Tri / Triathlon / Triathlons - do they float your boat?

Breathe every 2 strokes, and do at least a quarter of your training breathing to the other side
Don't plan on kicking much - you'll need your legs later on

Most of what you wrote was spot on... except:

Breath every 3 strokes - will balance your swim alot more, and gives you a better option of breathing to either side of choice if there's a cross wind or sunny morning in an OW swim. The swimmers I work with (adult, mostly new to Tri) would all make the most progress at this stage if they (c)would breath to both sides.

Kick lots, just don't kick like you're trying to kick the sh1t out the water - keep it nice and gentle, imagine you're swimming in a smartie tube and trying to kick the top and bottom of it whilst cracking a walnut or holding a £1 coin between your cheeks.

If you don't kick your legs will drag and you'll be slower.

Edit - P.s. Good luck to all entering Tri this year... great fun.