This one is for all those swim parents out there with little ones who have not yet taken swim lessons. As a swim instructor with more than 30 years experience, one question I hear parents ask over and over is; when should kids start swim lessons ~ when are they ready? And the answer is; they were born ready. Seriously!
What most parents don’t realize is that the better question is, when are YOU ready for them to have swim lessons? It is us who puts our fear or discomfort unto them. Remember babies develop in a liquid environment, so the comfort level for them is no problema. Now they are breathing air, so the biggest concern is preventing water from entering the lungs, potentially causing drowning – obviously, this is true at any age. So the question becomes; what is the purpose of swim lessons at various ages?
Most programs offer learn to swim classes starting at 6 months. The swimmer will (typically) be accompanied by a parent until they are between 2-3 yrs old – depending on if they move on to the big kids class via private or group instruction. In baby/toddler classes, the main objective is comfort and safety. Actually, the class is more designed for the adult to understand basic swim skills and safety concepts – e.g. the importance of constant surveillance and what to look for.
As far as swim skills, adults will learn how to hold their child in a way that encourages proper body position in the water for easy transition to swim skills down the line. One more key concept is breath control ~ helping the little one learn to close their mouth underwater instead of swallowing while submerged, or inhaling water instead of air. Stay tuned, we will soon post a video for more specifics on how to do this.
While some programs boast about an infant “swimming” alone, be assured this is a primitive instinct self-rescue skill – definitely not “swimming” as in prepared for safe, independent play in the water. Usually, children are physically developed enough for more independent exploration around 2-4 years old. Formal strokes and skills begin to develop more rapidly around 5 years old. If a child has started lessons at an early age, the strokes usually come more easily. By then, they already have confidence, floatation, and breathing skills established, allowing them to focus on specific skills and techniques for learning the different swim strokes.
Thanks again for visiting our blog, and taking a virtual dip in the h2o! Don’t forget to share and subscribe, and be sure to swim over soon to check out the next one; How You Can Help Your Baby Learn to Swim 💦
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