We’d like to share with you what you should know about your child’s swimming lessons.
The main thing is this: all children should have them.
About 10 people die from drowning every day. Swimming lessons can’t prevent ALL of those deaths but they can prevent many of them. We don’t mean that a child should be able to post impressive times in the butterfly but they do need to be able to get back to the surface, float, tread water and swim to where they can stand or grab onto something to help them keep their head above water.
Besides the main thing above, what do the experts at Harvard Health Notes say are THE things parents should know about swimming lessons?
Swim lessons between years 1 and 4 years old can be very useful. Some kids are simply ready earlier, but younger children can also learn some skills that they can use if they fall into the water, like getting back to safety at the side of a pool.
Wherever children learn to swim – it must be safe. This isn’t rocket science, but safety isn’t something you should assume. It needs to be something that you prove to yourself. The area should be clean and well maintained. The teaching area should be designated and areas of deeper water should be marked off to prevent children from getting into them. There should be lifesaving and first aid equipment handy and safety rules should be clearly posted.
Instructors should be well-trained. This sounds obvious but it isn’t always the case. Parents should ask for the process used to select, trained, and evaluated.
The class kids-to-instructor ratio should be appropriate for successful teaching. This means it should be as low as possible – especially for young children and new swimmers. In these cases, the instructor should be able to have all children within arm’s reach and be able to watch the entire group. As children gain skills the group can get a bit bigger, but there should never be more than the instructor can safely supervise.
There should be a curriculum and a progression. Children should also be placed in classes based on their ability. In general, swim lessons progress from getting used to the water all the way to becoming proficient at different strokes. There should be a clear way that children are assessed, and a clear plan for moving them ahead in their skills.
Parents should be able to watch for at least some portion of the lesson. While it is not always helpful for parents to be there the entire time, it IS important that parents be able to see what is going on in the class. Constant parental observation can be distracting for children, but watching at the beginning and end of a lesson is appropriate. Many pools have an observation window or a pool deck with observation bleachers.
Being scared of the water isn’t a reason not to take, or to quit, swimming lessons. Fear of water isn’t uncommon. Some children are more afraid of the water than others. You DON’T want to force children to do something they’re terrified of doing but giving up isn’t a good idea either. The importance of knowing how to swim plays a role in this too. You don’t want your child to give up on something that is such a critical life skill. A more gradual introduction to swimming is a good approach along with positive reinforcement when children are fearful. Instructors can be very helpful with this.
Knowing how to swim doesn’t insulate a child from drowning. Children can get tired, hurt, trapped, snagged, confused, or disoriented. Strong swimmers can get into trouble. While swimming lessons help save lives, children should always, always, always be supervised. If boating or other water sports are the activity, children should wear lifejackets.
Swimming is important. Here is the order a parent should think about their child’s milestones taking place: crawl, walk, run, swim. Yes, swimming is really that important. Few life skills are as important as the ability to survive in the water.
Swimming lessons – from learning how to float and treading water to clocking a 23-second 50-meter freestyle – is where it all starts. The thing is – knowing how and when to get your kids swimming lessons isn’t quite as straightforward as teaching them to walk.
When should they start – 9-months or 4 years old? How often should they take lessons? When have they taken enough lessons?
And then you must choose a school. Oh, my. It can be overwhelming.
To help, we’re providing the most common questions parents ask about swimming lessons (and answers) along with some helpful pointers on how to get kids started on the right path to swimming success.
When should my child start swim lessons?
It’s really never too early to get your child in the water (although most doctors suggest waiting until children are at least a few months old. Parent-child swimming lessons are a great starting place. By age 4, kids are learning so much every day that it makes sense for swimming to be part of their ever-expanding set of physical skills.
How long does the average swim lesson last?
Most swimming lessons last for 30 minutes. If a lesson lasts much longer, kids usually get cold and lose focus. If kids are just beginning in the water, the list of skills to practice is usually short so a longer lesson would get redundant.
Where can I sign my child up for swimming lessons?
There are lots of swim school options offering swimming lessons. Little Otter Swim School, like many swim schools has a website that offers the ability to examine classes online and even to select a class or register online.
How frequently should my child take swim lessons?
Consistently is the key when it comes to learning to swim. So getting the child in the water regularly (once a week for several months) is much better than doing one intensive week of lessons followed by a period without swimming. It’s wise to keep your child in lessons without significant breaks because it’s proven that the longer the break between lessons, the more likely they are to forget what they learned.
What should I do if my child loses interest or stops making progress?
You must follow your child’s lead. An excited, engaged child learns much faster and painlessly that one who dislikes what they’re doing. If they begin to lose interest, perhaps a return to playing in the pool will help them discover why they originally wanted to take lessons. The same is true of a child who plateaus in lessons. Give them time to play ad master the skills they’ve already learned before forcing new ones on them.
How can I encourage my child to be a better swimmer?
You cheer them on! Your kid is learning something new and difficult so give them encouragement and praise for their successes and efforts. Some parents use bribes and rewards in life – and while that may work fine with swim lessons – most instructors would agree that the best thing a parent can do is just be a cheerleader.
What should I do during my child’s swimming lessons?
As tempting as it may be to take this half hour of child-free time for yourself, it’s important to pay attention – at least for part of the time – during your child’s class. Watch what the teacher does with your child and listen to (and learn) the lingo so you can reinforce what they’re learning at home. At the same time, there is no need to hover. You wouldn’t do it in the classroom so why do it when they’re in the pool. Give them space to develop relationship with their instructor. There is no need for parental interjections here.
What can I do to help my child learn?
Help them practice. Ask instructors about the most important skills to work on at home and what your child may be struggling with. Then take your child to the pool and let them play. Don’t spend all of their pool playtime on skills but do spend 5 or 10 minutes to review skills with your child. The reinforcement is more helpful than you know!
What constitutes “water safety?”
There is technically no such thing as being “water safe,” but there are several skills one should have to help significantly reduce the risk of water injury or death. There are several things a child should be able to do to reduce their risk of water related incidents. A child (actually any person) should be able to float on their back and their front, tread water, transition from treading water to floating and vice versa. They should be able to make forward progress on both their back and their stomach. Your child should also know how to raise their hands and call for help both while treading water and while swimming on their back.
Even if you consider your child “water safe” you should always watch them when they are in and around the water. AND no child should even swim alone.
Should my child use water wings?
Too much trust is misplaced in water wings so they should not be used. They are not lifejackets and don’t provide that level of safety. A child can get caught on his/her stomach, face down in the pool while wearing water wings. Water wings also inhibit a child’s ability to learn to swim – limiting the ability they have to move their arms. They also provide an unrealistic feeling in the water.
What gear will my child need for swimming lessons?
Well, of course you need water, but before showing up at the first lessons, your child will also need a comfortable swimsuit. If your little one is under the age of 3, they will need a reusable swim diaper. Bring a towel for your child and some flip flops to wear in and out and for the shower. If you don’t want them to leave in a wet suit, bring a change of clothes.
Resources:
https://www.fatherly.com/play/swimming-lessons-everything-parents-need-to-know/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/swimming-lessons-10-things-parents-should-know-2018061514064
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