Infant learn to swim

Swim Lessons: When to Start & What Parents Should Know

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Learning to swim should be a priority for every family. It's an important life skill that can play a key role in helping to prevent drowning―a top cause of death among children. Children, and their parents, need to learn how to swim to help keep time in the water safe and fun!

Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the best time to start swim lessons and what to look for in a quality learn-to-swim program.

When should my child learn to swim?

Children develop at different rates, and not all are ready to begin swim lessons at exactly the same age.  When making your decision, keep your child's emotional maturity, physical and developmental abilities and limitations, and comfort level in the water in mind.

The AAP recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin for many children starting at age 1.

Parent-child toddler & preschool swim classes: beneficial for many families

• Recent studies suggest that water survival skills training and swim lessons can help reduce drowning risk for children between ages 1-4. Classes that include both parents and their children also are a good way to introduce good water safety habits and start building swim readiness skills. If your child seems ready, it's a good idea to start lessons now.

Swim lessons for children ages 4 and up: a must for most families  

• By their 4th birthday, most children are ready for swim lessons. At this age, they usually can learn basic water survival skills such as floating, treading water and getting to an exit point. By age 5 or 6, most children in swim lessons can master the front crawl. If your child hasn't already started in a learn-to-swim program, now is the time!

Does AAP recommend infant swim classes?

• No, because there is currently no evidence that infant swim programs for babies under 1 year old lower their drowning risk. Infants this age may show reflex "swimming" movements but can't yet raise their heads out of the water well enough to breathe. It's OK to enroll in a parent-child water play class to help your infant get used to being in the pool, though; this can be a fun activity to enjoy together.    

Remember, swim lessons don't make kids "drown proof."

• Always keep in mind that swim lessons are just one of several important layers of protection needed to help prevent drowning. Another layer includes constant, focused supervision when your child is in or near a pool or any body of water. It also is essential to block access to pools during non-swim time. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 69% of children under the age of 5 years were not expected to be in the water at the time of a drowning.

What should I look for when choosing swim lessons?

Look for classes and instructors that follow guidelines focused not just on swim stroke techniques, but broader water survival competency skills. All children should learn how to get back to the surface from under water, propel themselves at least 25 yards, and get out of the water, for example. Instructors should evaluate children's progress and give ongoing feedback on their skill levels.

For children of all ages, look for programs that:

• Have experienced, qualified instructors. Swim instructors should be trained and certified through a nationally recognized learn-to-swim curriculum. There should also be lifeguards on duty who have current CPR and First Aid certification.

• Teach good safety habits in, on, and near water. Children should learn to never swim alone or without adult supervision. Instructors should teach children to always ask for permission from parents, lifeguards, or swimming instructors before they get into a pool or natural bodies of water like a lake.
  

• Teach what to do if they end up in the water unexpectedly. This includes practicing water competency skills such as self-rescue. Lessons should provide training with a variety of realistic conditions, such as falling in and swimming in clothes. Older children also should learn what to do if they see someone else in the water who is struggling, and how to get help.

• Let you watch a class first to see first-hand if it is right for your child. Not all swim lessons are created equal, and parents should investigate options to choose the best fit.  Are they swimming most of the time, or are there long periods of inactivity where they are waiting for their turn? Do children get one-on-one attention? Are the instructors friendly and knowledgeable?

• Require multiple sessions. Once children start lessons, you should be able to see gradual but consistent progress in their abilities over time. Continue lessons at least until your they master basic water competency skills.

In addition, for children under age 4, look for programs that:

• Provide an age-appropriate atmosphere. Your child should feel safe and secure during lessons, with activities that support their social, intellectual, physical, and emotional development. However, children need to develop a healthy respect for water, as well.

• Include "touch supervision." Whenever infants and toddlers are in or around water—even during swim lessons―an adult should be within arm's reach to provide "touch supervision." Parent participation should be encouraged, especially since it also helps families know what to practice in between classes. If you can't be in the water with your child, look for private classes that offer 1-on-1 instruction.

