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Swimming

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The sights and sounds of children swimming are one of summer's greatest pleasures. (And really, what could be cuter than your little one's belly in a bathing suit?) However, there's an undeniable danger when you mix kids and water: Every year in the United States, at least 300 children 5 years old or younger drown in home swimming pools. And most of those drownings occur under the supervision of one or more adults.

So while it is important to keep a watchful eye on children near a body of water, it is equally important to make sure that they are comfortable in the water and respectful of its dangers. Swimming lessons will give them both the familiarity and the survival skills they need....

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Jul 24, 2007 at 4:24:11 PM

When babies are exposed to swimming at a very early age (like before a year old), they are more apt to take to the water comfortably. There's a cutoff age around that age where babies have a harder time learning to hold their breath under water, and they are sometimes more scared.

Many community pools and YMCAs have swimming classes for parents who want to get their babies comfortable in the water. Also, if you live near a lake or the ocean it's a good idea to take them out to the water's edge to get their feet wet. Children who have pools and large bodies of water integrated into their upbringing are often more comfortable with them as they grow up.

 

Being comfortable around the family pool


When your family has a pool, it's important wanted to feel comfortable with my children being around it.  Right away in the summer, as soon as school lets out, consider private lessons in your pool. Sometimes you can get an intensive session: everyday for 8 day, which might have your child swimming like a fish.  A concerted effort to teach you child to swim will allow you to enjoy being in the pool with your children and have fun with them too.

 

Make sure you're comfortable in the water

 

If you're afraid of the water, you'll teach that fear to the kids.  They are incredibly sensitive to what we are thinking and feeling, they are constantly monitoring our faces and tension in our bodies to see what is safe for them or not.  If you are afraid of water, you might want to let the professions at the Y teach your kids first, rather than teach them yourself.

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Swim School & Lifeguarding for Everyone Outstanding swim school. They taught my both of children to be independent swimmers.
July 12, 2007 Not Acceptable?

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crazedparent_cpb
crazedparent_cpb
August 23, 2007

Watch out on group lessons...

If you do enroll your child in group lessons, make sure you have an eagle eye on the class and instructor. We had our 4 year old in a group class (5 students) and the instructor would toss a toy into the middle of the lane for one child...  read more

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ivamarie0
ivamarie0
July 25, 2007

Like riding a bike? Not so much.

I'm not a parent, but I taught swimming for four years while I was in high school. (Don't worry, I was qualified -- and a member of the swim team.)...  read more

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CallMeMama
CallMeMama
July 20, 2007

The love of learning... to swim

With my oldest, I hesitated to ptt him in swimming lessons too early. I wanted him to be ready; ready to listen and learn and not waste good money that we were paying for the lessons....  read more

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