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Kids swim skills classes

Quick Links: Class Descriptions | FAQ: Kids Swim Classes

Fitness Alive’s small-group Swim Skills classes are designed for progression — and results. We believe kids can excel in group settings that emphasize individualized attention. That’s why we keep our classes very small, and why they are so successful.

Our classes are divided by skill and age, allowing swimmers to progress from Level 1 to Level 3 as they gain confidence and demonstrate mastery of each level’s key swim and safety skills. Best of all, they get focused coaching in a positive, confidence-first setting.

Learn About Our Current Swim Session

Click the Current Session button below to get details about booking classes for Spring, Summer or Fall sessions. Or, book a swim lesson right now through our Drop-in Swim Lesson portal.

Swim Skills Class Descriptions

Classes are divided by the age ranges outlined below. If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private swim lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.

If you cannot decide on the best class level for your child, email us at appointments@fitnessalivephilly.com so we can work with you. Children who enroll in a class that does not suit their skill level will need to be moved to another class or private lesson after the session start date; we cannot guarantee the new class will be at your top choice day and time.

Click class names below for prerequisites and skills your swimmer will learn

Level 1 Classes: Swimming basics + water safety

*Tadpoles and Seahorse level classes teach the same skills, but serve different ages.*

Tadpoles 1 (Ages 3-5)

For children with no prior water or swim lesson experience or those with fears to overcome

Tadpoles 1 (Ages 3-5)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

Ages 3-5, for children with no prior water or swim lesson experience or those with fears to overcome

This class is for preschool-aged children who don’t yet know how to swim. It's suited for those with no experience and exposure to water, other than the bathtub and maybe a toe dip in the ocean. This is also the class level for those who have been in the water, but are unsure about swimming without a parent, or those who have fears to overcome.

The skills learned in this class are:
• Safety in the water, with skills like jumping in and returning to the wall, front and back floats, etc.
• Swimming basics like blowing bubbles and submerging face/head/ears.
• Exiting and entering water safely
• Understanding the depth of water by using the numbers on the side of the pool
• Getting comfortable wearing goggles
• Instilling a love for swimming and establish water confidence.

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

Tadpoles 2 (Ages 3-5)

For children with prior swim lesson experience (such as graduates of Baby Bubbles or Tadpoles 1), or those with no fear of the water.

Tadpoles 2 (Ages 3-5)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

This class is for preschool-aged children with prior water experience and no fear of the water, but who don’t yet know how to swim.

The skills learned in this class are:
• Unassisted back and front floats
• Unassisted jumps
• Swim front paddle and unrefined backstroke for at least 10 feet
• Exit and enter water safely
• Understanding the depth of water by using the numbers on the side of the pool

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

Seahorse 1 (Ages 5-7)

For children with no prior water or swim lesson experience or those with fears to overcome

Seahorse 1 (Ages 5-7)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

Ages 5-7, for children with no prior water or swim lesson experience or those with fears to overcome

This class is for elementary-aged children who don’t yet know how to swim. It's suited for those with no experience and exposure to water, other than the bathtub and maybe a toe dip in the ocean. This is also the class level for those who have been in the water, but are unsure about swimming without a parent, or those who have fears to overcome.

The skills learned in this class are:
• Safety in the water, with skills like jumping in and returning to the wall, front and back floats, etc.
• Swimming basics like blowing bubbles and submerging face/head/ears.
• Exiting and entering water safely
• Understanding the depth of water by using the numbers on the side of the pool
• Getting comfortable wearing goggles
• Instilling a love for swimming and establish water confidence.

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

Seahorse 2 (Ages 5-7)

For children with prior swim lesson experience (such as graduates of Seahorse 1), or those with no fear of the water.

Seahorse 2 (Ages 5-7)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

This class is for elementary-age kids with prior water experience and no fear of the water, but who don’t yet know how to swim.

The skills learned in this class are:
• Unassisted back and front floats
• Unassisted jumps
• Swim front paddle and unrefined backstroke for at least 10 feet
• Exit and enter water safely
• Understanding the depth of water by using the numbers on the side of the pool

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

Level 2 Classes: Skill-Building

Goldfish 1 (Ages 5-8)

For graduates of Tadpoles 2 or Seahorse 2, and children who can float front and back, front paddle short distances, and jump into the pool independently.

