Introducing the Four Swimming Strokes: Master the Art at Ocaquatics Swim School

Young children should learn the basics of swimming to be safer in and around the water. As they progress, it becomes essential to introduce them to the basic swimming strokes. 

At Ocaquatics Swim School, your children will learn everything they need for water safety and fun. Once they’re ready, our certified swim instructors can teach them the four essential swimming strokes in swimming classes that encourage them to reach new goals. In this blog post, we discuss the importance of learning these swim strokes as well as their basic components.

The Importance of Having an Introduction to Basic Swimming Strokes

As your children advance in swimming lessons, they will learn to do different swim strokes. These are important to learn for several reasons.

Reduce Risks for Injuries

Learning the four essential swimming strokes engages more muscles in the body. When your child learns to do these strokes correctly, they don’t place too much stress on any one part of the body. This helps balance the work of all the activated muscles to strengthen them with minimal risk of injury.

It’s More Fun

If your child only learns one swim stroke, they may become bored quickly. Learning all four of them encourages love for the sport of swimming while making it a challenge. They’ll be inclined to crush their goals and move forward to the next one.

Builds Healthy Competition

As your child gains an introduction to the basic swimming strokes, they will be able to swim faster and have greater endurance. When your child can swim each stroke, they can improve their time per lap and use their capabilities to switch strokes to reduce fatigue. This allows them to compete better at swim meets or relays—or even just against friends. 

Breakdown of the Four Essential Swimming Strokes

After your child has mastered the basic lessons for swimming, they will receive an introduction to the basic swimming strokes. Here is what to know about the four essential swimming strokes. 

The Freestyle Stroke and Its Techniques

The freestyle stroke is the first swim stroke that children will learn. It’s closest to the basic movements your child learns when they first begin to swim. This swimming stroke requires putting the face into the water while alternating each arm. One arm goes forward to push the water below, propelling the body forward. 

As the arms alternate, the face is turned to the side to breathe. Meanwhile, the legs kick for momentum to accelerate the body forward. 

The Backstroke and Its Key Components

As the name suggests, the backstroke is done while on the back, looking up at the sky. It requires using floating skills for balance. Movement begins by extending the arms in front and alternating them behind the head. 

The key to success with the backstroke is to let the pinky lead as it goes into the water first. Arms must revolve 360 degrees in a cycle while the feet flutter kick to help quickly move the body through the water. 

The Breaststroke and Its Unique Style

Children tend to love the breaststroke because the movement is similar to how frogs swim in the water. It begins with having the face in the water and arms at the sides. From there, the hands push forward before curving, each pressing away from the body, creating a full circular motion with the hands. 

While it looks simple, it is more complex as the elbows must stay underwater the entire time. The chest must come up as the hands meet in front, allowing swimmers to take a breath. As for the legs, the kick is more of a thrust like a frog.

The Butterfly Stroke and Its Technical Aspects

Once your child masters the other swimming strokes, they can attempt the most challenging one, the butterfly stroke. It requires much practice as it is physically demanding in nature. Your child must swing their arms overhead while doing a dolphin kick that makes the legs work like a mermaid’s tail.

Ocaquatics Swim School's Approach to Teaching the Four Essential Swimming Strokes

Ocaquatics Swim School has been teaching children to swim since 1994 in a unique and safe environment. Our various locations throughout South Florida focus on providing a consistent teaching method while adapting to each child’s style. 



In this uplifting and encouraging environment, children learn to thrive as they gain confidence from those basic lessons to mastering the four essential swimming strokes. Safety is always a top priority followed by making swimming lessons a fun experience that will create a lifelong love for the activity. 

Benefits of Attending Ocaquatics Swim School for an Introduction to Basic Swimming Strokes

When you sign your child up for swimming lessons at Ocaquatics Swim School, you can be confident that they will learn to master the four essential swimming strokes. We offer five convenient locations around Miami that all feature indoor pools that are properly warmed for the ultimate comfort. 

Our swimming instructors are not only certified but also experienced in teaching children how to swim. They have the skills to teach children the basics and help them set goals as they move through lessons to master the swimming strokes. 

Each of our centers is child-friendly while minimizing distractions to ensure all children put their focus on swimming. Once your child completes extended swimming with rollovers, they will be ready to progress into the development of swimming strokes. We make the process fun for young swimmers to get them excited about learning this sport while understanding how to be more responsible while in and around the water. 

If your child doesn’t yet know how to swim, sign them up for lessons today at Ocaquatics Swim School. You’ll be amazed at how quickly they’ll go from basic swim skills to mastering these swim strokes.