Since we spent summers on a lake, our parents made sure that we were quickly enrolled in Red Cross swimming schools that were age- and experience-appropriate, until we all passed Junior Lifesaver certificates. I became a pretty good swimmer as a result.
Since then, I’ve learned “drownproofing” techniques, so that I can swim (if I have to) with “arms only”, “feet only” and even for short distances with hands tied behind my back and feet tied, too. (If you had my sisters, you’d understand why this is a necessary survival skill to learn.)
I made sure my kids were taught early, too. My daughter has even swum across the lake we lived at: a mile across, and then back again after a short rest. (I followed in a chase boat “just in case”, and to keep other boats away from her.) She’s done that twice.