Curriculum
Ages 4 Months - 3 Years
For children ages 4-36 months, the StarBabies course introduces the core competencies by providing instruction to the adult who accompanies the child (such as the parent, grandparent, guardian, caregiver) about how to help develop aquatic readiness.
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Ages 3-18 Years Old
The core competencies for Swim School include functional life-safety water skills. The goal is not to teach swimming “strokes,” but rather to develop skills that would be useful for self-rescue and to develop a sense for how the body can move through the water. The goal of Swim School is also to set the foundation for learning correct strokes when the student is developmentally ready.
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Adult Learn to Swim
Adult lessons are offered in a small group format to ensure that each student gets individualized attention to meet their learn-to-swim goals. Many adults come to us with past trauma, negative childhood learn-to-swim experience, or they had little to no access to pools growing up. our instructors are highly trained in helping our adults first find comfort in the water and then work with their strengths to successfully learn to swim.
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A Parent’s Guide to Starfish Swimming
What is Starfish Swimming®?
Buckeye Swim School is an independent authorized provider of Starfish Swimming. Starfish Swimming is a nationally recognized swim instruction curriculum developed by the Starfish Aquatics Institute (SAI). Learn more about SAI at www.starfishaquatics.org.
The Starfish Swimming curriculum is designed for students ages 6-months to adult. Benchmarks are established at each stage in the program that combine both swimming and safety skills. Students participate in experiential learning activities that allow them to explore the water in a creative and comfortable environment. Correct swimming techniques are taught from the very beginning, providing an easy transition to swim team.
Inside this guide, you will find the curriculum used in the StarBabies™/StarTots™ (ages 6 months to 36 months), and Starfish Swim School® (ages 3 and up) programs. Our swim instructors will communicate your child’s progression through the curriculum on a regular basis.
What role do I play in my child’s swimming development?
As a parent or caregiver, you play a vital role in your child’s swimming development. You have already taken the first step, by registering your child for swim lessons. Now, you must continue to communicate with your child’s instructor and practice, practice, practice!
The bathtub is a great place to start practicing! Bubbles, breath holding, looking underwater, floating, and kicking can all take place in the bathtub! A few trips to the pool between swim lessons are nice too! You shouldn’t feel the need to push children to do everything they are doing in swim lessons. Just give them the opportunity to get wet, splash around, and explore the water on their own terms.
But remember: supervision is a must! While swimming lessons are one layer of protection, nothing beats supervision. Keep your eyes on your child whenever you are in, on, or near the water!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. We’re here for you.
Buckeye Swim School
Laurie Karr, Managing Director 740-324-SWIM (7946)
LKarr@swimbuckeye.com
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
StarBabies™ and StarTots™
The purpose of this course is to foster in very young children a high comfort level in the water while at the same time training parents and caregivers in water safety and drowning prevention. This course does not teach children to become accomplished swimmers or to survive in the water; it does provide a confidence- building, fun, and loving experience.
Stage White: Trust and Comfort
Safety Skill: Understand constant and dedicated surveillance.
Swim Skill: Parent and child are relaxed and confident, and enjoy being in the water together.
Stage Red: Body Positions
Safety Skill: Fit and properly put a lifejacket on the child.
Swim Skill: Perform a relaxed front, back, vertical, and side position for at least 5 seconds each.
Stage Yellow: Submersion
Safety Skill: Use flotation to help someone in the water and know how to call 911.
Swim Skill: Enter from the wall, submerge, turn around, grab on to the wall, and pull up (assisted).
Stage Blue: Air Recovery and Rollover
Safety Skill: Identify six methods of preventing recreational water illness.
Swim Skill: Enter from the wall, submerge, come to surface unassisted and get a breath in vertical or horizontal (on back) position.
Stage Green: Forward Movement
Safety Skill: Know about infant and child CPR.
Swim Skill: Move through the water independently 10 feet, with or without flotation.
Starfish Swim School® Buckeye Swim School Beginner Stages
Students work toward the development of the five core swimming competencies and receive color stage awards for each achievement. The color stages are used to divide students into broad ability groups.
Children progress at individual rates with the opportunity to learn the core swimming skills and progress to advanced strokes. Learning is self-paced but challenging.
Beginner White: Trust and Submersion
Safety Skill: Always ask permission before getting in the water.
Swim Skill: Assisted submersion, relaxed, 5 seconds and then come up to breathe.
Beginner Red: Body Position and Air Recovery
Safety Skill: Put on a lifejacket, float on back, kick 20 feet.
Swim Skill: Jump in, submerge, recover for air, roll on back for 5 seconds in swimwear and in regular clothes.
Beginner Yellow: Forward Movement & Direction Change
Safety Skill: Tread water for 10 seconds.
Swim Skill: Jump in, submerge, recover for air, forward movement 10 feet, change direction, and return to wall in swimwear and in regular clothes.
Beginner Blue: Body Rotation
Safety Skill: TReach or throw assist.
Swim Skill: Swim with rotary breath 15 feet.
Beginner Green: Water Competency
Safety Skill: Disorienting entries and recover.
Swim Skill: Jump in, recover, tread one minute, swim 50 yards.
Starfish Stroke School™ Buckeye Swim School Intermediate & Advanced Stages
Students refine freestyle and learn stroke technique for backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke, and more!
Intermediate White: Freestyle & Backstroke
Safety Skill: Always ask permission before getting in the water.
Swim Skill: Swim freestyle 25 yards. Swim backstroke 25 yards.
Intermediate Red: Elementary Backstroke
Safety Skill: Put on a lifejacket from in the water, kick 30 feet.
Swim Skill: Elementary backstroke 25 yards. Recovery swimming 25 yards.
Intermediate Yellow: Butterfly
Safety Skill: Scenario assist and know when and how to call 911.
Swim Skill: Swim 25 yards of butterfly.
Intermediate Blue: Breaststroke
Safety Skill: Tread water or survival float for 2 minutes.
Swim Skill: Swim 25 yards breaststroke with good timing and extension.
Advanced Green: Endurance
Safety Skill: Tread water or survival float for 5 minutes.
Swim Skill: Swim 300 yards using at least 4 strokes.
The Starfish Swimming® skills included in this guide are proprietary information of SAI and cannot be copied or reproduced.