Top 8 Swimming Skills Your Child Will Learn In Classes

Learning to swim is more than just a fun activity—it’s an essential life skill that supports a child’s physical development and safety in and around water. As parents, knowing what your child will learn in swimming lessons helps you feel more confident in the process and highlights the real value of structured classes.

From building early water confidence to mastering fundamental techniques, each stage of swimming lessons is designed to support your child's growth at a comfortable pace. In this article, we’ll explore the main skills your child will develop during their swimming journey and explain why each plays an important role in becoming a strong, capable swimmer.

1. Building Water Confidence from the First Splash

Getting comfortable in the water is the first and most essential step in a child's swimming journey. For many children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, being in a pool is a brand-new experience. Early swimming lessons focus on helping children feel safe and happy in the water, laying a strong emotional foundation for all future skills.

Water confidence is often developed through parent-assisted classes, where little ones explore the water using gentle movements, songs and playful activities designed to ease fears and build familiarity.

Benefits of early water familiarisation include:



• Learning to relax in the water while supported
• Building trust with instructors & caregivers
• Developing early aquatic skills in a calm, playful setting
• Preparing children for independent movement in the water

Before kids can swim independently, they must learn how to control their breathing and balance their bodies in the water. Breath control and floating are taught in tandem, as both are vital for water safety and comfort.

Floating

Floating is a core skill that teaches children how to keep themselves at the surface of the water. Back and front floating techniques are introduced gradually to help children become aware of their buoyancy.

Breath Control

Learning how to hold their breath and exhale underwater helps children manage submersion and builds the confidence needed for stroke development.

What they’ll learn:

• Holding breath & submerging safely
• Floating on back & front with assistance
• Blowing bubbles to develop exhalation techniques
• Practising basic movements while floating

As children progress, they begin learning basic swimming strokes, focusing on technique and body position. Freestyle and backstroke are typically the first two strokes introduced, and gradual instruction is given on coordinating arm movements, breathing, and kicks.

These foundational strokes are taught using drills, visual cues and repetition to help children develop muscle memory.

Skills introduced at this stage:



• Basic arm & leg coordination for freestyle
• Streamlining & body position
• Introduction to side breathing in freestyle
• Understanding rhythm & timing in backstroke

Knowing how to move efficiently through water is important, but knowing how to stay safe is even more critical. Kids learn various safety techniques designed to keep them afloat and alert in unpredictable water conditions.

From treading water to rolling from front to back, these life-saving skills are woven into every class to promote water awareness and personal safety.

Core safety skills include:



• Treading water to stay afloat without moving forward
• Rolling from front to back for breathing and recovery
• Safe entry and exit methods
• Learning to pause and float when tired

Young swimmers thrive when learning feels like play. That’s why many swimming programs include games and fun drills in each lesson, keeping children physically engaged while developing motor control and coordination.

Through guided activities, kids learn how to move their limbs in sync and begin to understand how each movement helps them navigate the water with more purpose and control.

Examples of coordination-building games:

• Kickboard races for leg strength & rhythm
• Treasure hunts for improving underwater control
• Ring tosses for arm extension & hand-eye coordination
• Bubble trails for timing & visual feedback

As children become more confident swimmers, building endurance becomes an important focus. This stage involves practising longer swims, maintaining proper technique over distance, and learning to regulate breathing more effectively.

Lessons are carefully structured to challenge each child at a pace that suits their individual progress. Gradual increases in swim distance support both stamina and skill development.

Endurance-building elements in lessons:



• Extended swim distances to encourage stamina
• Repetition of stroke sequences
• Timed swims to monitor progress
• Emphasis on relaxed, controlled breathing

Swimming lessons also help children develop personal discipline and a sense of direction. As they move through different skill levels, they take ownership of their progress and set small but meaningful goals.

Whether it’s swimming a full lap without assistance or learning a new stroke, each achievement builds confidence and encourages a positive attitude towards learning.

Typical progression milestones include:

• Beginner level: Focuses on breath control and floating, helping children feel comfortable submerging and supporting themselves in the water.
• Intermediate level: Introduces basic strokes and treading techniques, promoting independent movement and understanding water safety.
• Advanced level: Emphasises stroke mastery and endurance, allowing children to swim longer distances with consistent technique and confidence.

Swimming lessons go beyond teaching pool safety—they also help children understand how to stay safe around rivers, beaches and other aquatic environments. Programs often include both verbal guidance and practical activities to help young swimmers recognise potential hazards and know how to respond in emergencies.

This broader awareness of water safety is especially important in Australia, where spending time at the beach or near natural waterways is a common part of family life.

Topics covered in classes include:



• Understanding currents & tides
• Learning beach flags & safety signs
• Staying safe on pool decks & near dams
• Knowing when and how to call for help

At SwimCare, we’re committed to helping children grow into safe, confident swimmers. Our kids' swimming classes in Coffs Harbour are designed to support every step of your child’s aquatic journey—from their first splash to independent lap swimming.

Whether you’re enrolling a toddler or a school-aged swimmer, we provide a nurturing, skill-based approach that sets them up for a lifetime of safety and enjoyment in the water. Get in touch via our contact page or give us a call to book your child's first lesson today.