What Age to Begin Swimming Lessons for Children

Series Summary

Competitive swimming began in Europe around 1800 and first became an Olympic Event in 1896. Recreational swimming has been around since man first walked the earth and yet thousands of people die every year from drowning. When raising children many parents still today overlook the importance of teaching them about the water and making them strong swimmers. Not only is it an excellent source of exercise and can save your child's life but it could also, one day, become an occupation for them.

In this free video series our expert, Samantha Raffio, will show you tips, information and techniques on teaching your child how to swim and the different types of strokes available. She offers tips on when to start teaching your children and how to go about it in a way that makes it fun for both you and them. These instructional videos walk you step by step through the process so you are confident that what you are teaching your child is correct.

Video Transcript

"Hi, my name is Ashley and I’m with Sharks and Minnows Swim School. I’d like to talk to you today about what’s the best age is to start your child in swimming lesson. We normally do classes from 6 months to adults. We normally say that the best age to start your child is as soon as possible. Whether you have a newborn child or your child is already 3 or 4, the best age to start is now. We start as young as 6 months and we have the parents in the water with the child, with this it’s a great learning experience with not only with your child but you as well. We teach you how to work with your child in the water, we teach you best hold for your child and what’s most comfortable for them. Along with that we do classes for children 3 and up where the parent is not in the water this way the children can get independent and get really comfortable by themselves. We also offer adult classes, with adults it’s never too late to start. You always want to be better safe than sorry. For adults we offer private classes and we encourage you to take private classes for adults this way we can specialize it to what is best for you and your comfort level."