Introduction
Swimming lessons provide children with structured teaching and expert guidance — but progress doesn’t stop once they step out of the pool. In fact, the time between lessons is just as important. Practising skills at home, in the bath, or during family swims helps children build confidence, reinforce what they’ve learned, and enjoy the water as play rather than “work”.
By supporting your child outside of lessons, you give them more opportunities to grow, master new skills, and strengthen their love of swimming. This blog explores practical, fun ways to support your child on their learn-to-swim pathway so they feel more prepared and confident every time they return to class.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Safety First
- Build Water Confidence Outside the Lesson
- Practise Floating and Buoyancy
- Reinforce Kicking Techniques
- Support Arm Movements and Doggy Paddle
- Breathing and Face-in-Water Practice
- Combine Skills Into Short Swims
- Use Games and Play-Based Practice
- Respect Your Child’s Pace
- Make Practice a Routine
- When to Lean on the Instructor
- Conclusion
1. Safety First
Even when practising outside of formal lessons, safety must always come first. Without it, children can quickly lose confidence, feel anxious, or even risk injury. Children may be attempting new skills they’ve just learned in class, so clear boundaries and supervision are vital.
Tips for safe practice:
- Always supervise your child near water
- Stick to shallow, calm environments (bath time, paddling pools, or the shallow end of a local pool)
- Use floatation aids for reassurance but don’t rely on them fully
- Learn basic water safety and CPR yourself
When children know they are in a safe, supervised space, they are far more likely to explore and try new things. By prioritising safety, you create a secure space where your child can do this with confidence.
Why it matters:
- Safety ensures children can focus on learning rather than worrying
- Knowing you’re close by gives them reassurance to attempt new skills
- Good habits developed now (like only swimming with an adult present) create a lifelong safety mindset
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Children will practise more willingly in a calm, controlled environment
- Supervision allows you to give gentle encouragement when they succeed
- Floatation aids and calm settings reduce fear and build trust in the water
2. Build Water Confidence Outside the Lesson
Many swimming lessons are short, so extra water play at home, like in the bath, or in a paddling pool helps reinforce that water is fun, not frightening, which in turn helps children feel more relaxed and pool ready.
Confidence-building activities:
- Splashing games together
- Blowing bubbles in the bath
- Gently pouring water over shoulders or head - you can use different household items, like jugs, cullenders or watering cans to see how the water falls differently over your head
- Sitting on the side of the pool and kicking
- Gradual face-dipping practice (chin, nose, then face)
Confidence comes before technique — and the more time your child spends enjoying water in different settings, the more naturally their skills will develop.
Why it matters:
- Confidence is the key to overcoming hesitation about water
- Children who enjoy water are less likely to resist lessons
- Early familiarity with water creates strong foundations for technique
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Splashing and bubble games introduce breath control in playful ways
- Gentle face-dipping builds gradual tolerance, removing the fear of water near the eyes or nose
- Kicking or splashing on the poolside strengthens legs while keeping the mood light
3. Practise Floating and Buoyancy
If your child has been introduced to floating in lessons, you can help them strengthen this skill outside class. Learning how the body balances and floats builds trust in the water.
How to practise:
- Gentle back floats with your support under shoulders or head
- Starfish floats (front or back)
- Use a noodle or float under their tummy
- Encourage calm breathing while floating
Floating is often the first “wow” moment for a child — the realisation that the water holds them up. Learning buoyancy helps instil calmness, and control.
Why it matters:
- Floating teaches children to relax, which is vital for swimming efficiency
- Calm breathing while floating develops control and reduces panic in water
- Understanding buoyancy is essential for safety if they ever fall into water
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Back floats with support show children they can “rest” in the water
- Starfish floats develop body awareness and balance
- Using noodles or floats gradually reduces dependency on adult support
4. Reinforce Kicking Techniques
Kicking provides propulsion — it’s one of the first building blocks of swimming and is introduced early in lessons. Practising between lessons helps children strengthen muscles and find a natural rhythm.
Ideas for practising kicking:
- Sitting on the pool edge and splashing
- Holding the wall or float while kicking
- Games like “kick to the music” or “biggest splash challenge”
Why it matters:
- Strong, rhythmic kicking makes swimming smoother and easier
- Practising early helps prevent habits like bent knees or splashing too hard
- Kicking builds stamina and leg strength
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Sitting on the edge and kicking is safe and builds endurance
- Games like “kick to the music” turn technique practice into fun
- Practising with a float helps children focus on their legs without worrying about arms
5. Support Arm Movements and Front Paddle
Once your child starts arm actions in lessons, you can reinforce them playfully.
