Learning to swim should be a priority for every family. It is an important life skill that can play an important role in preventing drowning - the leading cause of death in children. Children, and their parents, should learn to swim to keep time in the water safe and fun.
Below are some tips to determine the ideal age to enroll your child in swimming lessons and what to look for when choosing a swimming school.
When should my child learn to swim?
Children develop at different rates and not everyone is ready to start swimming lessons at exactly the same age. When making your decision, consider your child's emotional maturity, physical and developmental capabilities and limitations, and comfort level in the water.
Swimming lessons for children from 4 years: a must for most families.
By their 4th birthday, most children are ready for swimming lessons. By this age, they can usually learn basic aquatic survival skills such as floating, treading water, and getting to an exit point. By the age of 5 or 6, most children who take swimming lessons can already learn the backstroke and front crawl. In our teaching program you can start from the age of 3 years. This is not to learn to swim right away, but to start with water habituation. If your child has not yet started a swimming lesson program, but is physically and emotionally ready to take swimming lessons, we recommend that you start with this.
What about swimming lessons for children under 3 years old?
There is currently no evidence that swimming lessons for babies under 3 years of age lower the risk of drowning. Babies this age may exhibit reflexive "swimming" motions, but are not yet able to lift their heads out of the water well enough to breathe. It is good to take a parent-child swimming lesson to help your child get used to the pool; this can be a fun activity to enjoy together. Individual swimming lessons only appear to be effective from the age of 3 years.
Be sure to remember that swimming lessons don't necessarily make kids "droughtproof."
Always keep in mind that swimming lessons are just one of many important layers of protection needed to help prevent drowning. Another layer is constant, focused supervision when your child is in or near a swimming pool or any other place where water is present.
Read here more about lifeguard courses near me under the instructions of American lifeguard Association.
What should I pay attention to when choosing swimming lessons?
Look for classes and instructors that focus not only on stroke techniques, but also on broader survival skills in the water. For example, all children must learn how to get back to the surface from underwater, how to propel themselves at least 25 meters and how to get out of the water. Instructors should evaluate the progress of the children and provide continuous feedback on their stroke.
For kids of all ages, look for programs that:
Have experienced, qualified instructors and where a lifeguard is present during the swimming lesson.
Teach good safety habits to young children, in and around the water. Children should be taught never to swim alone or without adult supervision. Swim instructors should teach children to always seek permission from parents, lifeguards, or swim instructors before entering a pool or natural body of water such as a lake.
Teach children what to do if they unexpectedly end up in the water. This includes practicing water skills such as self-rescue. During our lessons, the focus is on “learning to survive”. During the lessons, different realistic situations should be practiced, such as falling into them.
Start taking one lesson if possible at the swimming school to see if the lessons match your child. Not all swimming lessons are created equal, and parents should explore options to choose the most appropriate one for their child. Do the children swim most of the time? Do children receive one-on-one attention? Are the instructors friendly and knowledgeable?
In addition, for children under 4 years old, look for programs that:
Provide an age-appropriate atmosphere. Your child should feel safe and secure during lessons, with activities that support his or her social, intellectual, physical and emotional development. Children should feel good in the water.
Keep your kids warm. Hypothermia is a greater risk at this age. Ideally, swimming and water safety lessons for children aged 3 years are conducted in water heated to a temperature of 30-35 degrees. In addition, as a parent you can keep your child warm by buying a connecting thermal shirt. Be sure to ask one of our teachers.
How do you supervise your child in or near the water?
Good supervision in the water - even when your child is learning to swim - is one of the most important ways to help prevent drowning. Drowning is quick, silent, and much more common than most families realize. It happens every day to children with loving, attentive parents and caregivers. To effectively supervise and keep your child safe while swimming, keep the following in mind:
Watch closely and constantly. Don't get distracted by other activities (such as reading, playing games, using the cell phone, or mowing the lawn), even when lifeguards are on duty.
For younger children and weak swimmers, get in the water with them. Even if you don't swim but there is a pool or pond nearby, always keep children within reach. If you have to leave, take the child with you.
Never leave an infant or young child in or near water under the care of another child.
Remember that the biggest drowning risk for toddlers ages 1-4 is accidental, unsupervised access to water. Children are naturally curious and often slip away unnoticed during non-swimming times.
Remember:
Participating in quality swimming lessons - as soon as your child is ready - is one of many ways to help prevent drowning. Talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about whether your child is developmentally ready to take swimming lessons and how to find a quality program with lifeguard certificate near me for your family
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