Helping Kids Stay Safe in the Water
Drowning poses a real threat to children and families — but it is preventable. The Y’s Safety Around Water program is designed to reach children who are at risk and teach them the basic water safety skills that can save their lives. Through fun, confidence-building experiences, kids learn how to respond if they unexpectedly find themselves in the water. Learning to be safe around water does not just save lives — it also promotes healthy living and builds the kind of confidence that lasts a lifetime.
Two Programs, Three Goals
The Y’s approach to water safety covers two distinct programs — Safety Around Water and Swim Lessons — with one shared goal: making sure every child can have fun, feel confident and stay safe in and around water.
What Is Safety Around Water?
Safety Around Water is an 8-day course taught by a certified instructor that can reduce the risk of drowning and give kids the confidence they need in and around the water. A typical session includes exercises to help children adjust to being in the water, instruction in “Jump, Push, Turn, Grab” and “Swim, Float, Swim” — two skill sets kids can use if they unexpectedly end up in the water — and fun games to encourage comfort and activity around water.
Swim Lessons: Three Levels for All Ages
The Y introduced the country to group swim lessons more than 100 years ago and teaches more than a million children water safety and swimming skills each year. Our lessons are organized into three levels. Swim Starters builds water confidence in children ages 6 months to 3 years, with a focus on aquatic readiness and parent involvement. Swim Basics develops personal water safety and basic swimming skills in students of all ages. Swim Strokes introduces and refines stroke technique in school-age students, teens and adults, building skills that support a lifetime of physical activity.
What Your Child Will Learn
Safety Around Water gives children real, practical skills they can use if they ever find themselves in an unexpected water situation. Here is what every session covers.
Water Adjustment
Children practice exercises to help them feel comfortable and confident being in and around the water in a safe, fun environment.
Jump, Push, Turn, Grab
Kids learn this four-step skill set they can use if they unexpectedly enter the water — a practical, potentially life-saving response technique.
Swim, Float, Swim
Children practice this three-step sequence to help them stay afloat and reach safety if they fall into a body of water.
Help Keep Your Child Safe
Drowning can happen in nearly any body of standing water — but keeping children out of the water is not the answer. As a parent or caregiver, the best thing you can do is equip your child with the tools and confidence they need to be safe. When kids learn water safety skills, they do not miss out on the health benefits of swimming, the joy of bonding with family and friends or the pride of mastering new skills. The Y is here to help you give your child that foundation.
Questions About Water Safety at the Y
Safety Around Water is designed for children who are at risk of drowning and need foundational water safety skills. It is particularly focused on younger children and those with little to no prior water experience.
The program is an 8-day course taught by a certified instructor. Sessions are designed to be engaging and fun while building real, practical skills.
Safety Around Water focuses specifically on emergency water safety skills — what to do if a child unexpectedly ends up in the water. Swim lessons build on that foundation with structured swimming instruction across multiple skill levels.
For Swim Starters (ages 6 months to 3 years), parent or caregiver participation is part of the program. For other levels, parents are welcome to watch from the pool deck.
You can register through the Daxko registration system on this page. Members receive priority registration and reduced rates.
Our three levels — Swim Starters, Swim Basics and Swim Strokes — are designed for different ages and ability levels. Our staff can help you find the right fit for your child at registration or by contacting your nearest branch.