How to help:
- Encourage front paddle (sometimes referred to as doggy paddle) while supporting their waist
- Demonstrate big reaching arms in shallow water
- Use toys as targets to paddle towards
Arms add distance and control. Early movements like front paddle are simple but create the stepping stones to proper strokes.
Why it matters:
- Children need coordination between arms and legs to move effectively
- Reaching forward develops range of motion and confidence
- Early playful repetition sets the stage for learning formal strokes later
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Supporting their waist lets them focus on arm movement without sinking
- Chasing toys or reaching targets motivates practice
- Mimicking “big arms” in shallow water introduces freestyle movements
6. Breathing and Face-in-Water Practice
Breath control is one of the biggest hurdles in swimming yet one of the most important skills to master.
Activities to try:
- Blow bubbles in the bath or with a straw
- Dip the face and exhale slowly
Play breath-holding games in short bursts.
Children who are comfortable putting their face in the water progress much faster.
Why it matters:
- Poor breath control can hold back progress in every other area
- Comfort with water on the face reduces fear and panic
- Breath practice develops stamina for longer swims
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Blowing bubbles in the bath feels safe and fun
- Gradual face dips (chin → nose → whole face) ease fear step by step
- Breath-holding games teach control without pressure
7. Combine Skills Into Short Swims
Support your child to bring together their kicking, arms, and breathing.
Tips:
- Set small goals (swim to your hands)
- Remove floats gradually
- Use toys as swim targets
- Celebrate every small success
Bringing skills together is where confidence really grows. Swimming a short distance shows children that their efforts are paying off.
Why it matters:
- Small swims create visible progress and motivation
- Combining arms, legs, and breathing is essential for real swimming
- Achieving small goals builds resilience and pride
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Swimming to your hands or towards toys gives purpose
- Gradually removing floats builds independence
- Celebrating each short swim keeps motivation high
8. Use Games and Play-Based Practice
Games keep learning fun and help children practise skills without even realising it.
Play ideas:
- Treasure hunts for toys under water
- Red light/green light races
- Ring toss or noodle relays
- “Simon says” with swimming skills
Children learn best when they’re having fun. Play removes pressure and turns skill-building into an adventure.
Why it matters:
- Games disguise hard work as fun
- Play reduces fear by keeping the mood light
- Children learn social skills as well as swimming skills
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Treasure hunts practise diving, breath control, and movement
- Relay races encourage teamwork and stamina
- “Simon says” makes practising kicks, arms, or floats entertaining
9. Respect Your Child’s Pace
Swimming progress isn’t always steady. Some days they’ll be confident, others more hesitant and it's important to take each day as it comes.
- Offer reassurance if they feel nervous
- Switch to fun games when frustration sets in
- Step back to easier activities if needed
Swimming progress isn’t always linear. Some days bring leaps forward, others feel like setbacks. Recognising this helps avoid frustration.
Why it matters:
- Children who feel pressured may resist lessons
- Respecting their pace reduces stress and builds trust
- Pausing when needed prevents negative associations with water
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Reassurance when nervous builds resilience
- Switching to games avoids frustration and keeps sessions positive
- Stepping back to easier activities ensures they keep enjoying the water
10. Make Practice a Routine
A little and often is the best approach.
- Try weekly family swims
- Keep sessions short and fun
- Celebrate milestones to keep motivation high
Consistency beats intensity. Short, regular practice sessions are better than rare, long ones.
Why it matters:
- Regular exposure reinforces learning
- Routine creates comfort — children know what to expect
- Frequent practice develops physical fitness and memory
How it helps skills and confidence:
- Weekly family swims create bonding and routine
- Short, fun sessions mean children finish feeling positive
- Celebrating milestones boosts motivation and pride
11. When to Lean on the Instructor
Your support complements professional lessons, it doesn’t replace them. Instructors refine technique and keep children progressing safely.
You might rely more on your instructor if:
- Your child has plateaued
- They’re preparing for assessments or clubs
- You feel unsure teaching certain techniques
Your support at home is powerful, but instructors provide expertise and structure that ensures long-term success.
Why it matters:
- Instructors refine technique and correct mistakes early
- Professional input keeps progress steady and safe
- Teachers know how to prepare children for higher levels and assessments
How it helps skills and confidence:
- If your child plateaus, an instructor can re-ignite progress
- Support before assessments ensures they feel ready
- Your teamwork with the instructor creates the strongest results
Conclusion
Swimming lessons give your child the skills they need — but your encouragement between classes makes them stronger, more confident, and more capable. With patience, playful practice, and consistency, you’re helping them build a love of swimming that will last a lifetime.
Did you find this blog helpful? We've put all these useful tips into a handy guide that you can refer to whenever you like. Download it here.
