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How Our Levels Work

We have identified 100+ milestones and broken them up over 11 different levels. Each level is specifically designed with their own unique milestones for advancement so children can learn to swim in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming. Our often-emulated curriculum uses specific movements, props, songs, verbal cues, and prizes to make swim lessons the highlight of your child’s week!

*Bathtime Babies and Level 1 classes (which both have parent participation in the water) have higher ratios

Littles (ages 2-35 mos) 3 levels
Bathtime Babies Level 1 Level 2
Tots (age 3) 3 levels
Level 3 Level 4 Level 5
Kids (age 4+) 4 levels
Level 6 Level 7 Level 8 Level 9
Advanced (age 6+) 2 levels + Swim Team
Level 10 Level 11 STEALTH Swim Team

Littles

  • Age: 2-35 months
  • Levels: Bathtime Babies - Level 2
  • Adult Participation: Yes
  • Class Ratio: 4:1*
  • Class Length: 30 mins

Tots

  • Age: 3
  • Levels: 3-5
  • Adult Participation: No
  • Class Ratio: 4:1
  • Class Length: 30 mins

Kids

  • Age: 4+
  • Levels: 6 - 9
  • Adult Participation: No
  • Class Ratio: 4:1
  • Class Length: 30 mins

Advanced

  • Age: 6+
  • Levels: 10 - STEALTH
  • Adult Participation: No
  • Class Ratio: 4:1
  • Class Length: 30 mins

Bathtime Babies

age: 2 to 5 months
Age: 2-5 months 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Adult Participation: Yes
None

Babies enjoy one-on-one pool time with their parent/guardian and learn water safety skills to make bathtime more fun. Learning how to pick up their head if they end up face down in the bath and how you can use bathtime at home to acclimate your baby to water are some of the skills you can expect to learn.

  • Acclimating baby to water through bathtime
  • How to pick child’s head up if they go face down in the bath

Level 1

age 6 to 35 months
Age: 6-35 months 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 6:1 Adult Participation: Yes
None

Your infant or toddler will learn our “Jump, Turn, Swim” method to turn around in the water and swim back to the edge for safety and continue learning how to hold their breath underwater, kick, and float on their back.

  • “Jump, Turn, Swim” method
  • Hold breath underwater
  • Kick
  • Float on back

Level 2

age 24 to 35 months
Age: 24-35 months 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: Yes, first few weeks
Kick 5ft through water 10 second breath control

Your child will begin learning more advanced swimming skills such as consistent kicking and independent rescue. By the end of this class, they will be able to kick through the water twice as far as they were able to at the beginning (from 5 feet to 10 feet).

  • Consistent kicking
  • Independent rescue
  • Kicking 10 feet through the water

Level 3

age 3 years
Age: 3 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
None

Kids learn how to kick 5 feet through the water, how to hold their breath for 10 seconds, our “Jump, Turn, Swim” method, and will be introduced to back floating.

  • “Jump, Turn, Swim” method
  • Kick 5 feet through the water
  • Hold breath for 10 seconds
  • Begin back floating

Level 4

age 3 years
Age: 3 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Kick 5ft through water 10 second breath control Basic comfort with floating

Our intermediate class teaches children how to kick 12 feet through the water, become more comfortable with backfloating, advance their “Jump, Turn, Swim” safety skills, and begin learning to roll over to breathe on their back.

  • “Jump, Turn, Swim” method
  • Kick 12 feet through the water
  • Comfort with backfloating
  • Begin rollover breaths

Level 5

age 3 years
Age: 3 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Kick 12ft through water Comfortable with backfloat

Children will leave this class learning how to kick 20 feet through the water, mastering their ability to roll onto their back to breathe, working on breathing as they swim on their stomachs, and becoming independent backfloating.

