Swim Lessons for Kids

We have found over the years that parents know the ability level of their children pretty well and would rather use the first day of class for instruction instead of testing.  Kids will be evaluated by the instructor during the first lesson and we will make any necessary level adjustment changes.

We ask that all parents watch the lesson from either the spectator seating area upstairs or from the foyer area outside of the pool.  This will allow our instructors to work with your children without any distractions.  Parents are welcome to walk their kids out on deck to get them to their class.

Every child is different however we have found that by the age of 4 most kids are able to handle the separation anxiety from their parents and have fun at swim lessons.If your child is under the age of 4 we suggest enrolling them in a parent-tot program. Unfortunately we do not offer a parent-tot class at the swim school.

You can register your child using a mail-in registration form and a personal check.  Please contact the aquatics director, Jim Pardun via email to have the form sent to you.

Because of strict teacher to student ratios we cannot allow any children to switch times during a session.

Yes!  Our philosophy is to place kids in a level where they will be challenged to learn new skills without being in too far over their heads.  Kids may move up or down a level at the instructor's discretion anytime throughout the session.

Because of our pool schedule, we do not offer any make-up swim lessons.

The VHHS Swim School accepts registrations from all families whether you live in Vernon Hills or not.

For levels 1 and 2 we try to keep a 1:2 teacher to student ratio. For levels 3 and 4 we strive to maintain a 1:3 ratio and for levels 5 and 6 we have a 1:5 ratio.

All children learn at a pace unique to them and they each have a unique learning curve depending on the skill being taught.  If a child does not pass a particular level, we would recommend enrolling them in the next session to keep their learning curve climbing in the right direction.  Extra practice during open swims is highly encouraged as well.  If you have concerns about the progress of your child, you are invited to talk to the instructor or the swim school supervisor.

Because of our teacher to student ratios we do set a maximum number of kids per level.  If your particular level is full, you may contact the aquatics director, Jim Pardun to get put on a waiting list.  We do not recommend registering your child for a level other than what you think their current skills allow for.

All of the instructors are current VHHS students or VHHS alumni.  Most of them are members of the swimming, diving & water polo teams at Vernon Hills High School.  Many of our instructors have expressed an interest in pursuing a career in the field of teaching.  Some of our instructors are rookies while others have 4 (or 5) years of teaching under their belts.  We make it a point to put all of our first-year instructors with our veteran instructors throughout the session.

Because of pool scheduling issues as well as instructor availability we found it more beneficial to offer lessons on Sunday afternoons.  By doing this we are able to have lessons every week instead of skipping a week (or two) due to high school athletic competitions.

Everyone needs to start somewhere. In swimming, the first essential skill upon which all others are formed is going underwater. If you do not put your face in the water, you cannot do any of the other strokes, or swim efficiently.  The skills taught and tested for in this level include:

• Going underwater unassisted
• Supported front float with face in the water
• Supported front glide with face in the water
• Supported back float with ears in the water
• Supported back glide with ears in the water
• Go underwater, then stand up on own

A significant portion of this level will be spent playing games, singing songs, and doing activities that expose swimmers to the pool environment; use the wall, stand on the bench, use the ladder or stairs, entering and exiting the water, etc.

Register online for level 1

Swimmers should be comfortable standing in water on a bench, understand language, and have control of their limbs, and ability to follow directions. Swimmers must be able to go underwater repeatedly on their own, and be comfortable doing things with the instructor.  The skills taught and tested for in this level include:

• Streamline 1 body length on both front and back
• Streamline and then freestyle arms for 3 - 5 strokes
• Streamline and then backstroke for 3 - 5 strokes
• Introduction to butterfly kick
• Introduction to breaststroke kick

 After the swimmer goes underwater in level 1, we introduce a huge amount of opportunities to flatten the body horizontally to move through the water well.  Gliding and horizontal forward progress is the first step in learning to swim efficiently.  Level 2 focuses on teaching swimmers to move through the water efficiently and well in order to establish habits and techniques that swimmers can draw on naturally without thought.

Register online for level 2

Once a swimmer is comfortable performing a basic streamline and taking 3 - 5 strokes unassisted, it's time to master these skills and begin to increase the lengths of the streamlines and stroke count.  The skills taught and test for in this level include:

• Streamline 3 body lengths on both front and back
• Streamline and then freestyle arms for 3 or more body lengths
• Streamline and then backstroke for 3 or more body lengths
• Breathing to the side and/or bilateral breathing
• Introduction to flip turns

Register online for level 3 

Swimmers in level 3 should be comfortable going underwater on their own, gliding through the water on their front and back without support, and understand the concept of using their arms and feet to provide propulsion, or forward movement through the water.  The skills taught and tested for in this level include:

• Freestyle for 10 yds with breathing
• Backstroke for 10 yds with body at the surface
• Basic breaststroke arms ("11, Y, Eat, Reach")
• Breaststroke kick on edge of pool
• Butterfly arms

To swim freestyle well, it requires the swimmer to maintain a straight narrow body line while kicking and moving their arms in a specific path. The head should be looking down at the bottom of the pool, and only turning to the side to breathe.  The swimmer should not be lifting the head to breathe as it interrupts the body line, sinks the legs, and ruins the balance of the body.  For breaststroke, we introduce “11, Y, Eat, and Reach” as the precursor to swimming breaststroke. This is more of a simple choreography versus a swimming stroke. Propulsion, movement, and “swimming breaststroke” come later after effective use of the breaststroke kick.  Finally, we introduce butterfly arms like we do breaststroke arms. We want to see a motion done on deck, or in the water with little regard to “swimming” and more focus on the arms traveling through the specific path. In this level, breaststroke arms and butterfly arms are done as motions, as traveling movements and not actual swimming to make oneself move through the water. Instead they should be like dance moves, or a choreography where the arms move without providing forward movement.

Register online for level 4

At this point, in level 4, swimmers need to be comfortable moving in the water independently. They should be able to swim freestyle with breathing to the side for at least five to ten body lengths without stopping. Generally, it does not have to be a perfect swim, where the face is only aimed down and breath rotating to the side, but it does need to be done well for short distances. Here, in level 4, we begin instruction on longer swims, introduce drills, and begin swimming breaststroke and butterfly.  The skills taught and tested for in this level include:

• Freestyle for 25 yds. with bilateral breathing
• Backstroke for 25 yds. with body at the surface
• Beginning breaststroke including a streamline, pull, and kick
• Beginning butterfly including a streamline, pull, and kick
• Complete a 50 yard continuous swim of freestyle or backstroke

In this level we learn to swim freestyle and backstroke well for prolonged periods. Attention is placed on swimming with efficiency, strength, and breathing with ease. At this point we will begin layering in swimming drills usually reserved for swim teams.  Secondary to freestyle, backstroke and increasing distance, we maintain short distance skill work with breaststroke and butterfly and work on the beginning stages of incorporating propulsion in the water.

Register online for level 5