• Maintain water purity. Young children are more likely to swallow or breathe in water, so water disinfection and maintaining proper chlorine levels is really important. A good program should also require the child to wear a swimsuit that is snug-fitting at the legs to help avoid spreading body waste into the water.

• Keep the water warm. Hypothermia is a greater risk at this age. Ideally, swim and water safety classes for children age 3 and younger should be in water heated to 87 to 94 degrees Fahrenheit.
  

Remember:

Enrolling in quality swim lessons―once your child is ready for them―is one of several essential ways to help prevent drowning. Talk with your pediatrician if you have any questions about whether your child is developmentally ready for swim lessons and how to find a quality program for your family.

Additional Information:

• Infant Water Safety: Protect Your New Baby from Drowning

• Drowning Prevention for Curious Toddlers: What Parents Need to Know

• Water Safety for Teens
  

• Pool Dangers and Drowning Prevention―When It's Not Swimming Time

• Keep Kids with Autism Safe from Wandering: Tips from the AAP

• AAP Drowning Prevention Campaign Toolkit 

• Water Safety USA
  

Last Updated

3/15/2019

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics (Copyright © 2019)

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

Infant Swimming: When Can a Baby Start Swimming?

Playing in the water, whether it's learning to swim or just splashing and paddling, is lots of fun for babies and young children. And knowing how to swim is an important skill that can help keep your child safe all through life. That's why getting started with swimming lessons once your child is old enough is a smart strategy. Even if your baby isn’t ready just yet, you might consider doing water play to get her primed for swimming lessons in the future.

Find out when you might start your little one on swimming lessons, and the signs of readiness to look for.

Water safety is a top priority at every age and stage. Read on for some essential water safety advice that you should follow whenever your baby, toddler, or preschooler is in or near water.

When Can You Take Your Baby Swimming?

Experts recommend that you can start taking your little one to parent-child swimming classes as early as age 1. Because every child is different, though, you may find your little one isn’t ready to start swimming lessons until a little later.

It’s important to know that newborns and infants younger than 12 months old aren’t yet able to raise their heads above the water to breathe, so swimming lessons aren’t yet appropriate for them.

In your baby’s first year, you might like to do parent-child water play classes with your baby to help him get used to being in water. This can

• get him accustomed to being in a pool

• be an opportunity for bonding as you play together in the water

• help him get over any fears he may have of being in the water.

When deciding when to start your child on swimming lessons, take into account his

• emotional maturity

• physical and developmental abilities or limitations

• interest in learning to swim

• comfort level in water.

Most children are ready for regular swimming lessons by the age of 4 when they can grasp basic skills such as

• floating

• treading water

• finding a way out of the water.

If you’re ever unsure when to start your child on swimming lessons, ask your child’s healthcare provider for personalized advice.

Benefits of Swimming Lessons

Knowing how to swim is very important, as it can help prevent drowning. Studies have shown that swimming lessons can help reduce the drowning risk for toddlers and young children between the ages of 1 and 4, so you may like to take this into account when deciding when to start your little one on lessons.

Still, know that swimming lessons don’t make your child “drown proof.” You will need to carefully supervise your child whenever she is in or near water. And, if you have a pool at home, it's crucial to block access when you’re not there to supervise. You can learn more about this in our section on water safety.

On the bright side, swimming and water play can be fun activities for your child. Like many sports, swimming can help build confidence and it can be a steppingstone for developing other life skills.

What Kind of Swimming Lessons Should You Enroll Your Child In?

Toddlers and young children may benefit from classes that focus on swim readiness skills. Parents are often included in these classes, and can pick up pointers on how to safely supervise their child.

By the time children turn 4 years old, they are usually ready for standard swimming lessons. These would include learning stroke techniques as well as water survival skills such as

• getting back to the water’s surface from under water

• propelling a minimum of 25 yards

• getting out of the water.

