Starting age and aquatic skill learning in young children: mastery of prerequisite water confidence and basic aquatic locomotion skills.

This study examined whether an optimal starting age emerged for acquiring water confidence (Level 1) or basic aquatic locomotion skills (Level 2). Analysis of 264 children between 2 and 7 years of age was made by examining numbers of lessons, age at reaching a given standard and the time duration required for each swim level. At 4 years of age, children demonstrated the ability to achieve the levels of water confidence and basic locomotion skills whereas earlier introduction to aquatic instruction did not translate into earlier mastery of these basic skills.