The Top 5 Water Safety Skills Every Child Should Know Before Summer
The Top 5 Water Safety Skills Every Child Should Know Before Summer
As the weather warms up and summer fun begins, pools, beaches, and water parks become part of many families’ daily lives. But before your child dives in, there’s one essential thing every parent needs to prioritize: water safety.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death in children under five. The best way to prevent this? Equip your child with strong, foundational water safety skills — long before the floaties come off.
At Swim Well School, safety is our first priority in every lesson. These five core skills form the foundation of a confident, water-safe swimmer.
1. Getting In and Out of the Pool Safely
This might sound simple, but learning how to properly enter and exit a pool is one of the most overlooked — yet most important — safety skills.
We teach kids how to:
Use steps or ladders
Safely enter feet-first
Turn and grab the edge
Climb out independently
This skill can prevent slips, falls, and panic in unfamiliar pools.
2. Floating on Their Back
A strong back float gives a child the ability to rest, breathe, and calm their body if they get tired in the water. For young swimmers especially, floating is a life-saving skill that buys time and prevents exhaustion.
We focus on building comfort and control in this position, even with toys and distractions around.
3. Turning Around to Find the Wall
If a child falls in or gets disoriented, knowing how to turn back and reach the nearest wall is critical.
We teach a “swim-turn-grab” method, which becomes second nature through repetition and games. It's one of the fastest ways to increase survival odds in unexpected water situations.
4. Swimming to Safety
Even beginner swimmers should practice short swims from one safe point to another — for example, from the instructor to the wall, or from a parent to the steps.
In our lessons, we build these distances gradually and celebrate each victory. The goal is for every child to swim confidently to a safe spot without panic.
5. Breath Control and Submersion
Children need to understand how to hold their breath, blow bubbles, and stay calm underwater. This isn’t just about technique — it’s about helping kids feel in control when their face is in the water.
Breath control is taught gently at Swim Well School, using toys, songs, and games to make it feel fun and natural.
Why these skills matter more than strokes
Many parents think swimming is about mastering freestyle or backstroke. Those skills come later. First, kids need the core safety foundation that could literally save their life in or around water.
Once those basics are in place, swim mastery and technique come more easily — and kids enjoy the process much more.
A Safe Summer Starts Now
It takes time and consistency to build strong water safety skills, which is why waiting until the middle of summer is often too late.
Swim Well School offers private, in-home lessons designed to build safety, confidence, and fun at your child’s pace — in a setting they already trust: your backyard pool.
Let’s make this summer your child’s safest, most confident one yet.
Book a personalized lesson today and start building real skills that last a lifetime.