No one is too young or too old to learn how to swim. Regardless of age, it will take 50 hours or more of good quality water time, in order to be safe, in, around and under the water surface.
Due to the inherent risk of being in the water, it is very important to be aware of 2 things:
1. The consequences of entering a body of water
2. The plan of exiting the body of water needs to be clear and in place, before entering that pool, lake, river, ocean, bay, atoll, canal, or dam