One thing I learned in naval aviator swim qual was how easy it is to float for a very long time, given the right technique. (Called a dead man’s float. Link: https://www.sportsrec.com/prone-float-8623477.html )
We naturally try to swim with our heavy head out of the water, but with full lungs most people will easily float for almost an unlimited amount of time, only popping your head up for a breath. Somehow, the more nervous you are, the more you struggle to keep your head out of the water. Learning that I could float like this for hours if needed keeps me calm in the water, I recommend you all try it, and keep it in mind to fall back on if you ever start to panic in the water.
I'm not a good swimmer, but curiously I was never afraid to jump in the water. With some friends on the beach, I went out for a swim, until I had the feeling the sea was getting rougher and me getting tired. At some point, anxiety kicked in and the feeling I was loosing strength and not reaching the beach fast enough. I tried the position several times in the hope to rest a bit, but everytime I got so much water in the face that gave me the feeling to get waterboarded, I could only stay a few moments. Close to what felt as the end, I had the last strength to lift my shoulders out the water and call my friends, who saved me.
You have to find the right swim classes. We started our children in swim classes at 2 years old, but I was never very satisfied with the instruction they were receiving. I could see them struggling with things and the instructors would just sort of give them nudges in the water to get them to go in the direction they wanted, but weren't really working on explaining things. They also made the kids sit on the side of the pool when it wasn't their turn, so 2/3rds of the 30 minutes they were there, they weren't in the water, getting comfortable with it, learning not to fear it.
When our youngest turned 3, they moved him up to a class where I no longer got in the pool with him, and he was not ready for that. I told them he wasn't ready and they didn't listen. Ultimately, he wasn't getting enough time in the water to get over his fear of getting his face wet, and the instructors were rushing him too much that he started hating going. So we took him out and I bought a 12' diameter, 20" deep pool for the back yard (oof, getting the ground leveled to set it up was quite an ordeal). He is still aprehensive when he first gets in, but usually after about 30 minutes he's asking me to put on goggles so he can stick his face in the water. He'll get there.
Our oldest is 5. His first swim classes were at a different place entirely, but we moved out of there and had to find a new place (the place I hate). So I think he got a better foundation of familiarity with the water to then be able to get something out of the classes at the later school. He swims like a fish now. He recently attended a pool party for a friend's birthday and swam non-stop for pretty much 2 hours.
The "large kiddie pool" or "small above ground pool" was a good balance of cost (I probably put $300 total into the pool, setting it up, and care equipment/chemicals) and capacity for what they need, which is really just "figuring out how their bodies work in water."
The school that I hate is called Goldfish. They're a national chain. Avoid them, if at all possible.
I have been told that only at 5 kids have the psychomotor development to actually _learn_ swimming. Until then it is 'dress rehearsal'...They are basically learning how to be in water, etc, with an adult paying attention
Also floating on your back is a great way to rest and regroup. One thing that could be challenging with it is that if the waves are too choppy or with strong wind, it may be hard to keep the face esp. nose clear of water, which could add to panic. This position also needs some light kicks to keep legs from sinking. Restoring the breathing rhythm is what lets one get some control over the situation.
No matter the skill, we humans are still the land creatures. Let's stay safe!
We naturally try to swim with our heavy head out of the water, but with full lungs most people will easily float for almost an unlimited amount of time, only popping your head up for a breath. Somehow, the more nervous you are, the more you struggle to keep your head out of the water. Learning that I could float like this for hours if needed keeps me calm in the water, I recommend you all try it, and keep it in mind to fall back on if you ever start to panic in the water.