Goldfish 1 (Ages 5-8)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

This class is for children who can already float front and back, front paddle short distances (10 feet), and jump into the pool independently.

If your child cannot already do the skills above, they should enroll in a lower level class — Tadpoles or Seahorse.

The skills we work on in Goldfish 1 are:
• Alternating from front to back in a floating position
• Unassisted streamline for at least 5 feet
• Swimming freestyle independently (unrefined) with side breathing or flipping to the back to breathe for at least 20 feet
• Swimming backstroke (unrefined) independently for at least 10 feet
• Jump/sit dive and return to the wall independently
• Treading water for 15 seconds
• Independently retrieving toys from the bottom of the pool

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

Goldfish 2 (Ages 5-8)

For graduates of Goldfish 1, and children who can swim freestyle w/ side breathing and backstroke (unrefined, 20 feet), tread water (15 seconds), and retrieve toys from the bottom of the pool.

Goldfish 2 (Ages 5-8)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

This class is for kids who can already swim freestyle with side breathing and backstroke (unrefined, about 20 feet), tread water for at least 15 seconds, and retrieve toys from the bottom of the pool independently.

If your child cannot do the skills listed above, they should enroll in a lower level class - Tadpoles, Seahorse or Goldfish 1.

The skills we work on in Goldfish 2 are:
• Swim (unrefined) freestyle with side breathing for at least half the length of the pool
• Swim (unrefined) backstroke for at least half the length of the pool
• Introduction of breaststroke (unrefined)
• Jump/sit dive and return to the wall independently
• Tread water for 30 seconds

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

Level 3 Classes: Skill Refinement

 

Dolphins (Ages 6-9)

For graduates of Goldfish 2, and children who can swim freestyle w/ side breathing, backstroke, and breaststroke about half of the pool length.

Dolphins (Ages 6-9)

Class size: 3 swimmers max

This class is for kids who can already swim freestyle with side breathing, backstroke, and breaststroke about half of the pool length.

If your child cannot already do the skills above, they should enroll in a lower level class, such as Goldfish 1 or 2.

The skills we work on in Dolphins are:

The skills we work on in Goldfish 2 are:
• Swim freestyle the entire length of the pool with bilateral breathing
• Swim backstroke the entire length of the pool
• Swim breaststroke at least half of the length of the pool
• Introduction of butterfly (unrefined)
• Introduction of flip turns (unrefined)
• Tread water for 60 seconds
• Understanding how/when it is safe to dive

**If your child is not a fit for any group class — either due to age or ability level — we encourage you to choose private lessons instead. A group setting will not be beneficial to a swimmer who is out of range with the rest of the class.**

 

» Think your child is ready to move from Swim Skills to pre-swim team classes? «
Learn about the Fitness Alive Narwhals

FAQ: Kids Swim Skills Classes

Expand each section below to learn more. Questions? Email appointments@fitnessalivephilly.com.

+ Swim Session Dates

Our lessons are booked on an annual trimester calendar. Our swim sessions are:

  • Spring (January-May) - Weekly recurring lessons
  • Summer (June-August) - Drop-in lessons only, that you can book one at a time
  • Fall (September-December) - Weekly recurring lessons

At the end of each lesson term, you will need to re-enroll for the next session to continue your swim lessons. Currently enrolled clients get first priority booking for subsequent sessions.

+ How Enrollment Works for Swim Sessions

You enroll for weekly swim lessons for the full swim lesson term. We reserve the same swim day, time and instructor for you each week. If you wish to discontinue your lessons before the end of the trimester, you must give us at least 2 week’s written notice before your next billing date.

If you are unable to commit to a full swim term during Fall and Spring, please check out our Drop-in Swim Lessons, which you can book one at a time whenever it is convenient for you.

+ Pricing

A nonrefundable deposit is collected at booking. Then, swimmers pay monthly tuition via autopay for each month of the session. Tuition fees vary by session. See our current session for current pricing.

+ Questions?

Reach out to appointments@fitnessalivephilly.com.