Swim Lessons - Preschool (Ages 3 to 5 years)

Swim Lessons - Preschool (Ages 3 to 5 years)

The YMCA of Greater Des Moines is now teaching American Red Cross Swim lessons!  We believe that learning is a life-long journey and we take swimming from 6 months of age through adulthood.  Swimming is a healthy life-long fitness and recreational program for the entire family.  We challenge you to build on the knowledge that you already have all while having fun and being safe.

Our classes are designed to ensure the best learning experience for you and/or your child, and more importantly, their safety. Please carefully review the skills for each class level. Not sure which level to take? Take our class selector questionnaire. You and/or your child must be proficient in ALL of the skills listed in a lower level before being registered for a higher level. Should aquatic staff determine you/your child is not in the appropriate level, you/your child will be asked to move to a different class, if available. Safety and respect of others enrolled in the swim program will not allow for us to go over in teacher/student ratios. If space is not available in the child’s appropriate level, no refund will be given.

All registration for swim lessons will close one week prior to the start of the class.  Once registration for the class has closed, there will be no refunds or credits given.

Level 1

Walnut Creek
2/20/24 - 5/23/24
VIEW

Ages: 3-5 years

This class orients children to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills. Note: All skills may be performed with support (assistance from your instructor or other adult). No goggles allowed. The children in this class will learn the following skills:

  • Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
  • Blow bubbles through mouth and nose for 3 seconds
  • Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
  • Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects in shallow water
  • Front and back glides 2 body lengths and recover to a vertical position
  • Front and back float for 3 seconds and recover to a vertical position
  • Roll from front to back and back to front
  • Tread with arm and hand actions
  • Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
  • Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
  • Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
  • Complete the series of skills with support. Enter the water independently, using steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles, then safely exit the water

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
Early Registration for Members 3/25/24 3/31/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00-
Registration Open 4/1/24 5/23/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00$ 180.00

Available Sessions

Date(s)
02/20/24 - 04/02/24
Tu - 5:20 pm - 5:50 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/13/2024
02/22/24 - 04/04/24
Th - 5:20 pm - 5:50 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/15/2024
02/22/24 - 04/04/24
Th - 5:55 pm - 6:25 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/15/2024
02/25/24 - 04/07/24
Su - 3:10 pm - 3:40 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/18/2024
04/14/24 - 05/19/24
Su - 3:10 pm - 3:40 pm
Waiting List  
04/16/24 - 05/21/24
Tu - 5:20 pm - 5:50 pm
Waiting List  
04/18/24 - 05/23/24
Th - 5:20 pm - 5:50 pm
Waiting List  

Level 1

Waukee
2/19/24 - 5/21/24
VIEW

Ages: 3-5 years

This class orients children to the aquatic environment and helps them gain basic aquatic skills. Note: All skills may be performed with support (assistance from your instructor or other adult). No goggles allowed. The children in this class will learn the following skills:

  • Enter and exit water using ladder, steps or side
  • Blow bubbles through mouth and nose for 3 seconds
  • Submerge mouth, nose and eyes
  • Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects in shallow water
  • Front and back glides 2 body lengths and recover to a vertical position
  • Front and back float for 3 seconds and recover to a vertical position
  • Roll from front to back and back to front
  • Tread with arm and hand actions
  • Alternating and simultaneous leg actions on front and back
  • Alternating and simultaneous arm actions on front and back
  • Combined arm and leg actions on front and back
  • Complete the series of skills with support. Enter the water independently, using steps or side, travel at least 5 yards, submerge to mouth and blow bubbles, then safely exit the water

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
Early Registration for Members 3/25/24 3/31/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00-
Registration Open 4/1/24 5/23/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00$ 180.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
Special Rate
02/19/24 - 04/01/24
No Lessons 3/11 - 3/17 - Mo - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
-
Registration
Closed on
02/12/2024
02/20/24 - 04/02/24
* Pro rated 5 Lessons No Lessons 2/27 & 3/11 - 3/17 - Tu - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
- $75 - $150
Registration
Closed on
02/13/2024
02/21/24 - 04/03/24
No Lessons 3/11 - 3/17 - We - 9:30 am - 10:00 am
-
Registration
Closed on
02/14/2024
04/15/24 - 05/20/24
Mo - 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm
- Waiting List  
04/16/24 - 05/21/24
Tu - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
- Waiting List  
04/17/24 - 05/15/24
We - 9:30 am - 10:00 am
- Waiting List  

Level 2

Walnut Creek
2/20/24 - 5/23/24
VIEW

Ages: 3-5 years

This class helps children gain greater independence in their skills and develop more comfort in and around water. Note: All skills to be completed with assistance from equipment such as a barbell, noodle, or kickboard (no floaties, lifejackets, or puddle jumpers). No goggles allowed. The children in this class will learn the following skills:

  • Enter water by stepping into shoulder deep water
  • Exit water using ladder, steps or side
  • Bobbing 5 times
  • Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects in chest deep water
  • Front and back floats (3 seconds on front 5 seconds on back) and glides (2 body lengths)
  • Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
  • Roll from front to back and back to front
  • Tread water using arm and leg actions
  • Combined arm and leg actions on front and back (3 body lengths)
  • Finning arm action on back (3 body lengths)
  • Complete the series of skills with minimal assistance. Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.
  • Complete the series of skills with minimal assistance. Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, and then recover to a vertical position.
  • Complete the series of skills with minimal assistance. Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for at least 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming on front for at least 3 body lengths.

