Do you have a baby or small children at home? Have you considered signing them up for swimming classes for babies? It’s hard to know exactly when you should sign your kids up for lessons of any kind, but the thing about baby swimming classes is that they are crucial for various reasons.
We will talk about the benefits of baby swimming classes soon, but if your kids are older, there are still plenty of reasons to look into swimming lessons. It’s never too late! There are great benefits to learning to swim at any age, plus, as surprising as it may seem, it’s actually an excellent year-round activity to do.
Why You Should Sign Your Child Up for Baby Swimming Classes
My kids love swimming! It is by far their favorite activity, no question. Can you blame them? With summer camp starting soon, they can’t wait to show off the great skills they learned in their swimming classes. You might be surprised to learn that their younger brother also loves to swim! That’s right. We signed him up for swimming classes for babies at the Mundelein Goldfish Swim School when he was five months old, and he has enjoyed every swim class since.
Why Should Kids Learn to Swim?
Not only is swimming fun to do and a great summertime social activity, but it is also a lifesaving one. According to Safekids.org, nearly 800 children in the United States drown each year, half of those under 5. Contrary to what many people believe, drowning is silent and is quick. That is why it is imperative that children and parents alike learn how to swim and also learn how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe around water.
Swimming classes for babies and children are great for teaching these lessons. When your child goes on to learn how to swim, it is more than just the backstroke or butterfly. It is true water safety lessons that can help them build confidence (in water and out) as well as keep them safe. Swimming is a lifelong skill that can help your child to save his or her own life someday.
I have done a ton of research into the benefits of swimming and swimming lessons for kids, but what I really wanted to hear was real-life experience and I was lucky enough to get that at my children’s swim school. Recently we were given a chance to chat with one of the swim school teachers and ask her some questions about the swimming classes and their benefits:
Do All Babies Love Water?
Not all babies. Not at first. It depends on the child as some love being in the water while the others are not quite as comfortable. However, it changes as time goes on.
Do Babies Even Need Swim Classes? They Can’t Even Walk!
They can’t walk, but I think it is an excellent safety skill to learn whenever they are near water. I believe that it’s also crucial to learn swimming early for a variety of reasons and not have a fear toward the water.
Watching Baby Swimming Class, Who is the Real Student – a Baby or the Parent?
Believe it or not, both! Children learn to be safe around the water parents learn how to take care of their little ones in the water.
How Young is Too Young?
Babies can enroll into a swim class as early three months. If they can keep their head up, they are ready to go.
What Do Babies Learn In Swimming Classes First?
I want children to learn how to be safe in the water. That’s why we use a lot of hand-arm manipulation. We manipulate their arms and their legs. We also sing the songs, so they know that it’s a good thing to be in the water.
Little ones also learn to climb in and out of the pool. My goal is to make sure that they do it the safest way possible.
What is the Coolest Baby Move You Can Learn in Swimming Class?
I like to see the parents do the bubble bounce when they hold their thumb or the ring, and they bounce them all the way down. I love to see the parents go all the way down and come back all tired. It’s funny.
If you have a young child at home, it’s time to teach them how to swim, and you will have lots of fun together this summer!
