Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Activities

How old should your child be for swimming lessons

Antonia Maric
By

If your baby can barely walk and talk, putting them in swimming lessons seems like a crazy idea, but this practice is becoming more common these days. Parents are enrolling their little ones in classes as a preventative measure. Unfortunately, drowning is a leading cause of death among children, and one way to help prevent this is with the proper water training.

Whether you are taking a dip in your pool or heading to a lake, it is important to stay within a close distance to your baby or toddler every moment. However, it only takes a split second for the wrong thing to happen, so swimming lessons can only support the safety of your child. Even if your baby cannot actually learn to swim, they can learn how to react to falling into the water.

Related Videos
Mom teaching baby to swim
Evgeny Atamanenko/Shutterstock

When can babies swim?

You may be wondering what age is best to start swimming lessons— well, you may be shocked to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has stated that your little one can begin swimming lessons at just a year old. Whether you have a pool in your backyard, live near the beach, or just would like to take precautionary measures, swimming lessons for infants are said to be highly beneficial.

Between the ages of 1 and 3 is a wonderful age for babies to start “swimming” or develop various water reactions. If you choose to take your little ones to swimming lessons, the following is what you can expect.

Lessons at ages 1 to 3

If you enroll your baby in swim lessons between the ages of 1 and 3, think of it more as an aquatics class. Your child won’t be learning how to backstroke, but they will learn the basics. Your baby will learn to push water out of their mouths by blowing bubbles, kick, and float on their backs. By teaching these survival skills, your baby will gain confidence and reactionary skills in the water. When you enroll your little one in swimming lessons, you should expect to be getting in the pool with them! As the parent, you will be with your baby every step of the way, keeping them safe while following the instructor’s lessons. 

Remember, every child moves at their own pace, so as long as your baby isn’t afraid of the water, swimming lessons can be a lot of fun and highly useful. One of the biggest goals of partaking in introductory swim classes is introducing your baby to the water and building confidence when in it. 

Baby boy in swimming lesson
Yaoinlove/ Shutterstock

Lessons at ages 4 to 5

When your child is around the age of 4, they will continue to build on their water survival and reflex skills while learning the basics of swimming. Four-year-olds will continue to practice their floating skills, in addition to learning how to tread water. They will most likely also learn how to submerge themselves completely underwater while practicing holding their breath. Fortunately, children around this age will also learn how to exit a body of water with a doggie paddle. Once your kids reach the age of 6, they will advance to learning more technical skills and continually move forward in their training.

Parent safety

It is just as important for the parents to learn about water safety as it is for babies to learn survival skills. When researching classes to enroll your child in, make sure you look into programs that place a learning emphasis on both parent and child skills. If you are unable to find a class that provides both, you may also be able to look into courses that solely educate caregivers on water safety for their little ones. In these classes, you will mainly learn about steps to prevent drowning. You should learn the steps needed to take in the pool and ocean and what to do if your child accidentally does go under the water. 

Even if your kids have been enrolled in swimming lessons since the age of 1, drowning is still possible. Make sure pools are fenced in, proper floatation devices are used, and of course, that your kids are always properly supervised. Your baby’s water skills only act as a cushion.

Luckily, even if you never find yourself in an emergency, your baby or toddler can only benefit from swimming lessons. They will become comfortable in the water while developing their muscles and mind, tools that can help them throughout all levels of their lives. Most importantly, swim classes are a bonding moment for you and your little one.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
When should your child learn how to ride a bike?
Find out what age to take off the training wheels
Parents teaching their daughter how to ride a bike with training wheels

Children usually learn to ride a bike between the ages of 3 and 8. Bike riding is one of the best outdoor activities for kids, and it's something the entire family can do together. Riding a bicycle provides lots of exercise and fun and it increases the bond between parents and children as well as siblings and friends. Research shows that the best range for kids to learn a new skill is between the ages of 4 and 12. The sweet spot within those nine years is 4 to 8, where kids move from riding with training wheels to without. The earlier a child learns how to ride, the longer they reap the physical and emotional rewards of bike riding.

Before putting your child on a bicycle, as a parent, you need to have a clear understanding of the styles and features of bicycles to know which suits their child. Bicycles are actually divided into different categories. In addition, parents need to distinguish the ways in which kids can learn to ride a bike, the age factor, the learning method, and how to ensure overall safety when riding. Of course, you'll want to know what age a child can ride a bike with training wheels. So, let's get ready to ride.

Read more
Why peekaboo baby is a great game to play with your little one
When do babies play peekaboo? You should start playing as soon as possible
toddler playing game

We all play the same adorable baby games when there's an infant around. Peekaboo is one game that's always at the top. Your grandparents played it with your parents, your parents played it with you, and now you’re playing it with your child. But what’s the deal with the peekaboo baby game? Why do babies absolutely love this simple game?

Could it be that during a game of peekaboo, baby brains are undergoing some sort of important developmental process? If you’ve read any literature on infant development, you could guess that, yes, peekaboo definitely plays a role in your child’s development. Here’s everything you need to know about this game and why you should play it with your mini human. 

Read more
6 fantastic reasons to enroll your child in toddler gymnastics classes today
If you're looking for a great activity for your busy tot, try toddler gymnastics classes
toddler-gymnastics-class

You don't need to have aspirations of your child becoming an Olympic athlete to enroll your child in toddler gymnastics classes. Anyone who has ever had a toddler or been even remotely close to a toddler knows they are full of limitless energy. Parents and caregivers can spend hours every day simply trying to entertain a boisterous three-nager, thoroughly exhausting themselves in the process.
Toddler gymnastics classes have become increasingly popular over the last few years as a way to not only get kids active in a safe and monitored environment but also as a way to teach children from a young age the importance of exercise and how to work with others as a team. They also give parents and caregivers a much-needed break while their toddler enjoys socializing with other children. If you're not convinced that toddler gymnastics classes are right for your family, here are a few reasons why you should consider enrolling your child.

What are toddler gymnastic classes?

Read more