Water can be a wonderful source of fun, fitness, and family time—but it also comes with risks. That’s why a focus on water safety skills for kids is the foundation of every great swim program. Before kids move on to advanced strokes or swim team, they need to feel confident and resourceful in the water.
At Chicago Blue Dolphins, we focus on teaching safety skills from the very first lesson. Here are the top five skills every child should master.
Get comfortable doing nothing before you do something.
1. Floating on Front and Back
Floating is the ultimate safety skill—it teaches kids that the water will hold them up. Our favorite learn-to-swim saying is “On land, we fall down. In water, we fall up.” Learning to float on both the front and back gives children the confidence to relax, rest, and breathe, even in deeper water. Floating on the back gives your kiddo the added advantage of being able to call for help.
2. Controlled Breathing and Bubbling
Learning to exhale in the water (“bubbling”), inhale just above the surface, and keep water out of the nose are critical steps on any journey toward water safety and swimming. Kids who can control their breathing are less likely to panic and more likely to stay calm in unexpected situations.
3. Rolling to Safety
We teach children how to roll from their front to their back for air. This simple move ensures they can always breathe without losing body position or momentum, even if they get tired.
4. Treading Water
It’s only a matter of time before your child needs to go into water where they can’t stand. Treading allows swimmers to stay upright in deep water without touching the bottom. Kids who can tread for 30–60 seconds are far more capable of handling real-world situations like camp swim tests, pool parties, or boating outings.
5. The “Safety Swim”
Our favorite drill combines all of these skills into a real-life scenario. A child pushes off the wall, swims a few yards, rolls to breathe, changes direction, and swims back to grab the wall—all without putting feet on the bottom. This sequence gives kids the confidence that they can handle themselves in deeper water.
Eyes on the water safety prize.
Why These Skills Matter
These five water safety skills for kids are more than exercises—they’re life-saving habits. By mastering them early, children gain the foundation to enjoy swimming safely, while parents gain peace of mind.
Building Safety First at Chicago Blue Dolphins
At CBD, safety isn’t an afterthought—it’s where we start. From the Preschool Beginner classes through to advanced levels, every child learns these skills step by step in a supportive, small-class environment.
Because once kids know they’re safe, they’re free to fall in love with swimming.
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