Babies and toddlers, water, joy and safety. A wonderful combination every parent and guardian wants for their much loved little ones. Whether it is splashing in the bath, tottering steps at the beach, or fun in a blow up paddling pool in the back garden on a hot summer’s day, water is a delight – a favourite play thing – for so many of our youngest children.
At Surrey Park we encourage little ones to begin developing their love of water as a baby. Our baby and toddler swimming lesson program accommodates ages from 6 months to 3 years old. At these ages, our specialised infant trained instructors work with both babies and parents / guardians in the pool. Our swimming lessons include games, songs and progressive activities designed to keep both babies and toddlers engaged whilst developing an enjoyable and positive experience in the water. This is not just for the babies! Our teachers work closely with parents, fully recognising that development of an adult’s skill and confidence with their baby in and around water is essential.
At Surrey Park our philosophy, program, and criteria that has been honed over five decades to teach babies, toddlers and accompanying adults how to safely enjoy water. At the same time, we develop a very solid foundation for children to develop survival skills in the water. Whether it’s to watch our little ones delightfully splashing around in the water, or for our own confidence in knowing how we can safely encourage this, Surrey Park is ready to be part of your baby’s journey towards a lifelong love of water.
- Great opportunity to bond with your child
- We nurture confidence and never force development
- A fun, gentle introduction to water
- Lessons in warm water
- Mineral water at Blackburn and Heidelberg locations – gentle on baby’s skin
- Specialised, infant trained instructors
Level progression
Our Baby and Toddler levels
Tiny Tots (6 months to 1 year)
Our Tiny Tot class will introduce your baby to the water in a nurturing, fun way in cozy, warm water. Our carefully developed classes ensure your baby is being taught skills that are developmentally appropriate for their current age group. Each baby will require an adult in the water with them for the whole lesson. Our class structure moves between songs, games, and circuits to keep the class engaging for the adults while providing the repetition your baby needs to learn.
We teach our Tiny Tots:
- How to get in and out of water safely
- Water familiarisation
- Water confidence
- Water propulsion
- Water safety messages
Progression is age based. When children turn 1 year old, they move to our Tots class.
Tots (1 year to 2 years)
Your curious toddler will be changing developmentally now that they are 1 year of age, and so do our classes! Our activities, games and progressions adapt to meet your child’s developmental changes. Toddlers start to want more autonomy over their choices, so we adapt each activity to ensure the required skills are still targeted while providing your toddler with choices. Our circuits, activities and songs will keep your toddler engaged, while progressions adapt each activity to be easier or more challenging depending on your child’s swimming ability. These classes require an adult in the water with the child for the whole lesson.
We teach our Tots all the skills from Tiny Tots, with the following additions:
- Body position
- Gripping and propulsion
- Kicking
- Submersions
- Treading water
- Safety entries and exits
Progression is age based. When children turn 2 year old, they move to our Talented Tots class.
Talented Tots (2 years to 3 years)
Our Talented Tots classes are designed to prepare your child for lessons on their own. Your specially trained teacher will ensure all the basic swimming skills are covered so your child is prepared for our next level. These classes will have circuits, swims, activities, and songs to run through all the skills necessary to keep your child safer in the water. Your 2 year old will become more confident and learn valuable life saving skills.
We teach our Talented Tots all the skills from Tiny Tots and Tots, with the following additions:
- Body position
- Gripping and propulsion
- Kicking
- Submersions
- Treading water
- Safety entries and exits
Progression is age based. When children turn 3 year old, they move to Pre Level 1 from our Preschool Program below.
Pre Level 1 (Preschool program - 3 years to 5 years)
After baby and toddler lessons, your child will be ready to swim without their carer in a Pre-School class. Their first level will be Pre-Level 1. Progression is skill based after this level, so your child will move up when they are checked and can complete the 10 stars required for each level. Our Preschool program runs until Pre-Level 4, after which, children move to their corresponding school age level. Find out more about our programs for 3 year olds + below:
Pre-School Learn to Swim
View our whole swim school level progression chart here:
Our programs and progressions
Lesson details
- Offered 7 days a week
- Duration: 30 minutes per lesson
- Maximum of 6 students per class
- Classes run during school terms
- Lessons organised by age so learning occurs with peers
- A parent or guardian must be in the water with the baby / toddler for every lesson
- Please contact the centre you wish to swim for further information
What to bring
- A waterproof nappy if your child is not toilet trained
- Bathers for baby / toddler
- A top for the parent in the water with the baby – we encourage climbing to practise getting out of the pool, so this will protect your bathers
- Goggles for 2.5 year olds+ (not essential)
- Spare nappy and wipes
- Towel
- Snack / bottle for after lesson as swimming will make them hungry
We’ve got you covered in the north and south eastern suburbs!
- Mineral based pool water
- Water gentle for sensitive skin
- Private centre
- Quiet centre for focused learning
- Small class sizes
- Specialised tuition
- Consistent monitoring of progression
Suburbs our students travel from:
- Box Hill South
- Blackburn
- Nunawading
- Blackburn North
- Forest Hill
- Burwood East
- Mitcham
- Vermont
- Glen Waverley
- Mount Waverley
- Doncaster
- Doncaster East
- Donvale
- Burwood
- Box Hill
- Box Hill North
- Whitehorse city council residents
- Monash city council residents
- Manningham city council residents
- Stay and play after your lesson
- Dedicated learning pool
- Public centre
- Learn to dive offered
- Small class sizes
- Specialised tuition
- Consistent monitoring of progression
Suburbs our students travel from:
- Box Hill South
- Box Hill
- Box Hill North
- Surrey Hills
- Deepdene
- Mont Albert
- Mont Albert North
- Camberwell
- Balwyn
- Balwyn North
- Auburn
- Hawthorn East
- Hawthorn
- Burwood
- Doncaster
- Ashwood
- Whitehorse city council residents
- Boroondara city council residents
- Monash city council residents
- Salt and Mineral based pool water
- Water gentle for sensitive skin
- Private centre
- Quiet centre for focused learning
- Small class sizes
- Specialised tuition
- Consistent monitoring of progression
Suburbs our students travel from:
- Heidelberg
- Rosanna
- Ivanhoe
- Eaglemont
- Viewbank
- Lower Plenty
- Macleod
- Heidelberg Heights
- Heidelberg West
- Bellfield
- Bulleen
- Alphington
- Fairfield
- Ivanhoe
- Kew
- Kew East
- Banyule city council residents
- Manningham city council residents
- Boroondara city council residents
