Age ranges of swimming skills

Just as children grow and learn to walk, speak, and read, there is a wide age range of ability to swimming. There is also somewhat of an order to learning to swim.  Learning to swim can be affected by a child's temperament, gross motor skills, and opportunities to be in the water.

I've been compiling a list of skills that are appropriate for certain age ranges.  These skills build upon each other.  Take a look and see what your child can do and what his next steps may be. Remember, this is just a rough range.  I've seen kids move faster and slower through these skills.



Infant-18 months
-is comfortable being in the water
-learning to splash and allow face to get wet without a lot of crying
-allows others to hold him in the water

12months-2.5 years
-begin jumping off the side of the pool holding adult's hands, letting them bob under a little.
-begin assisted back float, allowing ears to get wet.
-very quick bob under water, let them know it's okay to get wet.

2 years -5years
- jump to adult with less support, always catching in deep water
- assisted back float
- spending time in shallow water without swim aids, but close parental supervision
- assisted kick board skills
-blowing bubbles
-independent bobbing underwater
-holding breath for at least 3 seconds
- swimming short distances to the wall
-getting out of the water by oneself (safety skill)

4-6 years
-jumping in without assistance
-independent  kick board kicking
-independent  swimming short distances up to the whole length of pool.
-independent back float, adding kicking
-learning backstroke and freestyle

5-9 years
-building strength and confidence to swim multiple lengths of the pool.
-can tread water in the deep end for at least a minute
-proficient in freestyle and backstroke
-learning breaststroke and butterfly
-diving off the side of the pool.