May was National Water Safety Month, and, even though it was 4 months ago, water safety is still an important topic. Learning to swim is an essential life skill that should be a priority for every member of your family. Knowing how to swim is a key factor in the prevention of drowning – especially in children. But when should you start your child(ren) in swim lessons? Here are the things you need to know to make an informed decision for your child(ren).
What Age Should Swim Lessons Start?
Every child develops at a different rate, so they won’t all be ready to start swimming at the same time. It’s important for parents to determine when their child is ready to learn to swim based off of many factors: exposure to bodies of water, curiosity about swimming pools and emotional/physical development. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recently decreased their recommended age for swim lessons from age 4 to age 1. Kids between the ages of 1 and 4 are at the highest risk for drowning, especially when they have access to bodies of water unexpectedly. The AAP recognizes swim lessons in such young children as an extra layer of protection against drowning and a way to introduce good water safety habits.
What Will My Child Learn in Swim Lessons?
When starting your child in swim lessons around the age of 1, the goal is to teach them how to get out of the water. Many times, if a child accidentally falls into a body of water, they look at the farthest point and begin to panic when their best bet is to just turn around. Teaching children how to float, grab onto the wall and climb in and out of the pool shows children how to get out of the water quickly and safely in an emergency. Most swim lessons for those under the age of 4 will have the parents in the water with the child. This adds a level of comfort for the child in the water as well as for the parents having their child in and around the water. It also displays that water safety is important for the whole family.
What Else Can We Do to Keep Our Children Safe Around the Water?
The AAP also recommends:
- Children should never be left alone or in the supervision of another child while in or around open water, spas, pools or bathtubs.
- Always empty water from buckets or other containers right after use. Drowning can occur in as little as 2″ of water!
- Never leave young children in the bathroom alone and install toilet locks on your toilets.
- Adults with swimming skills should always be within arm’s reach (“touch supervision”) when infants or toddlers are in or around any water.
- An adult should still be focused on the child even if there are older children or better swimmers present, avoiding distracting activities.
Pools by Bradley is Here for YOU
Everyone here at Pools by Bradley lives and breathes our mission of designing and building your ultimate outdoor pool atmosphere. We intend to inspire you to improve the recreational time you spend with your family and friends in your new outdoor environment. BUT – we especially want it to be safe and to emphasize the importance of water safety and teaching your family to respect the water! Our motto is “take care of the customer and everything else will take care of itself”. When you choose Pools by Bradley to help you build your dream pool, you can rest assured that you’re choosing the very best. As a local family owned and operated company founded in 1996, we have received numerous design awards and honors. Pools by Bradley is rated as one of the top 50 pool builders in the U.S., plus recognized as the “Best Pool Company” in Orlando by Orlando Magazine several years in a row! We offer custom built pools and spas with additions ranging from water features and lighting effects to rain curtains and water slides…the sky’s the limit! Contact us online or call us today at 407-323-7946 to see how we can help you build the pool of your dreams!
