When my boys were tiny Toddlers, their Pediatrician was so adamant about kids and swimming, he'd go from the sweetest guy to almost angry. As he'd say...and he was right.....We Floridians live in a state that is bordered by water, lakes everywhere, rivers and creeks everywhere. Probably every 5th house has a pool. But for SOME reason Parents refuse to get Swim Lessons. I'm REALLY REALLY REALLY amazed at the amount of unsupervised kids I see at the Beach. The tan is more important than your Toddler 4 feet from the water.
My boys were taught at the YMCA but even after they could swim, we'd go to the Beach DURING Rip Tide warnings so I could show them exactly what it's all about. I even tossed their football in the water to show how something that floats WILL come back.