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 Read the full article…