Water Safety for Kids Ages 5 to 12

Kids ages 5 to 12 need three things around water: real swim skills, a few simple rules they understand and follow, and an adult who is still watching. At this age, drownings happen less at home and more at public pools, lakes and the ocean, so the rules your child carries with them matter more than ever.

How the risks change at this age

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School-age children drown in different places than toddlers do:

• Natural water. CDC says over 40% of drownings among children 5 to 14 happen in natural water, and over 35% in swimming pools (opens in a new tab).
• Public pools. In CPSC's latest report, for children 5 to 9 and 10 to 14, public, community and business pools were the most common known location of pool drownings (opens in a new tab) (2021-2023). For younger children, it was the home.

The burden isn't shared equally. CDC reports that Black children ages 5 to 9 drown at 2.6 times the rate of White children, and ages 10 to 14 at 3.6 times (opens in a new tab) (1999-2019 data). CDC links swimming-skill gaps to history, including racially segregated pools and pools that closed when integration was required (opens in a new tab). This is about access, not ability. If lessons have been hard to reach for your family, see how to find swim lessons near you and why some communities face higher risk.

Skills to build at this age

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that by age 5 or 6, most children in swim lessons can master the front crawl (opens in a new tab). It also says all children should learn to get back to the surface from underwater, swim at least 25 yards, and get out of the water (opens in a new tab).

The American Red Cross calls this set of abilities water competency (opens in a new tab). Its five skills are:

1. Enter water that's over your head, then return to the surface.
2. Float or tread water for at least 1 minute.
3. Turn over and turn around in the water.
4. Swim at least 25 yards.
5. Exit the water.

Good lessons also teach what to do in a surprise fall. The AAP says lessons should practice realistic conditions, such as falling in and swimming in clothes (opens in a new tab). The YMCA's Safety Around Water program teaches children two short sequences for unexpected falls: Jump, Push, Turn, Grab and Swim, Float, Swim (opens in a new tab).

Finishing a beginner class is a start, not a finish line. Water Safety USA notes that children completing entry-level lessons may still not have the skills for water competency and still need close and direct supervision (opens in a new tab). Check where your child stands:

For a fuller picture by age, see water safety skills by age and the five skills that can save a life.

Rules kids can own

These are rules a child can learn, repeat and explain back to you. Each one comes from the Red Cross, the AAP or CDC.

• Ask first, every time. The Red Cross says to teach children to always ask permission to go near water (opens in a new tab), whether it's a pool, a lake or the beach.
• Never swim alone. The AAP says children should learn never to swim alone or without adult supervision (opens in a new tab).
• Swim where a lifeguard is on duty, with a buddy. The AAP urges families to swim only where there are lifeguards on duty, and to use the buddy system (opens in a new tab).
• Feet first. The Red Cross advises always entering unknown or shallow water feet first (opens in a new tab).
• Life jacket at the lake, river and on boats. CDC says children should use life jackets for all activities in and around natural water (opens in a new tab). Pool toys and noodles don't count.
• No breath-holding contests. CDC warns that hyperventilating or holding your breath underwater for long periods can cause you to pass out and drown (opens in a new tab).

Write your family's rules together and sign them with the Family Water Safety Pledge. For ideas on making pool rules stick, see pool rules for kids, and for the words to use, see how to talk to kids about water safety.

Pools, beaches and lakes

Pools. A lifeguard is a layer, not a babysitter. Pool Safely says parents should still be the designated Water Watcher even when a lifeguard is present (opens in a new tab). Before your child goes in the deep end, make sure they can do the five skills above. Read public pool safety.

Beaches. The National Weather Service warns that swimming in a pool is not the same as swimming at a surf beach (opens in a new tab), where waves, wind and currents use up energy fast. Choose a beach with lifeguards, check the flags, and teach your child the National Weather Service's rip current steps: relax, don't swim against the current, swim out of it and then to shore, float or tread water if you can't escape, and yell or wave for help (opens in a new tab). Practice with our rip current guide.

Lakes and rivers. CDC says lakes, rivers and oceans have hidden hazards such as dangerous currents, rocks, vegetation and limited visibility (opens in a new tab). That's why the life jacket rule matters most here. See why lakes are not pools.

Sleepovers, camps and friends' houses

This is the age of first sleepovers, day camps and pool parties without you. The AAP notes that even among older children and teens, most drownings happen when there is no adult supervision (opens in a new tab). A short conversation ahead of time closes that gap.

Ask the host or the camp:

• Who will be watching the children in the water, and will that adult have any other job at the same time?
• Is the pool fenced, and does the gate close and latch by itself?
• Will there be a lifeguard? (At a home, usually not.)
• Are life jackets provided, and required, for boating or lake swimming?
• Do children have to show their swim skills before going in deep water?

Tell the adult in charge honestly how well your child swims. For camps, use the questions to ask a summer camp. Hosting yourself? See how to host a safe pool party.

Teach them how to get help

Children want to help when a friend is in trouble, and that instinct can put them in danger. The Red Cross teaches reach or throw, don't go (opens in a new tab). Water Safety USA explains that safe rescue means reaching or throwing a flotation aid from the water's edge without entering the water (opens in a new tab). The National Weather Service adds a hard truth: many people have died trying to rescue someone caught in a rip current (opens in a new tab).

Teach your child this order:

1. Shout for a lifeguard or an adult.
2. Call 911, or ask an adult to call.
3. Reach with something long, like a pole or a towel, while staying out of the water.
4. Throw something that floats, like a ring buoy or a life jacket.
5. Don't go into the water.

The AAP says older children should learn what to do if they see someone struggling in the water, and how to get help (opens in a new tab). The Reach or Throw, Don’t Go game lets them practice the choice. More in reach or throw, don't go.

Teachers and group leaders: our free Water Safety Lesson Plan for Grades 3-5 and Water Safety Lesson Plan for Grades 6-8 lesson plans are built for the classroom, and the Red Cross offers Longfellow's WHALE Tales (opens in a new tab), free lessons for kindergarten through grade 5.

What you can do today

1. Check their skills. At your next pool visit, with you close by in the water, ask your child to show you the five competency skills. Note what they can't do yet, and tell their instructor.
2. Write three family rules together and sign the pledge.
3. Practice "reach or throw" on dry land. Hand your child a towel and a pool noodle and let them choose the right move.
4. Plan the next sleepover or camp with the questions above.
5. Play one game together, like Water Safety Quiz or Safe or Not?. Our kids' games collect no personal information and have no ads.
6. Book lessons if your child can't yet swim 25 yards.

Is your child a strong swimmer already? Read my child can swim: do they still need watching?