Basic Swim Skills Every Child Should Master

admin 05 Nov 2025

Swimming is not just a fun thing to do in the summer it is an essential life-saving skill, builds confidence, and leads to the foundation of a lifetime of fun aquatic activities. At Starfish Swim School, we believe that in order for children to develop a wide range of swim skills, everything starts with a strong foundation of swimming basics that keep children safe and engaged in swimming.

With that in mind, here is a guide to a basic swim skill for kids we teach, ranging from basic water familiarity to independent movement.

1.   Safe Entry and Exit from Water

Safety actually starts even prior to the child's first drop of water. Before kids can swim a fancy stroke, every child should be comfortable and safe entering and exiting the water safely and independently.

  • Wall Grab: Holding the wall tightly is the child's immediate safe zone.
  • Safe Entry: For younger children specifically, this would entail becoming familiar and safe with learning to turn, hold the side of the pool, and use the wall to enter the water.
  • Exit: Mastering how to turn back to the wall and find the "ledge" to push themselves up and out of the water is key to self-rescue.

Aim: Giving children control and safety around the edge of the pool to prevent accidental slips in.

2.   Basic Breath Control

Fear often occurs because a child does not understand how to control breathing in the water. Breath control is the foundation of comfort in swimming and an essential beginner swim skill.

  • Bubble Blowing: This simple exercise begins the process of proper exhalation. Children learn how to take a big breath in (through their mouth) and then slowly blow it all out (through their mouth and/or nose) into the water.
  • Submersion: Once the child is comfortable blowing bubbles, the next step is to become comfortable with short, complete face submersion. This helps develop confidence that the child can manage water over their face and safely return to the surface.
  • Rhythmic Breathing: The next step is exhaling all of the way into the water and only lifting or turning to inhale when the child surfaces.

    • Aim: To remove the fear of getting water on the face and create the proper breathing pattern needed in every stroke of swimming.

    3.   Floating Like a Pro

    The ability to float is the best self-rescue skill. If a child becomes tired or dizzy, floating will allow the child to rest and remain above water.

  • Back Floating: This is, however, one that is often taught first. While lying on their backs, the back-floating face remains out of the water. The child will learn how to lie on their back, allowing their arms and legs to extend in a starfish position. At times, the arms and legs may not float completely, but as they are learning, this first part is a good foundation.
  • Front Float: Practicing a front float is often done with a kick to get them used to the needed horizontal body position for movement forward.

    • Aim: To have children understand that their body is supported by the water so they will feel comfortable being in that position and will know they can rest or save energy if needed.

    4.   Simple Kicking and Limb Coordination

    To be able to move in the water, we need propulsion. Once a child is comfortable in their body position, this is where we introduce the building blocks of movement.

  • The Flutter Kick: This skill is primarily taught by having the child either hold onto the wall or grasp a kickboard, while emphasising small, quick kicks originating from the hip to achieve forward propulsion. This is a primary aquatic skill for kids in both freestyle and backstroke.
  • Arm Scoops: Arm movements that coordinate simply and are taught while walking or bobbing in shallow water so that they get a feel for pulling the water.

    • Aim: To develop the strength needed to propel yourself forward after they have mastered body position.

    5.   Introductory Strokes

    Children can begin learning their first stroke, typically the freestyle (or front crawl), once they have established breath control, body balance, and basic movement.

  • Stroke Progression: The stroke is broken down into simple steps: the kick, the pull, and the breathing.
  • Integrated Movement: We instruct children to connect the movements: initiate a kick while alternating the arm pull and connect the turn-and-breathe only once their head is submerged and gliding. This stepwise approach is intended to facilitate confidence and safety.

    • Conclusion

    At Starfish Swim School, our instructors utilise positive reinforcement and a structured approach to lessons to ensure that every one of these swimming skills is mastered by age. We are here to help your child learn to swim safely, comfortably, and confidently, whether you are interested in our infant aquatics programs or are seeking private swim lessons for your older child.

    Are you ready to start your child’s swimming experience? Contact Starfish Swim School today to find a program that works for your family!