when is the best time to start kids with swim lessons?

Question

my children will be 1 and 2 1/2 this summer and I really want to start them on swim lessons at the same time. Many people I have talked to told me that they started their kids around the ages of my kids. Is this a good time? I'm especially wondering about my daughter. (she will be 1 in June)
please no rude people or people without serious answers.

Answer 1

Definately the sooner the better, this way they will be less scared of the water. I learnt to swim or at least float, at the same time I was walking. Very important and valuable tool for small children to have. Even right now I would find an indoor pool and start them as soon as possible. Its never too early to start as the earlier you start the quicker they will take to it.

Answer 2

Some people start at 1 but usually 2 or 3.

Answer 3

I'd say lessons for your 2.5 year old would be really good but I don't know about your 1 year old. Maybe you could take her and just have her in the water just to get used to being in there (which is what most lessons for small children like that are).

But as for your 2.5 year old it should be a good idea. By now their motor skills are basic enough to have some response to the new environment. Their memory should also be developed by now to the point where they can remember going in the pool and how to swim if you teach them and they are physically able to. But he/she still needs floats obviously if going in water over his/her hips at the most because children can still drown in very shallow water if they don't have the muscles developed yet to get themselves out of danger.

Answer 4

It all depends upon what you are trying to accomplish. If you want swimming from a 1 year old you are simply out of luck. However, the earlier you expose your child to a pool and lessons, the quicker they will learn to swim as they get older. A calm, warm environment is recommended. One on one lessons are preferable with the fearful and also the overly fearless 1-3 year old.

Answer 5

as babies -- about 1 month of age. Newborn babies can swim !!! It's natural! Look it up. But if you wait til 3 months or more they lose the ability! I say start them as soon as they are able 3wks 4wks of age, even sooner if you think you are and baby is able! That will pay off in drown-proofing!!!
There are centers you can go with other parents of newborns to do swimming, check your Y and if they dont have one ask if they know of one, check surrounding towns as well! I had my baby in the Gulf of Mexico at 3wks!!! He has always swum and became diver at 17!!!

Answer 6

the best year to start is at 5 years old. at this age children have learned the basic motor controll to be able to master swimming.
if you start younger (2-4) it can actually be detrimental and it takes them much longer.

at 1 and 2.5 years old you could take them to a pool, and do floating excersizes. etc. teaching them to swim will be impossible.

Answer 7

Honestly, I would atart them around the age of 3 or 4. My nece started then and is now a great swimmer.

Answer 8

start when she's 1 !! take her to the pool and just get her used to water, she'll grow to love it naturaly. thats the age i started and now i'm 16 and i swim competitivly. and that was one the reasons i'm now at this level- i started younge :)
start going to lessons the fastest as possible; try the younger they start the better. but if one of your children don't like the water, then get him or her to start getting used to it in bath tubs

good luck

Answer 9

2 or 4 years under a large amount of supervision is good. this was they become very comfortable in the water a a younger age than most. or even earlier... the way i see it, the earlier the better... u can't go too early.

Answer 10

5 years old .some people start a lot younger