  • Kick 20 feet through the water
  • Independent backfloating
  • Breathing while swimming
  • Master rollover breathing

Level 6

age 4+ years
Age: 4+ 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
None

No prerequisites are required for this class, making it an ideal starting point. Children will acquire skills such as kicking for a distance of 15 feet, holding their breath for 10 seconds, familiarizing themselves with our “Jump, Turn, Swim” safety method, and initiating the learning of backfloat and freestyle arms.

  • “Jump, Turn, Swim” method
  • Kick 15 feet through the water
  • Hold breath for 10 seconds underwater
  • Backfloating
  • Freestyle arms

Level 7

age 4+ years
Age: 4+ 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Kick 15ft through water 10 second breath control Comfort with floating on back and front

In this class, children will independently master swimming with freestyle arms for a distance of 20 feet. They will also progress in refining their “Jump, Turn, Swim” safety skills while perfecting front and rollover breath techniques.

  • “Jump, Turn, Swim” method
  • Kick 20 feet through the water
  • Rollover breathing

Level 8

age 5+ years
Age: 5+ 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Freestyle swim 20ft independently Independent front and rollover breath

This class focuses on skill advancement. By completing Level 8, your child will have acquired the ability to swim with freestyle arms and perform elementary backstroke for 30 feet. Also, they will learn essential techniques like treading water and incorporating side breaths while swimming.

  • Freestyle arms
  • Begin backstroke for 30 feet
  • Tread water
  • Side breaths

Level 9

age 5+ years
Age: 5+ 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Freestyle swim 30ft independently with rhythmic side breathing

In this advanced class designed for 5-year-olds and older, participants will master swimming competitive freestyle and backstroke across the entire width of the pool.

  • Swim competitive freestyle
  • Swim competitive backstroke

Level 10

age 6+ years
Age: 6+ 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Able to swim competitive freestyle & backstroke

Children will master freestyle and backstroke, and will begin to learn the butterfly stroke.

  • Master freestyle
  • Master backstroke
  • Learn butterfly stroke

Level 11

age 6+ years
Age: 6+ 30 Min Class Student Teacher Ratio: 4:1 Adult Participation: No
Mastered freestyle & backstroke Able to swim butterfly

Children will continue advancing their skills, mastering butterfly and learning breaststroke. This is the last level before your child is ready to join our swim team!

  • Master breaststroke
  • Master butterfly stroke

STEALTH Swim Team

age 6+ years
1 Hour Class Student Teacher Ratio: 10:1 Adult Participation: No
Able to swim all 4 strokes (freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, and breaststroke)

As part of our STEALTH Swim Team, your child will build their swimming speed, endurance, and technique, and will regularly compete in meets with other local Emler schools.

Image Level by Age

Swim Levels By Age

Infant Swim Lessons

Begin your baby's journey to water safety from as young as 2 months! Our engaging and supportive program not only teaches your infant to swim but also equips them with essential real-life water safety skills. Enroll your little one today for a fun-filled learning experience!

Toddler Swim Lessons

Fostering a love of swimming begins with playfulness to make learning enjoyable and engaging. Toddlers learn to swim and gain confidence in the water through fun games, songs, and activities designed for their age. Enroll in our toddler swimming lessons to make learning an enjoyable and engaging experience for your two- or three-year-old!

Preschooler Swim Lessons

Our preschool swimming lessons grow children from small splashes into serious swimmers with a focus on water safety. From mastering strokes to gaining comfort with backfloating, our experienced instructors ensure each lesson is filled with excitement and progress. Enroll in our preschool swimming lessons today!

Kid Swim Lessons

See the full spectrum of kid’s swimming lessons at Emler Swim School. From beginners learning water safety to experienced swimmers improving their technique, we have classes for every child. Watch your child learn new skills and enjoy the mental and physical benefits of swimming. Enroll them in kids' swimming lessons to witness their progression into confident and skilled swimmers today!

What’s Your Level?

Use our specialized assessment tool to determine what swim lessons level your child should be enrolled in.