What this swimming skill is
Swimming to the end of the pool sounds easy, but it takes judgement. Your child needs to know where the wall is, arrive without crashing into it, and hold on. On their back they cannot see it coming at all, so they learn a simple way to know it is close.
This comes once your child can swim a short way on their own. From here, they learn to push off the wall into the next length, and later to turn and finish.
Why it matters
Fewer bumps and knocks.
Children who rush at the wall, or swim on their back without knowing where it is, tend to hit it. Arriving with control protects heads and fingers.
The wall is a safe place.
Holding on to the wall gives your child somewhere to rest and breathe. It is often the way out of the pool too.
Longer swims feel possible.
When the end of the pool feels calm and familiar, your child is happier to swim from one end to the other.
Everything else at the wall starts here.
Turns and finishes all begin with arriving at the wall in a good spot. Getting it right early makes the next steps easier.
Who it is for
This is for children, teens and adults who can swim a short way on their own, on their front or back. Your child is ready when they can move through the water without help and stop or stand when they want to. If you are learning as an adult, this is about arriving gently, without jarring a wrist or shoulder. Older adults often find it makes lap swimming feel much more relaxed.
