Child's name: ____________________
Age: _______ Date scored: __________
Not Yet — can't do it yet
Getting There — with help / sometimes
Solid — reliably, every time
🌊 Stage 1 — Comfort (the foundation)
1. Face in the water & blows bubbles. Puts their face in and blows out through nose/mouth without fear.
2. Submerges & recovers calmly. Goes fully under and comes back up relaxed, not panicked.
3. Enters & exits safely. Gets in and out with confidence and follows the pool rules.
🦺 Stage 2 — Survival Skills (the life-savers)
4. Front float. Floats face-down and relaxed for several seconds.
5. Back float (independent). Floats on their back, breathing, without your hands supporting them.
6. Rolls front-to-back to breathe. Turns over onto their back to get air — the key self-rescue move.
7. Returns to & holds the wall. Kicks/reaches back to the edge and grips it.
🏊 Stage 3 — Water Competency (the goal)
8. Jumps in & returns to the surface. Enters water over their head and comes back up under control.
9. Floats or treads water for 1 minute. Stays at the surface and breathes for a full 60 seconds.
10. Swims ~25 yards & climbs out. Turns to find an exit, swims to it, and gets out (no ladder, if in a pool).
🔍 What Your Scores Mean
- Mostly red: your child is a true beginner — focus on comfort and foundational survival skills with a survival-first program. Totally normal for young or new swimmers.
- Mix of yellow & green: real progress — circle the first yellow or red skill and make it this fall's focus.
- Mostly green: water competent for their level — keep practicing so skills don't fade over the break.
- Remember: no child is ever “drown-proof.” Every score still requires constant supervision, barriers, and life jackets for weak swimmers.
Our Fall Plan — Fill This In
Skills solid (green): ____ of 10
This fall's focus skill: ___________
Swim program / instructor: _________
Next lesson start date: ___________
