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Does Your Child Need Swim Lessons?
Whether your kids spend their days at the beach or poolside, knowing basic water safety and swimming skills can certainly make taking the plunge more fun . . . and safe! Find out what type of swim lessons are best for your child.
Any season is a good time to enter your youngster in swimming lessons. Most rec centers, health clubs, YMCAs, and schools run lessons year-round. To help you navigate through the available courses, we've put together a basic age-based guide.
Six to 36 Months: Infant and Toddler Water Adjustment
While many programs exist to acquaint infants and toddlers with swimming, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) cautions that children generally are not developmentally ready for swimming lessons until they're four years old.
"Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death in the pediatric age group," states the AAP. They cite that infant and toddler aquatic programs have not shown to reduce the risk of drowning, and parents should not feel that their child is safe around the water after participating in such programs.
The AAP does, however, recognize the YMCA and the American Red Cross infant and toddler aquatic programs as good sources of enjoyment for both child and parent, but stress they're not designed to teach children independent water-survival or swimming skills. They go on to caution that many other independent swim schools attempt to teach water-survival skills to children who are just not ready to learn them.
The AAP's recommendations include:
- Children younger than four are generally not ready for formal swimming lessons.
- Infant and toddler aquatic programs should not be promoted as a form of drowning prevention.
- Parents should not have a false sense of security after participating in such programs.
- When children under four are in or near water, parents should always be within an arm's reach.
Related Links
- Article: Camping with Your Toddler Checklist
- Advice: Outdoor Adventures
- Slideshow: How to Be the Best Aunt Ever
- Quiz: Test Your Sun Safety IQ
- Poll: How much time does your child spend outdoors per day?
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