Our Waterbabies lessons are about so much more than splashing in the pool. They’re about building brave little swimmers from the very beginning!
With small class sizes and a parent or guardian in the water, your baby or toddler learns in a calm, supported environment where they’re never just a number. Through purposeful play, we build water confidence, coordination, and early water safety skills, while having fun in our 30 minute lessons.
We’re proud to offer high-quality lessons at affordable prices, unique coffee group times, and a community-based environment.
Waterbabies lessons are the first step to creating strong, capable swimmers for life.
Seahorses
Seahorse is the entry level for babies 6–18 months (Swimgym Howick offer lessons from 3 months) and Seahorse Toddlers for 18–36 months. While the core skills remain the same, each class is carefully designed to suit the developmental stage of the age group.
Caregivers learn the correct holds and cues to support their child in the water. Together, parents, babies and toddlers build confidence with safe pool entry and exit, comfort in the water and positive experiences going under the water.
Outcomes
Happy and confident in the water
Aware of cues
Comfortable being submerged with a gentle exit
Floating (aided) on their front and back
Rotation from front to back with a hold
Caregivers know the holds
Caregivers are confident in what they are doing
Turtles
In this level, swimmers begin learning to monkey walk along the pool edge and work towards more independent submersions. They glide confidently from parent to teacher and back again, and start developing independence on a noodle as their strength and confidence grow.
Outcomes
Monkey walk along the pool (may be aided)
Exit (climb out of) the pool safely
Turn around, swim out swim in
Submerge through hoop underwater
Push float from parent to teacher to parent
Independent on noodles
Octopus
In this level, swimmers are becoming more independent in the water. They are working towards floating on their front and back without support and begin developing a strong kick. Swimmers start attempting big arms and building their confidence to dive down to retrieve toys from the bottom of the pool.
Outcomes
Fully independent float on front
Float from caregiver to wall
Suction float on back
Attempting big arms
Diving down to bottom
Jump in on cue
General notes:
Class sizes are 6-8 swimmers depending on location, and are all 30 minutes long
All lessons are held in a warm, comfortable teaching pool
All instructors are fully qualified and trained to work with our youngest swimmers
Sticker charts are given at the start of each programme, with stickers awarded as skills are achieved to celebrate progress along the way
Kids Swim Programmes
Waterbabies
3 to 36 months
Preschool
3 to 5 years
School Age
5 years +