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Kids' Swim Practice Log

Child's name: ______________________  ·  Current lesson level: ____________  ·  Skill I'm working toward: ________________________

WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Log every practice session between lessons — even 10 minutes counts. Short, frequent practice beats one long swim. Write down one win and one thing to work on next time, and bring this sheet to the next lesson so the instructor can see what stuck. An adult stays within arm's reach for every session, no exceptions.

Week 1 Goal: 3 sessions

This week's focus skill: ____________________________________________

DateMinutesSkills practicedWin & next focus
    
    
    

Week 2 Goal: 3 sessions

This week's focus skill: ____________________________________________

DateMinutesSkills practicedWin & next focus
    
    
    

Week 3 Goal: 3 sessions

This week's focus skill: ____________________________________________

DateMinutesSkills practicedWin & next focus
    
    
    

Week 4 Goal: 3 sessions

This week's focus skill: ____________________________________________

DateMinutesSkills practicedWin & next focus
    
    
    

Skills to Rotate Through (check off what you practiced this month)

  • Blowing bubbles — mouth then nose, face fully in
  • Front glide with face in the water, arms reaching
  • Independent back float — ears in, belly up, count to 10
  • Roll front-to-back to breathe, then back to front
  • Kicking on front and back, long relaxed legs
  • Wall climb-out: elbow–elbow–tummy–knee
  • Jump in, surface, turn, and swim back to the wall
  • Treading water — build from 10 seconds toward 60
  • Side breathing during front crawl

Make Practice Count (and Keep It Safe)

  • Little and often wins. Three 15-minute sessions a week build skill faster than one long, tiring swim — and they hold off the skill fade that happens over breaks.
  • Practice reinforces, it doesn't replace lessons. Work the skills your instructor is teaching now; don't rush ahead to skills they haven't introduced.
  • End on a win. Finish every session with a skill your child already loves and does well, so the water stays a happy place.
  • Supervision is not optional. An adult within arm's reach, phone down, eyes on the water — every single session, no matter how strong the swimmer looks.

Created by WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Red Cross learn-to-swim guidance, CDC drowning prevention

Back to the full practice guide · Age-by-age swim milestones checklist

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