When choosing a swimming instructor for your child, check that the instructor

• is qualified and certified to teach swimming

• will give you the chance to observe a lesson in action before you make a decision

• offers an atmosphere that is appropriate to your child’s age and development

• encourages safe habits such as never swimming alone or without permission from an adult

• can teach your child what to do if he falls into water by accident

• allows you to be near or alongside your child in the water

• requires your child to take multiple lessons so that there is noticeable progress

• evaluates how your child is progressing and gives you feedback after lessons.

Besides all of this, you should check out the swimming facility firsthand. Ensure that the water is clean, disinfected, and chlorinated. Ideally, the water would be heated to between 87 and 94 degrees Fahrenheit. Water temperature is especially important for children under the age of 3, who are at a higher risk of hypothermia.

To locate good quality swimming instruction near you, check with the American Red Cross or your local YMCA.

How Do You Ensure Water Safety for Your Child?

Providing constant, focused supervision is the most important thing you can do for baby or young child who is learning to swim or is in or near water.

Childhood drowning is more common than you might think, and young children can drown in just an inch or two of water. It pays to be extra vigilant when your child is around water.

Here are some important steps to take to help keep your child safe when she is swimming or is anywhere near water:

• Always give your child your undivided attention. Don’t think that because there’s an on-duty lifeguard by the pool or at the beach that you can read a book or use your smartphone.

• Don’t drink alcohol or use drugs when supervising your child

• If your child is learning swimming at a younger age, it will be important for you to do “touch supervision,” which entails you being close by or joining her in the pool

• Don’t leave your child in the water under the supervision of another child

• If you’re hosting or attending a pool party, assign the job of a “water watcher” to someone who can keep a constant eye on the children in the pool. Rotate the job in shifts so someone else can take over the responsibility after a short time. Make sure that the water watcher knows CPR and knows how to swim.

• Keep an extra close watch on toddlers and young children between the ages of 1 and 4 as they are at the highest risk of drowning. If your child is in this age range, she’s naturally very curious and can easily sneak away from you even when it’s not swimming time. This is why it’s important to secure your home swimming pool if you have one.

• If you’re at the beach, a lake, or a river, make sure your child wears a life jacket that fits properly and has been approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. If your child isn’t a strong swimmer, she may also need to wear a life jacket at the pool or water park.

• Be prepared to respond if your little one’s in trouble in the water. It’s a good idea for you to learn CPR and rescue techniques. Classes are available through the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Your local fire department and other community organizations may also offer first-aid classes.

Keep in mind that whenever your child is swimming outdoors you should also make sure that her skin is protected from the harmful effects of the sun with sunscreen.

Home Swimming Pool Safety

If you have a swimming pool at home, you'll need to follow certain rules while it’s in use and keep it secured when it’s not being used.

When your swimming pool is in use, follow these guidelines:

• Don’t let children run around the pool or push one another into the pool

• Don’t let your child use an inflatable mattress or floating toy, as he may slip off it into deep water or it may deflate unexpectedly, endangering your child’s safety

• Make sure that the deep and shallow ends of your pool are marked, and never let your child dive into the shallow end

• Remove the pool cover completely before letting anyone swim

• Don’t let your child walk on the pool cover while it’s covering the pool, as he could accidentally fall in the pool and get trapped underneath

• Make sure your pool’s drain covers are properly maintained, as suction from drains can trap swimmers. You may even consider installing anti-entrapment drain covers

• It’s a good idea to have a safety ring connected to a rope or a shepherd’s hook near your swimming pool.

Here’s how to keep your swimming pool secured when not in use:

• Surround your pool (including above-ground and inflatable pools) with a fence on all sides

• The fence should be a minimum of four feet high and have no opening in the slats wider than four inches

• The gate of the fence should be self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be at least 54 inches above the ground, and the gate should open away from the pool.

