Children Learn-To-Swim – Top 5 tips

Kids just love going to the pool, and they’d love it a lot more if they knew how to swim! Not only is swimming fun and a great form of exercise, it is also a lifelong safety skill. Moreover, water activities increase self-confidence, support healthy social behaviors, as well as opens up children’s minds to new adventures and endeavors.

Learning to swim at an early age, when children’s minds adapt and learn faster, is better for maximizing the benefits of learning. However, there is no specific age limit for learning to swim! If you want your child to love the water and stay safe around it, here’s what you can do to help them.

Don’t Force Them to Put Their Face in the Water

Some children may be terrified of the water at first and refuse to put their face into the water! Don’t force them to do so, as it would only discourage them and cause them to dislike water and have stressful memories about their water experience. We recommend making children relaxed and comfortable in the water while teaching them to put their face in the water by using different toys and games, such as blowing imaginary candles on their birthday cake while putting their mouth under the water, listening to what the fish are talking about while putting one ear at a time under the water, pouring water over their head, and imagining that the child is a growing flower. and many more—the options are endless; just be exciting and imaginative! Kids swim classes often incorporate such creative methods to engage children.

Make It Fun and Exciting 

When kids are having fun, they are more motivated to learn more. Aside from direct teaching instructions, a bit of playing is very important too! Try to find funny names for swim moves—for example, tell your child to imagine scooping ice cream while they are moving their hands through the water, or ask them to show you a flying superman for their front glide… And yes, always be encouraging and praise their small achievements. ☺ Programs like kids swim lessons can balance structured learning with fun activities.

Start Slow

First impression is very important; with learn-to-swim, this concept works as well! If a child has a stressful experience in the beginning, they can have this negative memory every time they get into the water. Especially for scared or younger kids, it’s important to take it one step at a time. Start with water acclimation and exploration; have your kids sit and play with water on the stairs or bench in the shallow end first, and only then gradually introduce them to deeper parts of the pool. Swim classes for toddlers are designed to provide this gradual and comforting exposure.

Learn with Friends

Swimming lessons are also a great way to teach your kids how to socialize. If they have friends around or learn with other kids, it encourages them to try and work harder. Friends also give them extra support and provide healthy competition. Enrolling your child in a kids swim program that involves group activities can amplify these benefits.

Work with Professionals

There is no doubt there are people who can learn who to swim from their friends, family, or even by themselves, but there are huge benefits from learning from professional coaches. In professional swim schools, safety is a top priority. We teach safety skills first and develop safety habits around the water. Also, professional swimming instructors know how to incorporate deep water skills into their curriculum, which are crucial for water safety, confidence, and advanced swimmer development. In addition, professional instructors will teach your child proper technique from the very beginning, which is very important as improper swimming technique can cause potential injuries. Finally, a professional swim school provides a system and consistency in the learning process that ensure your child’s progress isn’t hindered or slowed.  For younger kids, swim lessons for toddlers can provide a structured learning environment.

Enjoy the water safely!