What this swimming skill is
Breaststroke has a simple rhythm once it clicks: pull and breathe, kick, glide. The arms and legs take turns rather than pushing at the same time. The glide is the short moment of sliding forward at the end. Your child starts slowly, with a pause between each part, and the pauses shrink as the rhythm settles.
This comes after learning the arm movement and the kick. Next, your child works on holding a long, straight shape in the glide, and then on swimming breaststroke further.
Why it matters
A stroke they can really use.
Once the pieces fit together, your child has a complete stroke to swim across the pool.
Easy breathing.
The head comes up for a breath on every stroke, which many swimmers find comforting.
More distance for less effort.
When arms and legs take turns, each push carries your child further, so they tire less.
A proud moment.
Swimming a full stroke for the first time is a big milestone that many children love to show off.
Who it is for
Children, teens, adults and seniors work on this once they have the breaststroke arms and a kick that works on its own. Younger children often rush, and the pauses help them keep things in order. If you already swim breaststroke with your head up, learning this rhythm often makes swimming feel calmer and less tiring.
