexandria Public Schools Community Education

Prerequisites: This class is designed for children 4-5 years of age who have completed Preschool 1 and/or are comfortable in the water and are able to perform all Preschool 1 skills on the first day of class.

Preschool 2 will prepare beginning swimmers for Beginner 1 lessons. Students will review and develop skills previously learned, build endurance, and continue developing safe practices around water. Most skills in this level are performed with assistance - children should NOT be expected to swim independently after taking this course.
Swimmers will learn the following: * Enter and exit the water independently * Jump in from the side into chest-deep water (with or without a lifejacket) * Submerge entire head and retrieve objects underwater while holding breath for 3 seconds * Bob 3 times while blowing bubbles and taking a breath * Front float, with face in water, for 5 seconds * Front glide, with face in water, for 2 body lengths and recover to vertical * Back float, with ears in water, for 5 seconds * Back glide, with ears in water, for 2 body lengths and recover to vertical * Roll over from front-to-back and back-to-front * Flutter kick on front and back for 2 body lengths * Introduction to freestyle and backstroke (combined arms and flutter kicking) for 2 body lengths * Introduction to elementary backstroke and breaststroke arm and leg actions * Learn how to put on a lifejacket and what it is used for; experience wearing a lifejacket in the water * Explore treading hand and arm actions in shoulder-deep water (with lifejacket) * Orientation to deep water * Learn how to recognize an emergency and call for help; recognize the lifeguard * Learn to look carefully before entering the water