• Make sure that the gate is always securely locked

• It’s a good idea to keep your pool covered, but a pool cover should never replace the use of a fence

• Check your local laws to find out whether there are any additional safety requirements for your home swimming pool

• Don’t leave toys in or around the pool, as these are enticing to children even when it’s not swimming time

• If you have a spa, hot tub, or whirlpool, keep it covered and locked when not in use. Keep in mind that children under the age of 5 should not be allowed to use these to help reduce the risk of drowning or overheating. Also, remember: Never leave your baby or child unattended in the bathtub not even for a moment.

Enrolling your little one in swimming lessons once he’s old enough can give your child lifelong skills and confidence in the water. Even in your baby’s first year, you can consider water play classes to familiarize your baby with water and to set the stage for learning to swim.

Whether your little one is playing on a beach, splashing in a tub, or paddling in a pool, remember to always practice good water safety habits. Enjoy this time together!

How we wrote this article The information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below. The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.

How to teach a child to swim: exercises and tips

Published: June 27, 2022, 17:48

Learning to swim is an exciting period in a child's life and a crucial moment for parents. Pediatricians Vincent Iannelli and Sarah Lindberg are convinced that most children are ready to swim from the age of four. Practical advice and exercises will help to teach your child to swim, regardless of his age.

Features of teaching a child to swim

Is it necessary to teach children to swim from an early age? Vladimir Vasiliev, author of Teaching Children to Swim, in which he outlined the results of 30 years of work to improve swimming techniques for young children, argues that this is necessary for the harmonious physical development of the child and strengthening his immunity.

The benefits of swimming and how quickly a child can learn to swim

Swimming is a healthy and beautiful sport that has a positive effect on the whole body. It improves blood circulation and strengthens the spine, forms the correct posture. Water has a positive effect on the psychological state of the child. According to the author of the book "Water Magic" Antonina Sokolova, swimming relieves nervous tension, negativity, anxiety, and copes well with irritability.

How quickly can a child learn to swim? On average, in 1.5‒2 months, you can teach a child to swim independently. Such terms are real if you train three times a week for 30-40 minutes. For a minimum development of the basics of swimming, you must attend at least 10 classes in the pool. There are exceptions to the rule when 5-6 lessons are enough for a child to start breaststroke swimming.

At what age to teach a child to swim

Some parents are convinced that it is necessary to start swimming as early as possible in order for their children to swim well and be healthy. What is the best age to teach a child to swim? Vincent Iannelli, MD, member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, believes that most children are ready to swim at about 4 years old.

At this age, children already coordinate their movements, can consciously move their legs and arms in the water, which is considered a key skill for successful swimming. The researcher emphasizes that swimming is necessary for all children over 4 years of age to learn safe behavior on the water.

Regardless of when the child started to play (at 2, 3 or 4 years), he will still swim well at 5.5-6 years.

How to make learning to swim fun and safe

Before you start teaching your child to swim, make sure that he has goggles to protect his eyes from the water, a foam board for learning, a few favorite water toys. For classes in the pool, you need a consultation with a pediatrician and a medical certificate on admission to this type of activity.

Explain water safety to your child before starting training. In the book of the authors Nina Petrova and Vladimir Baranov “Swimming. Primary Education” provides advice for parents on how to make swimming safe:

• Make sure that swimming takes place at least 2 hours after the child has had a meal.
• Start at shallow depths to help your child overcome their fear of water.
• Teach swimming starting at 5-10 minutes at 20-24°C.
• Be close to the child, do not leave him alone in the water.
• Master diving gradually: first up to the neck, and over time, so that the water covers the mouth, then the nose.
• Use a foam board to learn to swim and a life jacket, a tool that develops effective pulling and punching movements to keep your child safe.

Sarah Lindberg, MD, says swimming is a life skill that parents should teach their children. The best training programs combine game elements and physical activity.

