Child with Parent Aquatics Classes

Below are the descriptions for Parent and Child aquatics classes that are part of the Arlington County Aquatics Program.  These are basic skill classes where parents or guardians are taught how to safely work with their child in the water, including how to support and hold their child. Only one parent should be in the water during the class, other parents and/or guardians are allowed to spectate from the side. Parents or guardians will also be taught how to positively encourage a child to participate in each activity and various water safety tips. Parents or guardians will introduce skills to their children that build a foundation for learning to swim.

WaterBabies (ages 0.5-1.5 years with parent)

Skills Required

Participants need no prior experience in water to take this course, just be within the age range for the course by the day the class starts. One parent must accompany the child at all times and swim diapers must be used to protect our pools.

Introduced Skills

• Holding and support techniques
• Adjustment to water, with safe entry and exit
• Control breathing, submersing in water and blowing bubbles
• Introduction to floating on front and back
• Rolling and changing direction
• Arm and leg action on front and back
• Water safety

WaterTots (ages 1.5-2.99 years with parent)

Skills Required

Participants need no prior experience in water to take this course, just be within the age range for the course by the day the class starts. One parent must accompany the child at all times and swim diapers must be used to protect our pools.

Introduced Skills

• Holding and support techniques
• Adjustment to water, with safe entry and exit
• Control breathing, submersing in water and blowing bubbles
• Introduction to floating on front and back
• Rolling and changing direction
• Arm and leg action on front and back
• Water safety

Pre-Fin & Me (ages 2.5-3.99 with parent)

Skills Required

Participants in this class should have taken a previous parent and child course or have been exposed to the pool before. The goal of this class is to prepare children for the Pre-Fin course where they participate without a parent. This course is meant for children who still rely on parental support or are too young for the Pre-Fin course. The class provides more interaction between child and teacher WaterTots and WaterBabies with a smaller teacher to student ratio.

Introduced Skills

• All participants get support from a parent, teacher or flotation device
• Safe water entry and exit
• Breath control and submersion in water
• Front and back floating and gliding
• Changing direction and rolling
• Combined stroke front and back
• Water safety skills
• Child should be able to leave parent willingly to work with the instructor individually or in a group