Baby Swimming Lessons Give Your Child Self-Confidence and Help You Bond:
February 9th, 2012
Baby swimming classes can begin for your child as soon as six months old. In these early baby swimming classes, you will remain in the water with your child at all times. These beginning baby swimming classes are not going to teach any real swimming lessons as an adult would think of it, but will help your child adjust to being in the water and they are good for socialisation. Once your child is used to being in the water, more baby swimming classes will accelerate the learning, but for formal swimming lessons, your child probably won’t be ready until they are 3-4 years old, developmentally.
You should always remain close to your child during baby swimming lessons and stay extra vigilant and cautious. You should remain with arm’s length of your child when baby swimming, and practice a technique known as touch supervision.
There are many different places you can go for baby swimming lessons. Your local YMCA or YWCA may offer baby swimming lessons in their pool. If you are not sure of one, you can ask your doctor, day care provider, pastor, or other new parents you know if they have a recommendation for a good baby swimming program. It is always a good idea to sit in and observe one of these classes before you rush in and join the first baby swimming class you see. You will want to make sure that the class is organised and that your instructors are able to clearly demonstrate what is expected and what they want parents and babies to achieve. It should be a supportive, baby-friendly environment where children are not being forced into baby swimming, but rather encouraged and free to enjoy the water. Ideally, whichever venue you choose for baby swimming should have a heated pool to make it easier on your baby and a lifeguard on duty at all times.
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