How to Get a Toddler Swimming Lessons

Do you have a toddler who loves her bath? Enrich that love of the water by getting her swimming lessons. She'll learn some safety techniques and get exercise while the two of you bond and have fun.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Select a class. Research the group conducting the class and make sure their philosophies are similar to yours. Before signing up, sit in on a class or two to ensure you are comfortable with the teaching methods.
2. Join your toddler in the water during the swimming lessons. This will give you an excellent chance to bond while she learns her way around the pool.
3. Encourage your little swimmer. She'll learn faster this way and will stand a better chance of developing a life-long love of the water.
4. Use songs and rhymes to make swimming lessons fun for your toddler. Songs like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and "The Little Green Frog" set to swimming movements enhance your toddler's enjoyment.
5. Focus on safety. The swimming lessons should teach your toddler how to raise her head above water should she fall in. She may also learn to swim to the side of the pool and hold on.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure the water is warm enough. Your toddler will learn better if the water is warm. You'll enjoy the lessons much more too.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you begin formal swimming lessons when your child reaches age 4.
• Never be complacent about your child around the water even if she has completed swimming lessons. Maintain vigilance and never leave her alone in or near the water, even if she's wearing a life jacket.