What Age Will a Child Learn to Swim?

Probably one of the most asked questions about swimming for toddlers and young kids is “What age will my child learn to swim” but I don’t have a good answer, in fact, no one does. With varying definitions of what it means to be able to swim and the different learning speeds of each kid, it’s impossible to give the exact age each child will learn to swim. However, here are some factors that go into when and how fast your child can be expected to learn to swim.

First of all, “swim” is a pretty vague term. Some people think that if a child can get to the edge if they fall into the pool, this is considered being able to swim. These skills are also known as self-rescue skills and can be accomplished by a baby with consistent practice (though remember without practice, skills start to diminish, so never rely on this).

Others say that a child is able to swim when they can perform the proper mechanics of each of the strokes for a long distance. It can be common for kids to be able to begin accomplishing this as young as six years old.

If you are looking for a middle-ground benchmark for being considered able to swim, use the five recommended skills by the American Red Cross. These five skills are: jumping into the deep end and resurfacing, tread water or float for a combination of 1 minute, turn around in a full circle, swim 25 yards without stopping, and exit from the pool without using a ladder. A common age for this is around three for children who have previously been exposed to swimming as a baby and toddler.

Remember, each child is unique and will learn at their own pace. Anything from early exposure and comfort in water to a child’s natural athleticism plays a part in how quickly they learn. There is no right or wrong time to learn, so rather than focusing on learning quickly, focus on enjoyment and progress for a successful learn-to-swim journey.