Swimming At Home With Your Baby

During this time of shelter in place, when swim lessons may be put on hold, there are definitely ways in which you can engage with your little ones to help facilitate learning. Believe me when I say, even play time in the water teaches your children about swimming and safety. If you have a pool or jacuzzi, you can absolutely help your children practice their skills, play with them in a variety of creative ways and keep their love for the water fresh in their minds so that when it does come time to resume lessons, they’re already completely acclimated again! (**Please note with jacuzzis, the temp should not exceed 94 degrees, and no jumping allowed.)

I have always found, with my own children and my students, that by introducing an environment or skill to a child at the earliest possible age that it is safe to do so, and then continuing to expose them to it in a casual, unhurried, relaxed manner, the odds of that child responding positively and gravitating to that activity or skill are much greater and with a much more positive outcome.

With my own two sons, I began taking them in the water at exactly 4 months old.  Every spring/summer, my husband and/or I would take our boys in the water pretty much every day, even if only for thirty minutes at a time, just to play, to hang out, to explore.  Once they were two, and independent on the steps, we tried to remain as ‘hands off’ as possible (remember I said hands NOT eyes - never ever take your eyes off your child).  They often tumbled around, dipping under, being righted and then regaining their balance until they were confident on the steps and began to venture off, testing their weight, buoyancy and abilities in floating and gliding.

There was never a question in my mind that my boys would love the water and love to swim because we just created that environment for them and assumed it was so.  We still swim together as a family most days now, after everyone gets home from work, school, activities and we have turned it into a great family tradition and bonding time.

 When I talk to parents with infants who are just beginning this journey of water safety and swimming, I understand that it can be an anxiety provoking and confusing territory to navigate.  There are so many mixed messages, so many quick fix programs that claim ‘water safety in infancy’, ‘swimming in ten lessons!’, ‘swim with floaties and fins’ and to all of those I say, please remember that any bad habits learned must either be incorporated for life or unlearned at some point.

In my opinion, it is far healthier and more pleasurable for everyone, to calmly and naturally transition from infancy to toddler to preschooler, with a consistent, relaxed, focused approach to learning to swim. And truly, by following this method, you will undoubtedly have a three year old who swims freestyle unassisted across the length of your pool as well.

 Even better, you will have avoided a lot of the hiccups such as fear, intense crying, anxiety, self-doubt, resistance and regression.

It is almost unheard of for a child who has had consistent exposure to swimming since infancy to NOT be swimming independently by the time they are three.