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
Early Registration for Members 3/25/24 3/31/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00-
Registration Open 4/1/24 5/23/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00$ 180.00

Available Sessions

Date(s)
02/20/24 - 04/02/24
Tu - 5:20 pm - 5:50 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/19/2024
02/20/24 - 04/02/24
Tu - 5:55 pm - 6:25 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/13/2024
02/22/24 - 04/04/24
Th - 5:55 pm - 6:25 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/15/2024
02/25/24 - 04/07/24
Su - 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/18/2024
02/25/24 - 04/07/24
Su - 2:35 pm - 3:05 pm
Registration
Closed on
02/18/2024
04/14/24 - 05/19/24
Su - 2:35 pm - 3:05 pm
Waiting List  
04/16/24 - 05/21/24
Tu - 5:55 pm - 6:25 pm
Waiting List  
04/18/24 - 05/23/24
Th - 5:55 pm - 6:25 pm
Waiting List  

Level 2

Waukee
2/19/24 - 5/22/24
VIEW

Ages: 3-5 years

This class helps children gain greater independence in their skills and develop more comfort in and around water. Note: All skills to be completed with assistance from equipment such as a barbell, noodle, or kickboard (no floaties, lifejackets, or puddle jumpers). No goggles allowed. The children in this class will learn the following skills:

  • Enter water by stepping into shoulder deep water
  • Exit water using ladder, steps or side
  • Bobbing 5 times
  • Open eyes under water and retrieve submerged objects in chest deep water
  • Front and back floats (3 seconds on front 5 seconds on back) and glides (2 body lengths)
  • Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
  • Roll from front to back and back to front
  • Tread water using arm and leg actions
  • Combined arm and leg actions on front and back (3 body lengths)
  • Finning arm action on back (3 body lengths)
  • Complete the series of skills with minimal assistance. Glide on front for at least 2 body lengths, roll to back, float on back for 15 seconds, then recover to a vertical position.
  • Complete the series of skills with minimal assistance. Glide on back for at least 2 body lengths, roll to front, and then recover to a vertical position.
  • Complete the series of skills with minimal assistance. Swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for at least 3 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, then continue swimming on front for at least 3 body lengths.

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
Early Registration for Members 3/25/24 3/31/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00-
Registration Open 4/1/24 5/22/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00$ 180.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
Special Rate
02/19/24 - 04/01/24
No Lessons 3/11 - 3/17 - Mo - 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm
-
Registration
Closed on
02/15/2024
02/20/24 - 04/02/24
*Pro rate 5 Lessons No Lessons 2/27 & 3/11 - 3/17 - Tu - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
- $75 - $150
Registration
Closed on
02/13/2024
02/21/24 - 04/03/24
No Lessons 3/11 - 3/17 - We - 10:10 am - 10:40 am
2 / 5 Available
Registration
Closed on
02/14/2024
04/15/24 - 05/20/24
Mo - 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm
4 / 5 Available Register  
Closes
04/08/2024
04/15/24 - 05/20/24
Mo - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
- Waiting List  
04/16/24 - 05/21/24
Tu - 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm
- Waiting List  
04/17/24 - 05/22/24
We - 10:10 am - 10:40 am
5 / 5 Available Register  
Closes
04/10/2024

Level 3

Waukee
2/20/24 - 5/22/24
VIEW

Ages: 3-5 years

This class helps children start to gain basic swimming propulsive skills to be comfortable in and around water. No goggles allowed. The children in this class will learn preform the following skills independently:

  • Enter water by jumping into shoulder deep water
  • Fully submerge and hold breath for 10 seconds
  • Bobbing 10 times in chest deep water
  • Front, jellyfish and tuck floats for 10 seconds
  • Recover from a front or back float or glide to a vertical position
  • Back float (15 seconds) and glide (3 body lengths)
  • Change direction of travel while swimming on front or back
  • Tread water for 30 seconds in shoulder deep water
  • Combined arm and leg actions on front and back for 5 body lengths
  • Finning arm action on back for 5 body lengths
  • Complete the series of skills independently. Step from the side into chest deep water, push off the bottom, move into a treading or floating position for 15 seconds, swim on front and/or back for 5 body lengths, then exit the water.
  • Complete the series of skills independently. Move into a back float for 15 seconds, roll to front, and then recover to a vertical position.
  • Complete the series of skills independently. Push off and swim using combined arm and leg actions on front for 5 body lengths, roll to back, float for 15 seconds, roll to front, continue swimming for 5 body lengths.

Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
Early Registration for Members 3/25/24 3/31/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00-
Registration Open 4/1/24 5/23/24 Online / Front Desk $ 90.00$ 180.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Spots
Available
Special Rate
02/20/24 - 04/02/24
*Pro rate 5 Lessons No Lessons 2/27 & 3/11 - 3/17 - Tu - 5:45 pm - 6:15 pm
1 / 5 Available $75 - $150
Registration
Closed on
02/13/2024
02/21/24 - 04/03/24
No Lessons 3/11 - 3/17 - We - 10:50 am - 11:20 am
-
Registration
Closed on
02/14/2024
04/15/24 - 05/20/24
Mo - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
2 / 5 Available Register  
Closes
04/08/2024
04/16/24 - 05/21/24
Tu - 6:25 pm - 6:55 pm
2 / 5 Available Register  
Closes
04/09/2024
04/17/24 - 05/22/24
We - 10:50 am - 11:20 am
4 / 5 Available Register  
Closes
04/10/2024