Our FunKey Starters Program is developed for children aged between 3 and 5 years who are happy and excited to be in the water and start lessons, but who still need to gain confidence or learn how to swim independently. Our experienced teachers will guide your child, focusing on breath control, balance, submersions, floating and paddling. We are using our unique games-based boat system to assist with body position and floatation, while increasing confidence with correct body position for independent swimming. The classes have a teacher-students ratio of 1:4.
STARTERS 1
STARTERS 1 is the graduation level for swimmers who have at least completed Splashers 4, and is the start of your child’s independent learn to swim journey. Starters 1 can move through the water independently and are happy to begin the transition from Parent participation, to learning to swim with Teacher. We begin with full parent participation, then step by step gently remove parent involvement until they are no longer joining us in the class, through a seamless transition.
Children will learn to develop their rudimentary kick and paddle into a smooth swim float swim, incorporating the rollover breath. We build on the foundation skills of floating front and back, kicking, paddling, horizontal rolling and vertical turning, depth perception, plus the most important water safety skill of fall in and recovery practice.
STARTERS 2
STARTERS 2 is for you if your child is over 3 years old and new to swimming. They may be happy and confident in the water though have limited experience, or they may be a nervous starter, either to the water environment, or to the structured class environment.
Here your child’s new journey to swimming will be based on fun and love, where they will learn to be comfortable in the water and it’s difference to land, with activities to develop their breath control, balance, submersion, floating, kicking and paddling. Your child will be well on their way to independence in the water.
STARTERS 3
At STARTERS 3 children will learn to develop their rudimentary kick and paddle into a smooth swim float swim, incorporating the rollover breath. We build on the foundation skills of floating front and back, kicking, paddling, horizontal rolling and vertical turning, depth perception, plus the most important water safety skill of fall in and recovery practice.
Our focus here is to further strengthen the kick, coordinate the arm and leg movements together, and roll onto the back to breathe and float. We build to a breath hold of 5 seconds, a swim distance of 5-7 metres, the ability to fall in – turnaround – recover at the wall, and submerse to retrieve objects from the bottom of the pool.
STARTERS 4
STARTERS 4 builds on the smooth swim rudimentary kick and paddle gained in Starters 3. We establish good streamline body position following a horizontal blast off the wall and introduce a strong engaging kick as a solid base to start longer arm movement. The longer arm movement comes in the way of long under water swaps, then introduce the new skill of rolling to the side for a breath.
Back Floating is then progressed to adding back kicking, initially with a kick board to maintain a high body position in the water and then without the board to build core strength. For safety we learn to roll on our back to breath, see and call for help. At STARTERS 4 we are all about the perfect body position to prepare for FunKey Strokes!