The Parent / Child and Preschool Aquatic Program Manual Book (Copyright 1999, 208 pages)

Like the former Y Skippers program, the Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program reaches children and parents early in their relationship. The Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program gives parents guidance on how to develop their children's abilities and how to protect their children from harm, and it gives children the chance to explore a new environment and to build skills that add to their self-confidence. Designed for use in conjunction with Teaching Swimming Fundamentals, The Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program Manual helps you develop the skills and insight to work with parents and children effectively, so you help them adjust to the aquatic environment and build their relationships at the same time. The Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program Manual provides essential information on the developmental characteristics of preschool-age children. It presents the skills that are appropriate for each level, and explains how to incorporate them into session plans. It also offers tips on helping participants make the transition from the Parent/Child program to the Preschool program. The Parent/Child program is for children between six months and three years old and their parents. It consists of four levels: Shrimps, Kippers, Inia, and Perch. Each level is built around the same five components as the Youth and Adult program: personal safety, personal growth, stroke development, water games and sports, and rescue. Within these levels parents and children learn water orientation and adjustment skills. The Preschool program is for children between three and five years old. It also has four levels: Pike, Eels, Rays, and Starfish. In these levels, children learn beginning swimming skills. The Parent/Child and Preschool Aquatic Program Manual presents skill objectives for each level, as well as sample discussion guidelines for activities that meet those objectives and performance criteria for each objective. There's also a full chapter devoted to how you can help Preschool participants begin to understand the meaning of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. The appendixes include the YMCA's Aquatic Program Guidelines for Children Under the Age of Three, as well as activities, games, and songs for class use. Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgments Part I: Overview of the YMCA Swim Lessons: Parent/Child and Preschool Program Chapter 1. Introduction to the YMCA Swim Lessons: Parent/Child and Preschool Program History of YMCA Swim Lesso