Pediatricians Recommend Children Start Swim Lessons At Age 1

Learning to swim is a fun part of childhood, but it’s also become an essential part of safety for children. Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in children under the age of 4 and is the leading cause of unintentional injury death in children aged 5-19 years old. Every year drowning claims the lives of children, but with education and awareness, drowning can be prevented, and which is why pediatricians suggest swimming lessons for one-year-olds.

At Emler Swim School we believe that every child should start learning to swim before they can even walk. Water safety is something to be taken seriously, and we do our best to educate parents and caregivers about the measures that should be taken to protect the children in their lives. Being safe around the water is something that should be taken seriously year-round, no matter the weather or location.

Drowning is quick & silent – it can happen in the blink of an eye. We always recommend having a Water Watcher when a child is around any body of water. Children need to be watched every moment while they are in and around water, and a Water Watcher is someone who has committed to keeping their eyes focused on the water with no distractions.

Swim lessons are a must for every child starting at a young age. At Emler Swim School we begin water safety and education for babies as young as two months old. It’s important to begin swim lessons early so that the child develops respect and understanding of the water.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently published an article about the prevention of drowning and how parents and caregivers can help keep children safe around water.

“Children and parents need to learn to swim. Basic water competency swim skills include the ability to enter the water, surface, turn around, propel oneself for at least 25 yards and then exit the water.” – Quan L, Ramos W, Harvey C, et al. Toward defining water competency: an American Red Cross definition. International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education. 2015;9(1):12–23 

We are here to help answer any questions you might have about swim lessons or water safety. Safety with a splash of love is what we provide every single day at Emler Swim School, and we would love to be the ones who help your child learn to swim and fall in love with the water.

Be sure to check out the rest of the article about the Prevention of Drowning from the American Academy of Pediatrics.