What Age Can Kids Start Swim Lessons: Summer is in full swing and some parents are still trying to figure out where to get their kids to swim lessons.

One big challenge to making a decision related to swimming lessons is that many parents don’t know when to start and why it’s important to have lessons. Rest assured, this post will help you know at what age your kid can start swim lessons.

School is out for summer and families all over the country are taking vacations to their favorite resorts, amusement parks, and watering holes. In a city like Houston, one will go to great lengths to escape the heat and humidity of this long hot summer.

An easy and convenient escape is to the neighborhood pool (and boy, do we have a lot) or the beach which is not too far away. Regardless of where you choose, it’s important to make sure you and your kids are prepared when it comes time to hit the water. It only takes a few seconds for a dangerous accident to occur.

What Age Can Kids Start Swim Lessons

According to the Centers for Disease Control, ten people die daily due to unintentional drowning. Out of the ten, two are children aged 14 or under. Drowning is the second leading cause of death in children.

Turning on the news or scrolling social media you will learn that in Houston alone there have been numerous mentions of drownings since the summer has started. It is a very frightening reality that can be prevented. Swimming lessons are a key factor to aid in the prevention of water-related deaths.

By most accounts, the average age that kids start swim lessons is around four years old. But, despite contrary belief, children can indeed start this learning process much younger. And it is imperative that they do!

Most swim schools offer infant and toddler swim lessons.

These lessons usually come in the form of parent/child lessons. Having the parent in the class allows for kids to start swimming much earlier and encourages greater participation.

At Pengu, we start our swim lessons as early as four months! Yes, you read that correctly! Kids can start swimming as early as four months. And with the parent in the water, the babies are able to learn while being in the comfortable arms of their parents.

Learning to swim at such an early age has countless benefits.

For all the sleep-deprived parents, you may be happy to learn that swimming can help with sleep patterns! An early start in swimming can help younger children know what to do in case of an accidental fall into a body of water. Important skills like self-saving and floating go a long way to help a child be safe around the water.

Although babies and toddlers are still in their early stages of development, swimming (as physical activity) goes a long way to help them learn and grow. Infant swimming helps to develop a lot of skills that babies will use as they age. Some of these advantages include:

• Better balance and coordination
• Increased strength with gripping and grasping
• Survival response awareness
• Improved cognitive functioning
• Exposure to social environments

These are just a few of the benefits of learning to swim as an infant. As children grow into toddlers, these skills are improved upon. When starting lessons earlier rather than later, toddlers will have the unique experience of transitioning those initial lifesaving skills into competitive skills.

For example, once a child has learned to float, they’ll most likely learn to kick on their back next. After that, they’ll add the arms and soon your child will be performing backstroke! Another is the swim float swim technique, which is a precursor to learning freestyle.

Learning to swim is an important life skill but if you stick with it you could make it to the world championship. Who knows, maybe even the Olympic games!

Stop in at Pengu today and speak with one of our customer service representatives about signing your child up for lessons. We offer swim lessons for children four months to twelve years of age. Let us be your water safety resource!