Parents When Kids Should Start Swimming Lessons?

[Deleted member 27497]

It is important that every child knows water survival techniques and knows how to swim.

 

[rlm's mom]

6/7 if they have the body co-ordination

 

[katrid11]

When? My kids did water safety at 18mths. They were able to fall into a pool and flip themselves over to breathe.

At 3 they could do basic breast and doggie paddle
at 4 they could do the crawl and know how to push off a kid or adult and swim to safety in the event the other person is pulling them down.
at 6/7 they could pass a swim test of 25m crawl and tread for 1 min
at 8/9 they could pass a 50m crawl plus 2 min tread

We are very keen on water safety and swimming skills at a young age.

 

[rlm's mom]

6/7 if they have the body co-ordination

I meant learn to swim

They can definitely learn survival techniques earlier

 

[MuggleMom]

My oldest started swim lessons at 5/6 I think and she learned within a year. My youngest started around 4 and learned within a year as well. I think starting lessons early is important. we live near the ocean and everyone has pools so learning as early as possible was a high priority. I think the more access to water the more important it is you learn young.

My neice learned the survival swimming before she was a year old. so she can roll over and make it to the edge of the pool now if she were to fall in fully clothed.

 

[Gymbletot]

My little girl could do 10m on her front, 5m on her back at 4.5 and now swims a few lengths of all 4 strokes at 6.5 (technique still developing) and my 5 year old can probably do about 5m (he's less of a natural water baby). I'm all in favour of starting early

 

[Scream4IceCream]

As early as possible. Mine were in the water at 7 months. I always told them it was the only sport I would require them to do (lessons, not team). Luckily they both love it!

 

[Deleted member 18037]

Mine was doing lessons at 14 months. swimming on her own at three. Flipping into the pool at 4 which is why she is in gymnastics

 

[SupportingHerDreams]

My personal feelings on children and swim lessons aren't always popular. I strongly believe in respectful parenting and I believe a lot of infant swim lessons cross the boundary I lke to hold for my child's bodily autonomy, meaning they are made to do things against their will. I believe that it is our responsibility as the adult to provide supervision when a young child is around water not the child's responsibility to be able to save themselves.

I live in a beach town where water play is pretty much a necessity during the summer in order to enjoy being outside. I chose to wait until my daughter was old enough to ask for swim lessons and make the choice herself. Before she chose that we did use a flotaion device at times but not everytime she was in water. I have also seen children walk right into the deep end of a pool thinking they would float because all they had experienced of being in the water was done in a flotation device.

 

[flippiestwists]

I think it depends on the child. Kid #1 hated water in her face since she was a baby. We put her in swimming when she was 1 or 2 and she cried through the whole lesson. We tried several more times at different ages with different instructors and she kept crying so we stopped. At 8 years old she couldn't do much at a pool party so she decided to learn how to swim in order to play with her friends at pool parties. She learned quickly. Kid #2 loved the water since he was a baby. He started lessons at 1 years old and took to the water fast.

 

[Ajoy]

Both my kids were on swim team by 6, they probably learned around 4 or 5. My daughter had to give it up once gym became too intense but it really helped with stregnth and coordination early and I think she could easily go back to it if she ever wants to.