When do you start swimming lessons

If your sweetie seems ready for splashing in something bigger than the bath, discuss the topic of swim lessons with the pediatrician, who can give you a better idea of where your child is developmentally, emotionally and physically, and make a recommendation of a suitable program in your area.

Keep in mind that each child will be ready to swim on her own timeline. If your little one is frequently exposed to the water, be it a pool or the beach, physically coordinated so she can kick and paddle at the same time, and emotionally ready read: not afraid of the water , all swim signs point to go.

Look for classes of fewer than six students with instructors who are certified in CPR, first aid and water safety. For infants under the age of 1 , the AAP recommends against swim lessons because there's no evidence that they lower the risk of drowning. That said, a parent-baby water class can be a fun way to spend time wiht your little one and get her used to being in the pool. Even then, it's important to be aware of the risks. For example, a baby may easily swallow too much water, which could lead to water poisoning , or have trouble adjusting to the cold temperatures in the pool and, in rare cases, experience hypothermia.

For swimmers ages 5 and older who are already accustomed to the water, you can try programs that hold classes for kids both with and without parents. Try to find one that focuses on safe pool behavior as well as paddling and kicking.

Consider classes that run up to 30 minutes over an eight- to week period so kids can build on foundational skills and eventually move on to coordinating movement of the arms and legs. Also be aware of the AAP's stance on the safe use of floaties, water wings, inner tubes, rafts and even life jackets.

They often provide a false sense of security, so you still need to be within arm's reach of your child whenever you two are cooling off in the pool, lake or ocean.

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Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. Overall we are very pleased with Blue Wave and would recommend them without any hesitation. Highly recommend this swimming school. My daughter has been attending since she was 1 years old and she loves it.

The teachers are very good with children and my daughter, who is now 4 years old is very confident in the water. Your email will be managed in accordance with our privacy policy which you can view here. Unsubscribe at any time. Roman soldiers had to be able to swim and pass a swimming test.

What is Swimming Readiness? Read our blog about how long it takes to learn to swim Read more about when it is O. Award and Achievement. Hear it From Our Clients. View all Reviews. Blue Wave Swim School Great swim school with super swim teacher. Highly Recommended My son went to improve his swimming technique and found his instructor very helpful, very kind and patient. Excellent results My son is 4 years-old and we were looking for weekend swimming classes in a nice environment that could bring good results.

A wesome! Superb Swimming School in Wimbledon My daughter, who is now 7 years old, started with blue wave two years back and we have been very happy with her progress at the school. Highly recommend Highly recommend this swimming school. Lesson Enquiry. Complete Beginner Non-Swimmer but Water Confident Have had lessons but, cannot swim independently Basic can swim about 5 meters without any help Intermediate can swim front crawl and backstroke about 10 meters Advanced.

Top 5 Recent Posts. Recent News. Lesson Enquiry All Rights Reserved. The AAP wants parents to be aware that swimming lessons at any age can't "drown proof" a child and stresses the importance of constant adult supervision around water we should always be within arms reach , pool barriers and CPR training for parents. That's because "the primary drowning risk for toddlers age is unanticipated, unsupervised access to water," according to the AAP. The same curiosity that makes 1-year-olds good candidates for soaking up the potentially life-saving benefits of swimming lessons is also a risk factor for drowning, as curious toddlers and preschoolers can easily slip away and head for the water when adults least expect them to.

In addition to swimming lessons, the AAP wants parents to take the following steps to reduce the risk of childhood drowning:. Water safety is important for all families, but swimming lessons can be expensive. According to the AAP, "many towns have scholarship programs that help cover the cost of swim lessons held at public pools.