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6 months – 35 months
The Waterbabies classes only seem like fun and games. But this is where natural swimming for pure joy begins, in a wonderful environment with parental love and warm smiles all round.
At Emler Swim School in Leawood, children can begin as early as 6 months old. Additionally, we can introduce babies aged 2-5 months to water play and games during bath time!
The American Academy of Pediatrics currently advises that children can begin swimming lessons as early as 1 year old. With 48 years of expertise and an award-winning curriculum, Emler Swim School in Leawood has demonstrated that starting at 6 months old works just as well.
Yes! Emler’s Waterbabies courses start at 6 months and continue until your child reaches 3 years old when they transition to the Aquatots program, already propelling themselves through the water 8-10 feet indepentently! Babies enjoy the water when introduced properly – we even have a pre-class introduction to bath time fun and games for parents and their little ones, starting at just 2 months old!
Emler’s infant swimming lessons may appear to be all about fun and games – and that’s because they are! The enjoyment of swimming draws everyone to the water, and at Emler, we use toys, songs, and games to alleviate any anxiety young children may feel while learning to swim.
Emler’s infant swim lessons emphasize love and comfort, avoiding forceful methods that can cause fear and unease. A parent is always with their child in the water, focusing on enjoyment and positive reinforcement. Our approach is non-competitive, stress-free, and celebrates each baby’s progress. At Emler, infants learn, grow, and have a blast!
Teaching children to swim and feel confident in water is an invaluable gift. With standing water present in everyday life, water safety is an essential survival skill. Teaching children to respect, understand, and appreciate water while ensuring vigilant supervision saves lives. At Emler Swim School in Leawood, we can help children feel comfortable and content in the water from as young as 2 months old!
While kids may not realize that Emler has a structured learning system, they have fun as they continually develop their swimming abilities. Parents, check our structured lessons below to find the right fit for your child.
Pre-lessons:
Bathtime Babies – Water acclimation and fun for ages 2-5 months!
If your child is over 5 months, we offer the Leawood Waterbabies program (ages 6 months – 35 months).
To start, simply call 855-232-2006 (Press Option 1), or complete the contact form, and an Emler professional will get in touch with you: New Swimmer Registration.
Find out why Leawood parents trust Emler with their children’s swimming journey. It’s not only because of Emler’s 100% swimmer guarantee – it’s because your child will discover that water play is even more enjoyable than dry land activities.
Children cherish their lessons, and as their love for water grows, they develop into excellent swimmers who enjoy water activities for a lifetime!
Newborns recently arrived from the aquatic womb are returned to the happiness of water. Weekly half-hour classes familiarize baby with buoyancy and fun in the bath – and parents get expert instruction on baby games for bath time at home. This becomes a weekly treat for baby and parent, and sets the child up almost from birth for natural comfort, enjoyment and coordination in the water. Our tiniest students are almost veterans by the time they join the Waterbabies classes!
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
Call Emler to schedule your 30 minutes of eye-opening fun as your baby learns the feel of being in the water and you learn all about the Emler Waterbabies program. Call or go online today to sign up for a free orientation class. There are many convenient times throughout the week for this free introduction.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
How do you learn to swim? You start singing, of course! Class begins for you and your baby with songs and activities in the water. With the assistance of a skilled instructor, you will learn how to increase your baby’s comfort and teach underwater breath control. Kicking in a noodle boat is a favorite activity along with back floating under London Bridge. Waterbabies learn to submerge 8 to 10 seconds and kick 3 feet through the water.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
The Plus class is for babies who have learned the basics and are now comfortable under the water and can control their breath for 8 to 10 seconds. Now they learn to strike out on their own a little, and kick forward through the water three feet. Our instructors are super-attentive during this important class because it’s where babies learn that the water is not a struggle but a place to play in and travel through, for the sheer joy of swimming.
And don’t worry, Mom and Dad, a skilled instructor is right there for you too, cheering you on so YOU can feel confident as your baby concentrates on the fun.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
The Advanced class is for the babies who now regard the water as fun – a supportive medium rather than a challenge. These little veterans of the Waterbabies training will learn to kick through the water 5 feet, while holding their breath. It’s time to learn some moves.
Watch your baby practice entering the water, turning around to kick back to the wall, and then climbing out of the water. Congratulations, you have a water baby! It’s okay to cry a little if you want – everyone gathers to watch at this exciting stage of learning, as young ones start playing in the water with natural confidence.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
The Supers class is for two years of age, toddlers on land maybe, but able to move five feet through the water with ease. During this series of classes, parents will eventually get out of the water and cheer from the sidelines as the children learn more skills.
This class extends the range to seven feet of swimming and teaches: a sitting jump entry, then a turn in the water and a swim back to the wall. It’s going to be easy to encourage from the edge of the pool as these little swimmers have fun.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
Let’s get X-treme! The 7 feet that the Supers can already swim will be extended to 10 feet. And that’s just the start. In this class, your toddler now learns rollover breathing, and the sitting jump now becomes a standing jump, with a turn and swim back to safety.
*Note: For your safety, children under the age of three are required to wear two washable, reusable swim pants.
Call to speak with one of our Emler team members
Use the tool below to determine what class/level is right
Answer the questions below to determine what class/level is right for your child.
Can your child... (select 1)
Remain submerged and hold their breath for 8-10 seconds
Swim ___ without flotation
Swim ___ competitive strokes
Recommended class/level:
Instruction on how to use bath time at home for socialization and bonding
Kick 10 feet through the water, introduce rollover breathing and a standing Jump, Turn & Swim
Themes and games are used to teach tots to kick 5 feet through the water and learn breath control
Themes are used to teach tots to kick 12 feet through the water and start to get a rollover breath
Extend distance to 20 feet with a rollover breath, and introduce a front breath
Swim 15-20 feet while improving independent front breath and introduce rollover breaths
Swim 20-30 feet while getting multiple independent front breaths and rolling breaths, treading water is introduced
Swim elementary backstroke 30-40 feet, swim freestyle with several independent rhythmic breaths 30-40 feet and treading water is mastered
Swim freestyle 80 feet with unilateral and bilateral rhythmic breathing and swim competitive backstroke 80 feet
Swim breaststroke 80 feet, swim freestyle 80 feet with bilateral rhythmic breathing and backstroke
Master endurance and the individual medley and learn swim team starts and finishes and introduce safety skills
