During this stage you will observe noticeable changes in the child's swimming development. Physically children have marked improvements in balance and coordination. Socially they begin to engage in conversations and emotionally the child becomes extremely independent. Children in this group are often the most challenging to teach to swim. It requires patience, understanding, firmness and fun from both swimming teacher and parent.

If children have been swimming regularly since they were a baby, parents and swimming teachers should focus on developing correct body position for swimming and good freestyle and backstroke kicking techniques. If you are only just introducing a toddler to the water then the key is to go slow and expose them to the water regularly. Learning to swim should be a positive experience for both parent and child.