It's never too early to start learning to swim, and it’s never too late either.
Your little one can start swimming at any age, both before and after they have been vaccinated, even as young as a few days old. And it's never too late either as little ones soon learn to love the water and enjoy the freedom it offers them.
Child development
Water confidence builds life confidence in little ones. Each child works and develops at their own pace, so the keys are to ensure every water baby is supported during their swimming journey, and progressing at a level which works for them.
You can start swimming with us at any time during our programme, as we tailor each lesson to your child’s developmental needs.
Getting started
From the first lesson, we’ll get your little one used to the sensation of the water, developing their natural instincts and transforming these into core aquatic skills. By the end of their journey, your child will be swimming freely and able to keep themselves safe in and around the water.
In this blog we’ll look to explain how your little one can progress through their baby swimming journey, so they can start to build their confidence, in and out of the pool, and learn key water safety skills.
Ages 0-1
At this age, your little one will begin a brilliant foundation in swimming. We focus on carefully considered swim positions and activities to help your baby gain confidence in the water from the get-go. We’ll also teach your baby to hold on to the side of the pool and the basics of how to respond in an emergency situation.
Ages 1-2
As they get older, we will support your child to gain more independence in the water. Reflecting what is happening outside of the pool! They’ll start to use their arms and legs on their own and be able to travel small distances in the water.
Through group activities, we will provide the environment to encourage interaction in the class, helping to nurture your little one’s social development. For this age group, we will also begin to teach your little one how to move across the side of the pool and climb out.
Ages 2-3
From age 2, we’ll work to have your little one at a level where they can swim a few metres with little support. We’ll start to improve their technique and introduce them to basic breaststroke.
At this stage, we’ll also develop your little one’s aquatic breathing to the point where they start to blow bubbles rhythmically. This is important in developing their front crawl technique.
Ages 3-4
At age 3-4, your little one will start to learn how to push off from the wall on their front and back and will also gain the confidence to swim without trying to touch the floor or using any floats. They’ll learn to swim down to the pool floor and pick up an object, and will be able to sit and dive into the water independently using their awesome technique.
Ages 4-5
This is when your little one becomes a true water baby. They’ll be doing basic butterfly and will be able to save not only themselves, but they’ll also be able to demonstrate how to help a friend in danger!
At the end of their journey, your child will be able to perform a ‘push and glide and swim’ for 10 metres and be able to turn their head and rotate their body to breathe as they do so.
Learning to swim in their early years will set them up for life with an essential skill that enables them to develop a sense of self confidence and the social skills that will make the transitional years at school much easier.
When they’re ready, we’re ready.
