Swimming is a fun, healthy way to get your child active, however drowning is the leading cause of death for ages 1-4, behind birth defects. It’s essential to every family to teach your child early how to swim and about the importance of water safety. During the pandemic, many families could not access swim lessons for their children. This summer is an opportunity to enroll children in water safety and swim lessons to build a lifelong, lifesaving skill.

We looked at tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and made a list on why swim lessons are so important and what to look for in a quality learn to swim program.

You can find a full list of swim programs in the Tampa/Sarasota/Pinellas area by clicking here

• #1. Improves Safety

  Living in Florida, we are surrounded by water which leaves families who are not prepared greater chances for a tragedy. Teaching your child at the age of 1 how to swim is a good start, 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. Swim lessons help become more comfortable in the water, and teaches them to float and safely operate in the water. This also empowers them to attend pool parties and enjoy social time with their friends in and around the water.

• #2. Amazing Health Benefits

  Swimming is not only an essential skill to have, but is a great form of exercise and it can also improve your health. It has been proven that swimming is one of the best calorie-burning exercises, can aide in weight-loss, muscle growth, and promotes better overall cardiovascular health. A study from Griffith University stated that 3-5 year old’s who learned to swim early had better verbal, math, and literacy skills when compared to children their same age that didn’t know how to swim.

• #3. Excellent Competition Skills

  Swimming is a fun, competitive sport for all ages. Developmental swim teams can start at the age of 5, giving you child the ability to master a life-long skill and also make new friends in the process. Competitive swimming can give your child the opportunity to even earn a scholarship.

• #4. Maintain Water Purity

  Younger children are more likely to swallow or breathe in pool water. Finding a class that follows water disinfection and maintaining proper chlorine levels should be a top priority for parents. 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.

• #5. Make Sure Instructors Are Qualified

  Keep your mind at ease by ensuring that your child’s instructor is 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. Lessons should provide training with a variety of realistic conditions, such as falling in and swimming in clothes. It’s also suggested that parents watch a class before enrolling their child to make sure it’s the right fit.

• #6. Develop Good Safety Habits In, On, Or Near Water

  Children should never swim alone or left unsupervised near water. 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. Children should also be instructed to always wear life jackets when in, on, or near natural bodies of water.

• #7. It's FUN

  Learning to swim is a fun process, and being able to swim allows kids to enjoy cooling down during the summer. Once a child learns how to swim confidently, it opens up a world to other water activities like surfing, kayaking, or waterskiing.

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