We take the parent and child into the water and teach the parent to communicate using water confidence skills to the child, and this is done through nursery rhymes and games. Little Duckling courses are designed for babies and children from five months to two years old. Junior Ducklings is for children two to four years old.

View the Little Ducklings Timetable

Duckling grade 1

1 Make a supervised safe entry with adult supervision
2 Kick 2 meters on the back with adult supervision
3 Float on the back with adult support behind the head
4 Blow bubbles at the water surface
5 Wet the head without submersion
6 Travel without assistance 2 meters to a floating object. (It is recommended that a baby seat or other appropriate buoyancy aid be used)

Duckling grade 2

1 Make a sitting entry with adult support
2 Blow an object for a distance of 2 meters
3 Using a baby seat or other buoyancy aid, rotate through 180 without assistance.
4 Move 5 meters along the rail or wall without assistance
5 Travel 3 meters using arms and/or legs without assistance
6 Submerge the face with confidence

Duckling grade 3

1 Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support.
2 Kick 5 meters on the front holding a float (the adult may hold the other end of the float)
3 Blow bubbles with the mouth under the water
4 Float on the front OR back without adult support
5 Travel 5 meters on the front to the side of the pool
6 Show a torpedo shape on front or back when pushed to a partner.

Duckling grade 4

1 Jump unaided, but supervised, into the water
2 Submerge completely
3 Rotate through 360 either horizontal or vertically
4 Show a mushroom OR star float
5 Travel without assistance 10 meters on the front OR back
6 Climb out of the pool without assistance if required.

Duckling grade 5

This grade must be achieved without the use of buoyancy aids or adult support and assistance.

1 Show the sequence-jump in the water, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold the rail.
2 Submerge completely and blow bubbles under the water.
3 Push and glide achieving a distance of 2 meters on the front or back.
4 Float on the front or back and regain standing a vertical position.
5 Swim 5 meters on the front or back using an over water arm recovery.
6 Exit safely showing correct use of the ladder (or steps if no ladder is available).

Please note: All six components must be passed and may be accumulated over a number of sessions.