7 Steps to Finding the Best Swim Class
Ready to enroll your water bug in swimming lessons? Keep these important guidelines in mind.
Julie Harlpert from Parents Magazine
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Check Credentials
You can feel confident about any program that is certified by the YMCA or the American Red Cross.
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Christa Renee
Look for Safety Info
Choose a class that includes safety info and drowning-prevention training along with basic swimming skills.
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Christa Renee
Consider the Student-Instructor Ratio
For 4- and 5-year-olds, under four students per teacher is ideal; for beginners 6 and older, no more than six students is best.
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Visit First, Sign Up Later
Observe a class to be sure you are okay with the instructor's teaching style.
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Watch Water Temperature
Find a pool with water at about 86°F. Kids learn better when they aren't chilly.
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Learn CPR
Learn to perform CPR on a child. Take a class through your local YMCA or American Red Cross chapter.
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Kaysh Shinn
When Should Your Child Start Swim Lessons?
The answer to that question really depends on your child. In the past, pediatricians worried that placing children under 4 in swimming classes might make them less cautious at a pool and parents less vigilant about watching them. But after a major study found that kids ages 1 to 4 who took formal lessons had a lower risk of drowning than those who hadn't had lessons, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now more open toward classes for younger children. In new 2010 guidelines, the AAP stresses that not every child will be ready to learn to to swim at the same age, and therefore the organization advises that parents consider a number of factors, including their children's frequency of exposure to water, emotional development, and physical abilities before enrolling them in lessons. (The AAP does not recommend formal water safety programs for babies under 1 year of age.)
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Other Lesson Alternatives
No budget for lessons? USA Swimming now offers free or low-cost water-safety instruction in 27 states for kids ages 5 to 14 who are most at risk for drowning. Visit swimfoundation.org for additional information.
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