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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 Tigard, children as young as 6 months can begin their swimming journey. Even earlier, we introduce babies aged 2-5 months water acclimation and water play in the bath!
The American Academy of Pediatrics now advises that children can start swimming lessons as early as 1 year old. With 48 years of expertise and an award-winning curriculum, Emler Swim School Tigard has proven that starting at 6 months old is equally effective. We offer specially designed classes for infants that provide a safe, supportive environment with both parent and instructor assistance.
Absolutely! Emler’s Waterbabies classes start at 6 months and continue until your child reaches 3 years old, when they progress to the Aquatots program, already swimming up to 8-10 feet independently!
Babies enjoy water when introduced appropriately – we even have a pre-class introduction to bath time games for parents and their little ones, beginning at just 2 months old!
Check below to find the best class for your child.
Emler’s baby swimming classes may seem like all fun and games – and that’s because they are! The excitement of swimming draws everyone to the water, and at Emler, we use toys, songs, and games to ease any anxiety young children may experience while learning to swim.
In our nurturing environment, children naturally find joy in water activities, supported by parental love, hugs, and reassuring smiles. Emler’s infant swim classes prioritize love and comfort, avoiding forceful methods that can cause fear and unease.
A parent is always present in the water, with a focus on enjoyment and positive reinforcement. At Emler, infants learn, grow, and have fun!
Preventing childhood drowning is possible. By teaching children to respect, understand, navigate and appreciate water, and ensuring vigilant supervision, lives can be saved. At Emler Swim School Tigard, we can help children feel at ease in the water from as young as 2 months old!
Acquiring skills in a loving, enjoyable environment leads to lifelong water enjoyment. Plus, having water-loving children makes selecting vacation spots and activities even more exciting – even a day at the local pool becomes a delightful family excursion.
Most kids may not realize that Emler has a structured learning system; they just have fun as they continually develop their swimming abilities! Parents, check our structured lessons below to find the right fit for your child.
Bathtime Babies – Water acclimation and fun for ages 2-5 months!
If your child is over 5 months, we offer the Emler Tigard Waterbabies program (ages 6 months – 35 months).
To get started, simply call 855-232-2006 (Press Option 1) or fill out the contact form, and an Emler professional will get back to you: New Swimmer Registration.
Discover why Emler Tigard parents trust Emler with their children’s swimming future!
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
