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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Do they want to stop or you don't want to due to cost/transportation?  I'd keep going.[/quote] They want to stop.  I want them to keep going, but I'm wondering if I'm holding them up to a silly standard.  Answers seem all over the place!

For example, one can kick himself across but his face is in the water so he treads water if he needs to breathe mid-way.  I told him he needs to keep going with lessons so he gets the stroke and breathing; that's not good enough.  He says it shouldn't matter because he can pass the pool test cited above and because all he likes to do is jump in and get back out over and over.  I'm going to make him keep going, but I want to give him a goal for when he can stop.[/quote]

Former lifeguard here. I think it varies. They don't need to know how to do backstroke, breast stroke and a perfect freestyle to be good swimmers. I don't think doggy paddle is good swimming and they should be able to swim stronger than just that stroke (ie not a perfect freestyle but face in the water, turning head to breath) would be better. Strength will come with age and practice.
I think they should be able to swim confidently across a full length pool without breaks and be able to tread water. 
If you are used to going to the same pool every day would they be confident swimmers in a new pool environment (bigger pool, deeper pool, etc.)

I think as a parent, you want to be confident that if they go to your local pool, a neighbor's pool, a hotel pool, lake, etc. they can swim confidently and safely. I want to know that if faced with a body of water they can get themselves to safety. If we were going to the ocean soon, I would keep up lessons even longer since that requires an even stronger swimmer.

[/quote]
Thanks - this is helpful as well as other responses.  They go into all sorts of pools.  They are in water 3-4 times a week (outside of the current swimming lessons).  The one I'm referring to at the moment kicks great (strong and steady) but his arms are kind of wild, so often he doesn't use them at all, just kicks his way and treads for a few seconds if he needs to take a breath.  They are both totally comfortable in deep water, as I said the most time is spent jumping in (deep end) and getting out and they also like to toss things onto the bottom and retrieve it.[/quote]

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