If you're teaching your child to swim, maybe they've already made some solid progress (congratulations!), but you're running out of ideas on what to teach next. Using this printable checklist, you'll be able to track their progress and have a clear guide of what to teach next. From first getting comfortable in the water through to swimming multiple strokes with confidence. Print it, laminate it, and mark off each skill as it's learned (using stickers may provide further motivation to the child).
Download the Printable PDF
How to Use It
Print the poster and laminate it so it can be reused across sessions, and not become water damaged. Once laminated, mark progress with a marker or stickers. When you look at the checklist in a few months time, you may want to remember what point the child started at, so a good method could be the following:- Shade it in - the swimmer already knew this skill before starting
- Tick it or add a sticker - the swimmer learned it during the program
01. Water Confidence
Getting comfortable, no propulsion yet.- Comfortable putting face in the water
- Blow bubbles underwater
- Open eyes underwater
- Float on back with support
- Float on front with support
- Jump into the pool (shallow end, supervised)
02. Basic Propulsion
Moving through the water unassisted.- Kick with a kickboard, face in the water
- Streamline glide off the wall
- Unassisted front float, 5+ seconds
- Unassisted back float, 5+ seconds
- Roll from front to back and back again
03. Freestyle
Front crawl, from drill to distance.- Kick and arm stroke together, no breathing
- Arm recovery and hand entry technique
- Side breathing using a kickboard
- Full stroke: kick, arms, side breathing
- Bilateral breathing, both sides
- Swim 10m freestyle unaided
- Swim 25m freestyle unaided
04. Backstroke & Safety
A second stroke, plus core water safety.- Backstroke arm technique
- Backstroke kick and arms coordinated
- Swim 10m backstroke
- Tread water for 30 seconds
- Safe entry and exit from the deep end
05. Endurance & Extras
Building stamina, range, and diving in.- Breaststroke kick (frog kick)
- Full breaststroke
- Swim 50m freestyle without stopping
- Swim 100m mixing strokes
- Sitting dive from the edge
- Kneeling dive
- Standing compact dive
- Standing dive, streamlined
