Swim Lessons: When to Start & What Parents Should Know

Learning to swim should be a priority for every family. It's an important life skill that can play a key role in helping to prevent drowning―a top cause of death among children. Children, and their parents, need to learn how to swim to help keep time in the water safe and fun! Here are some tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on the best time to start swim lessons and what to look for in a quality learn-to-swim program.When should my child learn to swim?Children develop at different rates, and not all are ready to begin swim lessons at exactly the same age. When making your decision, keep your child's emotional maturity, physical and developmental abilities and limitations, and comfort level in the water in mind. The AAP recommends swim lessons as a layer of protection against drowning that can begin for many children starting at age 1.Parent-child toddler & preschool swim classes: beneficial for many familiesStudies suggest that water survival skills training and swim l...