Toddler Fin Swim Classes
Below are the descriptions for toddler Fin swim classes that are part of the Arlington County Aquatics Program. These classes are for toddlers ages 3 – 6 years. Children may have participated in a parent and child course previously but should still enter at Pre-Fin if 3 years of age and at Fin 1 if under 6 years of age. Please make sure to register your child for the appropriate class based on the criteria below. Specific skill requirements are necessary to advance to the next level. Please note that taking a course one time, does not mean it was successfully completed. Below, the column on the right indicates the skills that are introduced within each course. Most students will repeat courses to master necessary required skills for the next level. There is no set amount of time that is allotted to master specific skills, please be patient and remember that confidence and competency take time and repetition.
Pre Fin (ages 3-3.99 years)
Instructor to participant ratio: 1:4
Required Skills
This beginner class requires no prior experience in swimming classes, but children must willingly participate without a parent/guardian. The goal is to gain confidence in the water with an instructor and a small group of children. By the end of the course the participants should be able to briefly submerge their face and perform front and back floats comfortably with support. Toddlers who are not toilet trained must wear snug swim diapers.
Introduced Skills
Students will become comfortable to do these skills with support:
- Submerge face and blow bubbles
- Enter the water independently using ladder, steps and side
- Glide on front and back with support
- Float on front and back with support
Fin 1 (ages 3.25-5.99 years)
Instructor to participant ratio: 1:6
Required Skills
This beginner class requires little or no prior experience in swimming classes, or for 3 year olds who have taken Pre-Fin or comparable course; children must willingly participate without a parent/guardian. By the end of the course the participants should be able to fully submerge their head and perform front and back floats with limited support. Toddlers who are not toilet trained must wear snug swim diapers.
Introduced Skills
Students will be able to:
- Submerge face and blow bubbles for at least 3 seconds
- Enter the water independently using ladder, steps and side
- Comfortably glide on front and back with assistance
- Comfortably float on front and back with assistance
Fin 2 (ages 3.25-5.99 years)
Instructor to participant ratio: 1:6
Required Skills
This introductory course is for children who are comfortable in the water and have successfully completed Fin 1 or have comparable skills. Participants will learn safety skills and movement in the water on their fronts and backs. By the end of this course, participants should be able to swim a short distance on their fronts and float on their backs without support.
Introduced Skills
Students will be able to:
- Float unassisted on their front and back for 3-5 seconds
- Glide on their front and back for 2 body lengths
- Swim on front using arm and leg action for three body lengths
- Glide and kick on back for two body lengths
- Jump into the water with minimal assistance
- Develop skills to retrieve objects under water from chest deep water
- Develop skills for treading in chest deep water
Fin 3 (ages 4-5.99 years)
Instructor to participant ratio: 1:7
Required Skills
This advanced introductory course is for children who have successfully completed Fin 2 or have comparable skills. Participants will learn to coordinate the front crawl and safety skills like treading water. By the end of the course, participants should be able to swim using combined arm and leg action on both their front and back for 5-10 yards without support.
Introduced Skills
Students will be able to:
- Swim front crawl for 5-10 yards with face in pool using rhythmic breath control
- Swim 5 yards of backstroke or elementary backstroke
- Retrieve object from chest-deep water
- Introductory rotary breathing skills
- Introduce breaststroke leg action
- Tread water for 30 seconds
- Develop sitting/kneeling diving skills
Fin 4 (ages 4.5-6.99 years)
Instructor to participant ratio: 1:7
Required Skills
This advanced class is for children who have successfully completed Fin 3 or are able to swim comfortably on their front and back without support for 5-10 yards. By the end of the course, participants should be able to tread for 30 seconds, know the basics of rotary breathing, and swim on their front and back unsupported for 15 yards. The next course to take after this would be Level 2 or 3, depending on competency and age.
Introduced Skills
Students will be able to:
- Front crawl 15-25 yards comfortably with some rotary breathing and rhythmic breath control
- Backstroke or elementary backstroke 15 yards with appropriate arm and leg action
- Tread water for 1 minute
- Diving from a kneeling/standing position
- Introduction to dolphin kick/ butterfly stroke
- Introduction to breast stroke arm and leg action