Little Strokes · Water Confidence

Little Strokes is our entry level for children aged 4-5 who are meeting the water regularly for the first time. Lessons take place in the teaching pool, which is 0.90 metres deep and kept at 31°C; children can always stand on the floor, which greatly reduces the anxiety of the first weeks.

What happens in a lesson?

• Putting the face in the water, blowing bubbles and rhythmic breathing games
• Floating on the front and back, first with support and then without
• Getting in and out safely from a seated and a standing position
• Collecting rings from under the water and kicking over short distances

Why groups of four?

At this age attention spans are short and every child needs eye contact with the coach. That is why there are no more than four children per coach in Little Strokes and lessons last 40 minutes. Parents watch from the glass-fronted gallery; in the first two lessons a parent may sit by the pool if they wish.

A child earns the orange cap and moves up to the yellow cap, Beginner 1, once they can float and kick for five metres without support and put their face in the water comfortably.