Step 1 Learn To Swim Progressions

This learn to swim video is designed especially for families who have access to a home swimming pool and want to help their children build confidence and develop important swimming skills. 💦

These simple progressions can be used with young children from around 3 years of age right through to school-aged children, adapting each activity to your child’s individual ability, confidence and experience in the water.

Step 1 of our Learn to Swim series explains the learn-to-swim journey and the important skills children need to develop as they progress towards independent swimming and freestyle.

The progression includes:

💧 Water Familiarisation – becoming happy, relaxed and confident in the water
🫧 Breath Control – learning to hold thier breath and control breathing
🌊 Submersion – becoming comfortable putting the face and body underwater
⭐ Floating – developing balance, body position and relaxation in the water
🏊 Propulsion – learning to move through the water using the arms and legs
💨 Learning to Breathe – introducing the breathing skills needed for freestyle

Every child progresses differently. Some children may move through these skills quickly, while others will need more time and repetition. Keep activities positive, playful and appropriate for your child’s ability.

If you have a pool at home, these progressions will give you a simple framework to follow when practising swimming with your child and help you understand what to teach first and what comes next.

▶️ Watch the next video in the playlist and continue through the series to see the full learn-to-swim progression from start to finish — from water familiarisation all the way through to freestyle.

⚠️ Water Safety: Children must always be actively supervised by a responsible adult around water. These videos are designed to support water familiarisation and swimming practice and are not a replacement for professional swimming lessons.

All swimming classes must be conducted in a safe and positive learn to swim envrionemnt.