Swimming Lessons are not uncommon for toddlers and young children to attend by any means. It is not completely necessary but it is very beneficial. There are many different types of classes depending on your child, the instructors, the organization, and swimming skills.
The Accident
My four-year-old is very nervous in and near the water. I do believe this is because last November he fell off a dock. The water was shallow but had a blanket in his arms which tripped him. He was being supervised by at least six adults so he was immediately pulled out of the water. It was extremely traumatizing for him. When this happened I was holding my six-month-old furthest away from him. He was closest to his father and aunt which were the people who pulled him out. I will never forget holding him in his wet clothes trying to comfort him and he said, “Mom, why didn’t you save me?”. It completely crushed me but it brought to my attention just because we do not own a pool in our backyard that it would be a good choice to attend swimming lessons.
Every Child is Different
We have all heard the phrase “every child is different”. Being pregnant hearing that is incredibly frustrating but raising a child makes a lot of sense. My son is often nervous but can easily be influenced to do whatever it is. Such as my son was terrified to go on a kiddie roller coaster but had no problem once his father asked to go with him. I put my son in swimming classes where I was not in the water with him and with a small group because I felt he would do best in that situation. The class was four days a week, for two weeks with 30 minutes sessions each day.
My Nervous Child’s Experience
His class was about six children from the ages of three to six including him. Some of the children were ready to jump in and swim and other were not interested. When I was approached by the instructor after the second day of swim lessons of my son not getting further than the steps for insight on how to get him in I suggested being more demanding. I suggest to tell him it is his turn instead of asking him if he would like a turn. Once she used this he got in every time. Some of the lesson he was still nervous about but overall he enjoyed it. Some of the children in his class were advanced to the next level but my son was not. This is okay because he is much more confident in the water now. We will keep on going until he swims like a fish.
Benefits
There are many benefits to swimming lessons for all ages. The Classes are all different and you and your child will be taught different skills and swimming methods in every course.
Infant Swimming Resource (ISR)
Many of us can admit that once we became parents the number of fears we had doubled. The thought of somehow your baby falling into the water unnoticed will turn any parents stomach. The ISR classes are a great opportunity for those who live near water or have a pool. The IRS classes teach your baby from six to twelve months how to roll onto their back, breathe, and relax. With these skills, 1-in-4 babies are 88% less likely to drown if fell into the water. For more information on ISR, classes go to https://www.infantswim.com/lessons/isr-lessons.html
Preschool and Young Children
These Classes are meant to build the foundation of swimming skills. Your child will be taught the essentials of how to save themselves and how to swim. They will use items like pool noodles and other small floating devices to help them learn to float, kick, and paddle. The instructors will safely teach your children how to blow bubbles, hold their breath, and put their head under water. They will also show your child what to do if they become too tired to swim or if they were to need help.
Older Children
Once your child moves past the infant survival classes and the level one swimming classes there are different level classes that depend on how well your child swim and what they need to work on. These classes will teach your child how to swim without a floating device, swim underwater, how to dive properly, and much more. These classes are beneficial to continue into adolescence years to keep your child’s swimming to only get stronger. To find more information about what to expect for your child try https://www.whattoexpect.com/toddler/play-and-activities/learning-to-swim-age-by-age/.
Adult Swimming Lessons
Swim lessons are also available for adults and some may not see the point of this but others may find this incredibly useful. As a parent, being a strong swimmer is ideal. Taking a class can help you save your child or another child’s life. It could also help you as a parent because you may be able to be the one who successfully teacher your how to swim. These classes depend on the level of swimming experience the person has but overall will help you become a stronger swimmer.
I personally will recommend swimming lessons to everyone. They are helpful whether you see water every day or only during your annual family vacation. Taking these classes help you keep your children. They are available all around you. The classes are different cost, by different instructors, and held at different places. If you would rather your child to be one-on-one with an instructor in your own pool, you can do that. Or if you would rather going to a public pool such as the YMCA, they offer affordable classes throughout the summer for all ages. To be completely fair my four-year-old being more confident from swim lessons has given my nineteen-month-old more confidence. A class once a year for a few years in a row may be a bit of a nuisance during but in the future could potentially save your child’s life.
Please leave a comment about your feelings on taking your child to swimming lessons or your child’s experience, we would love to hear from you!