When should your child start swimming lessons?
Swimming is an important life skill and survival skill and the earlier you start developing that skill the better! It’s a fantastic, fun and social activity that is great to maintain throughout their childhood and helps develop water safety skills. Swimming develops lifelong exercise practises that will benefit your child for their whole life.
The best time to start introducing your child to lessons in a pool is at 6 months of age through baby and toddler lessons. At this age, it’s essential that guardians are in the pool with their child. From 3 to 4 years of age, children can start formal classes in the pool on their own under guardian supervision. At this age, kids have the patience and concentration to listen to a teacher without parental assistance. However, if you are reading this as an adult caring for a 10 year old who has never completed formal lessons, don’t fret, it is never too late to learn to swim! Check out our teen swimming lessons for information on starting for kids 10 years+.
Why are swim lessons important for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers?
Swimming Lessons are the most important activity for babies and toddlers. As your baby is learning to interact with the world around them, introducing water skills is a natural step, helping with mobility and muscle strength as they grow. Once your baby reaches 6 months old, it’s a great time to introduce them to formal baby swim lessons. At this age they are learning to grasp, grip and pull their bodies up, so learning to exit the water is another useful skill to add during this developmental stage. Formal parent and baby lessons give you and your child the opportunity to build confidence in the water and ensure you both learn the water survival skills you need to safely enjoy playing in water. Encouraging safe and fun water play in these lessons is also a fantastic way to bond with your child!
Lessons at a young age help to build knowledge through gradual learning, so these critical life skills stick with your child for life. As they progress through their swimming journey, you and your child will:
- Learn valuable water safety knowledge and survival skills
- Know that your child knows how to be safe in water
- Learn skills that can help prevent drowning
- Learn floating, rolling, paddling, and breathing control
How to start learning to swim at home?
Getting your child comfortable and confident in the water doesn’t have to wait until formal swim lessons. You can start at home from day one by doing gentle cup pour exercises with your baby. This is a great way to get your baby used to the water.
Start with 1 second cup pours over the face. Then, as they get more comfortable with that sensation, progress to 5 second water pours.
Here are some tips to remember when doing gentle cup pours at home:
- Start pouring at the crown of the head
- Encourage breathing out birthday candles and blinking repeatedly
- Always smile and shower praises, even if they have a slip or get water up their nose!
How to prepare for swim lessons with a baby?
Feeling prepared for your swim lesson with your child can make the experience less stressful and more fun! Ensure you pack all necessary items and even arrive a little early to give you both enough time to adjust to the new environment together.
To ensure long-lasting water hygiene, make sure you take the time to wash the pool water off after your lesson, especially the hands and feet, to keep germs away. Remember to dry off as much as you can before leaving to avoid dry skin and so you and your child feels comfortable after the lesson.
What should you bring to your baby swimming lessons?
- Two towels: One to wrap baby in on the walk to the showers and a fresh one to dry them off after the shower
- Bathers: Long sleeve bathers will keep your baby warmer in the water. However, avoid long sleeve rash tops in indoor pools when your child your starts learning freestyle or backstroke arms, as they can restrict movement. Make sure you also pack comfortable bathers for yourself!
- Swimming nappies are essential in the water. If you are on the cusp of nappy sizes, always size down for a snug fit rather than loose to prevent leakage into the pool
- Nappy bag
- Snacks, water, bottle for afterwards
Don’t be surprised if your bub falls asleep in the car ride home. Swimming lessons are tiring business.
These foundation skills and early exposure to swimming will ensure your child builds muscle faster, making them stronger and safer when learning to walk, run and jump. Ensuring a fun and exciting start to your child’s swimming journey can spark a lifelong love of the water!
Start your swimming journey now. It is never too late to start learning how to swim, even if you are reading this as a parent of a 10+ year old or an adult who is wanting to start lessons for the first time!
Find out more about our levels and progression here:
Baby and toddler swimming lessons.
Learn to swim alongside your child with our adult learn to swim lessons!
Research resources:
- https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/about/news-and-updates/news/2022/jan/When-is-the-right-time-for-children-to-learn-to-swim
- https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/babies-and-swimming
- https://onewiththewater.org/swimming-readiness-tips-babies-toddlers/#:~:text=Practice%20Submersion%20Readiness&text=Keep%20initial%20pours%20very%20brief,wipe%20eyes%20with%20a%20towel.)
https://surreypark.org.au/learn-to-swim-babies-and-toddlers/