How to teach a child to swim

The methodologists of the North Caucasus University recommend that a child of any age start swimming with the formation of the ability to lie on the water correctly. How to stay on the water? The Asterisk exercise will help with this:

1. Place the baby in the water and support him under the breast with your hands.
2. Have your arms and legs spread apart.
3. Tell the child to hold his breath, put his face in the water, relax his neck completely.

The same exercise can be performed in the same order, but on the back. Try both options with your child to find the one that suits you best. Regularly doing this exercise will help increase lung capacity and develop skills to stay on the water.

How to teach a child to swim at 2-4 years old

At this age, a child can be taught various skills that will later be useful to him for swimming. How to teach a child to swim at 3 years old? Try the following exercises:

• Hippo. The child takes a breath above the water, then tightly clamps his mouth, lowers his chin, mouth and nose into the water, the whole face to the level of the eyes, as a hippopotamus usually does in a swamp. Under water, the baby must exhale air through the mouth.
• Walking and running in water. Hold the child under your arms. Let with your help walk along the bottom, run. Raise it slightly in the water so that the baby can pretend to run in the water, but without support on the bottom. Let him simultaneously perform actions with his hands and feet that mimic moving forward.
• Mode and press the water. The child should make alternately and simultaneously strokes with his hands forward and backward.
• "We write eights." Standing on the bottom, let him make rowing movements with his hands in front of him, to the side of himself.
• Having sank into the water up to the chin, let him describe the “eight” with his hands, trying to slowly tear his legs off the bottom and stay on the surface.

Use inflatable sleeves or a swim vest for extra safety. Let your child jump in the water by going underwater for a few seconds.

How to teach a child to swim at the age of 5-8

At the age of 5, a child is ready to learn to swim. To develop the right skills:

• Keep your child afloat so that he can hold his head and not be afraid that water will get into his nose or mouth.
• Use a special board to help your child learn to use their feet and move around.

Try the most famous swimming exercises:

• "Float". You need to take a breath and hold your breath. Let the child grab his knees and pull them to his chest. After that, you should tilt your head to your knees. The water should push the child upside down with a float. The main thing is to hold out for a few seconds on the water.
• "Medusa". The child takes a breath, holds his breath and, relaxing, lies face down on the surface of the water. The child should lie on the water and move his arms and legs like a jellyfish with tentacles.
• Dolphin. The child exhales and raises his arms, and then slightly pushes off the bottom and dives sideways or forward.
• Sliding. The child should lie chest down on the foam board or the parent's arm, face down in the water, arm extended forward. Alternately stretch one arm forward, hold the other near the body, for example, right - up, left - along the body. After 2 seconds, he changes the position of his hands.

How to teach a child to swim at 9-12 years old

You can teach a child to swim at this age using the same methods as above. However, at this age, exercises aimed at teaching a particular style are already being used. How to teach a child to swim at 10 years old? Follow instructions:

1. Have your child float on the board lying down, holding onto the board with their face in the water. Ask your child to make circular movements with their hands, immersing their hands in water.
2. Help move forward with the movement of the legs, which should work from the hip without bending at the knee. To do this, put the child on the water so that he holds his hands on the side, and ask him to alternately swing his legs up and down.

Land crawl exercises:

• The child should sit or lie down on a chair and move the legs up and down in this position.
• After that, you need to stand up with a slight tilt of the torso and perform hand movements similar to strokes.

The child must build a complex of these actions with his breath, and then repeat in the water.

Parents can teach their child to swim. It is important to wait until the child wants to learn to swim. The main thing is to show patience, remain calm, listen to the wishes of the child, his mood and be there.

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/family/children/1711829-kak-naucitsa-plavat-rebenku/

How to teach your child to swim: tips for parents of preschoolers and older children

We have already told you how to teach your child to ride a bike. The next skill is swimming. Despite the apparent difference, these two sports (and recreation) are somewhat similar: the main thing is to get comfortable in a new environment, and then everything will quickly start to turn out by itself.

At what age can a child be taught to swim? Back in the 70s, studies were conducted that showed that babies at the age of 1-2 months are quite capable of swimming.

