It's important to teach children how to swim. Swimming is a skill that every child should be taught to do, and according to experts, it's never too early to introduce children to swimming. So when is it a good time to start teaching your children to swim?
According to the American Association of Pediatrics, children can begin formal swimming lessons after their fourth birthday. At this age, children are already developmentally prepared to take and understand instructions when it comes to how to move about in the water.
Younger children, however, can already be introduced to water: parents can make them swim readily, and teach them safety around the swimming pool and inside it.
Before starting lessons at whatever age, parents should make to consider their children's attitude towards water and how comfortable they are in getting wet. In the case of some toddlers, for instance, some don't really like bathing. All toddlers, however, like playing with their parents, so parents should introduce swimming through water games such splashing, bobbing up and down in the water, and gradually submerging their bodies. Parents should never to submerge a child if they're under three years old because they can swallow a lot of water as well as the chemicals in it.
In the meantime, parents make sure to have rescue equipment within reach. Such equipment includes a lifesaver, a reaching pole, a first aid kit, and a phone with which to call 911 if an emergency arises.
As a child grows older and bigger, the water games can change. A bigger child aged three to five will want to play on their own, but parents should not look away for even one second. Children should be firmly told to never run near or around the pool, and only get into the water with either mom or dad.
If getting an floating device, don't get a toy because this provides false security. Get a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
By age five, a child will be ready to learn swimming seriously. A child this age already has the needed coordination to swim on their own, so they can be enrolled in formal swimming lessons. They can be taught to float independently, submerge their heads under the water for a few seconds, as well as move from the standing position to a swimming position and vice-versa. At this age, a child can also glide through the water, and make coordinated arm and leg movements such as kicking.
As always, teach children to be conscious of safety issues and never run around the pool. They should also be taught to never go into the water if there is no adult present.
