FAQ
When should I start my child in formal swimming lessons? Back to FAQ ^
There are many factors which enter into this question. The three biggest issues are:
- health of the child
- age of the child
- circumstances
With everything perfect: healthy child, great opportunities (playtime in the pool), we feel that watertime in a public pool can start as early as six months. Before that time, the bathtub is a wonderful bonding time between baby and parent. In the beginning, baby and parent classes are a good idea to familiarize the baby with the water. If there is a pool or water immediately around the house, we feel that formal swimming lessons should start as soon as the child starts to walk.
If there are older siblings, it is even more important, since the young child will want to do as brother and sister do, and most importantly; younger children are often careless about leaving doors and gates unlocked, even open, and therefore endangering the baby. The biggest problem is the attitude of many parents to think only of swimming and lessons in the summertime. Children can fall into cold pools/lakes in the winter-time as well. Year ‘round lessons are very important not only to learn and enjoy each summer, but also for maintaining the new skills and to learn new ones, not forgetting the joy a child is getting from the lessons/playtime in the pool.