But anyway, despite all the research, you should start teaching your child to swim only when the parents themselves are ready for it. After all, the first swim is stressful not only for the child, but also for the parent. Perhaps learning to swim should be postponed until the baby grows up. So it will be possible to negotiate with him, explain the safety rules. It should also be borne in mind that swimming sections accept children from the age of 4.

How to prepare your child for swimming

You can teach your child to water from an early age. It is not necessary to let him swim on his own, you can swim with him in the "paddling pool" - a pool for kids. In this way, he will get used to the water and will not panic when he first tries to swim on his own.

Here are some tips to help your child get comfortable in the water:

1. Play with your baby in a children's pool with warm clear water, you can give him toys with you;
2. Do not be afraid to splash water on the child and do not forget to calm him down if he starts to be afraid;
3. Blow bubbles together underwater with your mouth and nose;
4. Dive with your baby and learn to hold your breath together.

The main task at this stage is to overcome fear. While the child is blowing bubbles, he is actually learning to exhale underwater. As soon as he stops being afraid of water and splashes, understands how he feels in the water, he will be ready to swim in the pool.

Should armlets be worn

Each parent decides for himself whether to buy armlets for his child. On the one hand, this is a good way to introduce him to water. So he will feel safe even in the river. However, later circumstances may develop in such a way that the child will have to be weaned off the armlets again, and this can be difficult: he will already be able to swim, but still will not know how to keep himself afloat.

How to teach your child the basics of swimming

You can send him to a swimming school, where he will be taught by a special coach, or go to the "splash pool" with your child. The instructor teaches children all the basic swimming techniques, tells how to properly hold the body on the water, hold the breath and breathe properly. But if you decide to teach your child the basics of swimming on your own, then you need to be prepared for difficulties.

It’s worth starting with the basic — how to “lie” on the water correctly:

1. Starting position: the child lies on the water with his back up, his hands rest on the bottom;
2. The child puts his head in the water and removes one hand;
3. Then he does the same, removes the other, staying afloat;
4. Repeat this several times until the child gets used to it. Then you can remove both hands.

Then you can teach your child to move forward in the water. There is a method of swimming coach Dmitry Tarakanov:

1. The student takes the starting position: lies down on the water and stretches his arms forward;
2. He pushes off the side with his feet, tries to "slide" on the water;
3. When this is done, the child should begin to make movements with his legs and arms;
4. After all the movements are mastered, you can practice lifting your head to inhale. Before this, the student always keeps his head above the water.

Where is the best place to teach a child to swim - in a natural body of water or in a pool

It is best to teach children to swim in a pool, and not in a river or sea. There is warm water and there are sides that you can grab onto. And the pool also has clear water, it is easier to follow your movements in it - to coordinate your legs and arms. The child will not worry that the water is cloudy, and will not be afraid of fish and algae. If it is possible to take the baby to the pool, it is best to start learning there.

What are the swimming techniques

After the child has already mastered the basics and is interested, parents can send him to the swimming section. They, as a rule, accept children from the age of 4, where an instructor works with them, who teaches sports or synchronized swimming. In total, four styles or techniques are distinguished:

1. Butterfly - suitable for children who are just learning to swim. The principle is clear from the name, the child rows, waving his arms over the water;
2. Breaststroke - the child makes wide waves of his arms under water, kicks off the water with his legs;
3. The crawl is the fastest style: the arms make sweeping strokes, and the legs perform alternating scissor swings. The rabbit can be on the chest and on the back;
4. Swimming on the back - similar to crawl in movements, only the swimmer must lie on the water with his back, face up.

If a preschooler wants to become a professional swimmer in the future, he will have to master all four styles, as well as their variations.

What are the most common mistakes parents make

When parents teach their child to swim, they must take into account not only safety, but also the psychological aspect. Here are the main points to avoid on the first swim:

• Don't use extreme methods - don't throw your child in the water and rely on instincts.

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