15 mins on front, 5 mins survival, 10 mins on back. Survival skills practised without goggles.
Jellyfish is where the water safety foundation begins. At this stage we're not chasing perfect technique — we're building comfort in the water and the reflexes that keep a young child safe if they end up in water unexpectedly.
What your child learns in Jellyfish
1. Safe Entry
Learning to get into the pool in a controlled, supervised way rather than jumping or falling in. This is the first safety habit we teach, and it's one parents can reinforce at home pools or on holidays.
2. 5 Second Bubbles
Blowing bubbles with the face in the water for 5 seconds. This is the building block for breath control — without it, a child will panic and gasp the moment their face touches water.
3. Push & Glide
Pushing off the wall or an adult's hands and gliding face-down with a board. This teaches the body to trust the water's support, which is the basis of every stroke that follows.
4. Freestyle Kicking
Kicking from the hips with a board, building leg strength and the kicking rhythm used in freestyle later on.
5. Reach & Pull with Noodle (Doggy Paddle)
An early self-propulsion skill using a noodle for support — essentially a supported doggy paddle. It's an important early action to keep kids in a prone position while moving forward.
6. Survival Sequence
One of the most important activities we teach our kids. The process simulates falling in the water, teaching a back float and also how to safely exit the water — buying children critical moments to save their life.
7. Back Float
Floating on the back in a relaxed, star-shaped position. A calm back float is often what keeps a child safe long enough to be reached if something goes wrong.
8. Push & Glide on Back
The same glide skill as above, but on the back with a board — building comfort and balance facing upward, which most children find less natural at first.
9. Kicking on Back
Kicking while on the back with a board, developing the leg strength and balance needed for backstroke later in the program.
What's next: Once these are second nature, children move into Penguin, where breath control extends to 10 seconds and stroke technique starts to take shape.
Ready to see it in the water?
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