The Right Age to Start Baby Swim Lessons

The benefits of signing your child up for swimming lessons are numerous and substantial. Teaching your child how to swim not only makes them feel comfortable in the water, but it also ensures their safety around water. Whether they’re attending a birthday pool party or hanging out on the beach, you want your child to view the water as a welcoming, fun environment that they’re equipped to handle. There is much debate regarding the proper time to enroll your child in swimming lessons. Truth be told, your child is never too old to learn how to properly swim. That being said, it’s best to ensure your child feels comfortable in the water at an early age in order to promote their healthy development. Keep reading to learn the benefits of baby swimming lessons in West Los Angeles, in addition to helping you determine which swimming lessons are best for your child.

Start Early

While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all children age 4 and older partake in formal swimming lessons, they’re not opposed to swimming lessons for younger children. Ideally, you want to ensure your child is comfortable in and around water at an early age. Seeing as their concept of fear can begin to develop around 8 months, you’d be wise to teach your baby the preliminary swimming skills at around 6 months. Lessons given to children this young won’t include formal stroke training or rigorous exercise, but will focus more on ensuring they’re comfortable in the water and know how to navigate it.

Know Your Child’s Needs

Every child is different, so knowing what kind of training they need in the pool will depend on you understanding their particular needs. Safety is your top priority when it comes to baby swim lessons, so make sure the class you sign your child up for is within their wheelhouse. Whether you’re looking for lessons that emphasize improving motor skills or focus more on staying safe in the water, try and find swimming lessons that cater to your child’s needs.

Consider Multiple Facilities

When it comes to ensuring your child’s swim lessons are effective, you need to consider the environment in which they’re given. Especially for infants and toddlers, the aquatic facility will play a big part in how your child reacts to their first swimming experience. There are many factors that go into identifying the best swimming facilities, including cleanliness, water temperature, safety, and staff on hand. Finding the best swimming lessons for your child will take time and consideration. Visit multiple places where baby swimming lessons are offered to ensure you’re working with the best instructors.

Work with Experienced Instructors

Teaching an infant or toddler to swim is much different than teaching a child or young adult. This means it’s imperative for you to seek out instructors that have experience working with younger children. Swim lessons for babies should last no longer than 30 minutes, and include engaging activities that make lessons fun for your child. Before you sign your baby up for swimming lessons, speak with the instructors to ensure they have experience in working with younger children. This gives you peace of mind knowing your child is working with instructors that have a proven track record of success.

For parents looking to schedule fun, effective swimming lessons for their child, contact Swim Right Academy!