Why Your Child’s “Lower” Swim Level Is Actually a Win

This summer, Ramah Boston launched a new swim program rooted in the SwimRight™ Method—a step-by-step, safety-first progression that prioritizes real, life-saving water skills over quick-looking “strokes.” As both a director and a parent, I’ve watched my three kids make remarkable strides in the pool. We’ve practiced as a family for years (and I’m a former swim teacher!), yet the growth they’ve experienced through this method has honestly thrilled me.

And yes—if your child was placed in what looks like a “lower” level than you expected, that’s not a setback. It’s intentional, it’s smart, and it’s safer.

Safety Is the Foundation (Not the Bonus Feature)

Think of learning to swim like building a house: you can’t put up the roof before you pour the foundation. In our program, that foundation is water comfort, breath control, and floating. Many programs rush to arm pulls and “doggy paddle,” which can create false confidence and habits that are hard to undo. We start where it matters most—survival skills—and then build beautiful, efficient strokes on top of that.

The Back Float Comes First—Here’s Why

Before kids “swim,” they learn to roll onto their backs, float independently, breathe, and stay calm. In an unexpected water entry, those abilities save lives far more reliably than a wobbly freestyle. The back float:

• Prevents drowning by keeping a child calm, buoyant, and breathing.
• Buys time in emergencies—especially if they’re tired, panicked, or clothed.
• Builds body awareness and confidence, which improves every skill that follows.

We don’t “check the box” on floating. We insist on mastery—rolling independently, sustaining a relaxed float, and using it as a resting strategy mid-swim. That takes time, and it’s time well spent.

How Our Levels Work (and Why They Might Look “Slow” From the Outside)

Our entry levels—Splashers, Floaters, and Kickers—are laser-focused on safety, independence, and body position.

• Level 1 – Splashers: Comfort, assisted submersion, assisted kicking, assisted floating. We’re building trust and calm.
• Level 2 – Floaters: Independent rolling and floating—real, transferable safety skills like “Jump In and Float.”
• Level 3 – Kickers: Now we start to move—with drills like Kick-Float-Kick and Streamline Kick—on top of that strong safety base.

From there (Levels 4–6 and beyond), we layer in stroke mechanics, breathing, and full-stroke integration—eventually refining all four competitive strokes in our Freestylers, Gliders, and Flyers levels (7–9). These higher levels use thoughtful drills (like Superman Catch-Up, One Arm Pulls, and 6 Count Switch) to create efficient, technically sound swimmers ready for teams or lifelong confident recreation.

“But My Child Can Already Swim…”

We hear this a lot. Sometimes kids can move through water, but without the floating, breathing, and body control that keep them safe—and make their strokes efficient long-term. We’re not interested in quick progress that collapses later; we want your child to own each skill before moving on.

From My Family to Yours

As a parent, I’ve seen the difference. Even with our own family practice and my background as a swim teacher, the clarity, structure, and safety-first lens of this program unlocked growth I didn’t expect. Watching my kids calmly float, breathe, and then transition into clean, confident strokes has been deeply reassuring—and exciting.

Trust the Process

If your child is spending “a long time” on floating, celebrate that. The day you most hope never comes—the unexpected slip into a pool, the moment of panic—that’s when the float matters most. And it’s also the foundation for everything that follows: strong, efficient, joyful swimming.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. We’re not just teaching them to swim—we’re teaching them to be safe, strong, and confident in the water for life.