Programs
Guides
Parent and Child Aquatics
Developed for children 6 months to 5 years of age, American Red Cross Parent and Child Aquatics builds swimming readiness by emphasizing fun in the water.
Parents and children participate in several guided practice sessions that help children learn elementary skills, including water entry, bubble blowing, front kicking, back floating, underwater exploration and more.
Once children can perform basic skills without parental assistance, they may begin Learn-to-Swim courses.
Back to top
Learn to Swim
The American Red Cross Learn to Swim classes start with the most basic of swimming skills and advances through six levels. There's instruction for all ages and abilities to help improve swimming skills.
Back to top
Guides
Contact your local Red Cross chapter for information on the below guides and how to purchase them.
Water Safety Handbook
Designed to increase safety wherever and whenever water sports are enjoyed, the Water Safety Handbook includes easy-to-remember safety tips for pools, spas, water parks, lakes, rivers, oceans and more. The handbook is ideal for parents, the general public, youth in grades 4-12 or youth organizations, and people who participate in activities in and around the water, such as camp staff and campers.
Buy at the RedCross.org Store
Back to top
Swimming and Water Safety Manual
This comprehensive reference manual is the complete guide to swimming, diving and water safety. It includes information on the history of swimming, competitive activities, hydrodynamics, stroke mechanics, general water safety, disabilities and other conditions, fitness and training. The American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety manual provides the most up-to-date information needed by swimming enthusiasts at all levels.
Back to top
Longfellow’s WHALE Tales
Longfellow's WHALE Tales provides easy-to-follow information to help children learn safe behavior in, on and around the water. Taught in a classroom session, WHALE Tales makes water safety fun and easy to learn. Each lesson is reinforced with color posters, worksheets, activities and a video that features Longfellow, the animated whale. Includes eight basic lessons:
- Swim with a buddy in a supervised area;
- Be cool, follow the rule–the reasons behind water safety rules;
- Look before you leap–choose safe places to swim and dive;
- Think so you don't sink–what to do when things go wrong;
- Reach or throw, don't go–safe ways to rescue a swimmer in trouble;
- Don’t just pack it, wear your jacket–the importance of wearing a life jacket;
- Cold can kill — knowing the hazards; and
- Learn about boating before you go floating.
Back to top
Raffy Learns to Swim booklet
The Raffy Learns to Swim booklet is designed for Learn-to-Swim participants in Levels 1 and 2. The booklet features an age-appropriate story line about swimming and water safety skills that reinforces what children are taught in class.
Suggested activities for parents involve them in the learn-to-swim process and enable them to work with their child to practice skills outside of class. The booklet also includes information for parents about what their children are learning in swimming lessons and how their children are progressing.
Back to top
Waddles in the Deep booklet
The Waddles in the Deep booklet is designed for Learn-to-Swim participants in Levels 3 and 4. The booklet features an age-appropriate story line about swimming and water safety skills that reinforces what children are taught in class.
Suggested activities for parents involve them in the learn-to-swim process and enable them to work with their child to practice skills outside of class. The booklet also includes information for parents about what their children are learning in swimming lessons and how their children are progressing.
Back to top
| 
