Can a kid learn to swim too early?

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  Posted by MamaGorilla Tue Apr 1, 2008 9:09pm PDT

  I hear what the AAP is saying, but there's a big difference between what Dr. Bull calls "reducing [a] child's fear of water" and teaching basic water safety. My three-year-old, G, and I started swimming lessons about a year ago in a Mommy and me class, and the teacher focused almost exclusively on how to train our little ones to behave safely in the pool. As a new parent, I learned a lot about how to empower G to try new skills without my own anxiety getting in the way, and within three months G could "scoot" hand to hand along the wall, climb out safely, and do a basic backfloat for five seconds--useful skills for any beginning swimmer. Three months later she "graduated" to a kids-only class with the same teacher, and Miss Moira still focused her lessons around ensuring the kids can handle themselves in the event of an accident. As an example, she never has the kids swim out to the pool to her; rather, she makes the kids swim only to the wall, so they don't become dependent on an adult in the middle of the water to catch them. Today, in fact, we celebrated a little milestone: G jumped in the pool by herself, turned around, and swam to the wall instead of swimming out to the teacher. That may not seem like a big deal, but God forbid she ever fell in a pool, I'm confident that she'll know to get herself to a wall right quick.

  I'm not saying that I'm going to be leaving G alone in the water anytime soon, and I do know that swimming programs vary widely in quality. But such a blanket recommendation from the AAP, just like their blanket statement about no TV before age 2 seems a bit...simplistic. If you can find a program for young 'uns that emphasizes water safety before teaching strokes or other swimming skills, then I think it's money well spent.

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  Posted by dnelak Wed Apr 2, 2008 6:51am PDT

  I think this is rediculos. I started my daughter in swim lessons (mommy and me) at just barely two months old. She is now 7 months old and enjoys going to swim class each week. She has learned to close her eyes and mouth when going under water, she is learning to climb out of the pool, float on her back, do the doggie paddle by kicking and moving her arms and she can even go on her own with swimmy's. Living near the ocean and with inlaws who own a house on the bay, I can not imagine not teaching my daughter to swim before 4 years old. 4 years sounds rediculous to me. Now, I am not saying I would leave her alone ever by a pool, but I am happy to know that she is learning the basic's to survive. I think everyone should see the video floating around the internet. There is a todler barely able to walk that gets out of the house because the dog opened the door. He happens to drop a ball in a pool and goes in after it. He learned at swim classes to swim to the top and float on his back calling mommy and daddy. I think this idea should be instilled in all children at an early age. If you look in the news you will see that most children who drowned are under the age of 4. It only makes sense, bond with your child and go to swim class! And by the way, my mommy and me class was free up until 6 months of age!

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  Posted by bailey05 Wed Apr 2, 2008 10:01am PDT

  My mom started me and my sister at age 3, it's never too early to start. I've been a swimming instructor for the past 5 years and have seen a lot of kids under 4 taking swimming lessons. I'm all for the Parent Tot classes that we teach at the public pool. There was one girl that stood out, her mom put her in a Parent Tot class when she was like only 2, because of the extra practice time she got to do in that class, she excelled so fast, we put her in the preschool 1 class where the minimum age is 3, after one month she "graduated" that class. I think you know where i'm going, but today she's 5 years old and is in the deep side of the pool swimming with the 6 and 7 year olds, the depth is 5ft to 12ft and she will swim back and forth nonstop. One lap is 25 yds, she knows all four strokes and is an amazing swimmer. I do believe it is because she started early!

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  Posted by adse Wed Apr 2, 2008 12:01pm PDT

  I don't buy into any of that. My child has been going to LPB (school in the video clip and story) since she was 4 months old. She is now 2-1/2 and swims better than I do. The only child in her class as well that dives down to the bottom of the pool to pick items off the floor of the pool and bring them back to the teacher and I.

  It's not the lessons that are bad. It's the parents that decide their children are good enough swimmers that they assume they don't have to watch them. That also being said, you could also say that if they have swimming lessons you can leave them in a bathtub by themselves. NEVER!

  I've seen many kids since my girl started swimming who are introduced later on and all they do is scream the entire time with or without the parent. I see that as being more of an opportunity to be harmed.

  When I have another child, the baby is going to have swimming lessons like the first and probably sooner than the first.

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  Posted by PJ Wed Apr 2, 2008 8:45pm PDT

  This is not scientific. It is just a recommendation; there is no proof. Like some of the eating guidelines. My children both swam before three because I was always afraid and didn't want them to be. They are both confident adult swimmers, and if you've ever met someone who is adult and is scared, it is sad. Swimming is a life skill and fear is much worse than overconfidence.

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  Posted by pixiescc Wed Apr 2, 2008 8:57pm PDT

  I DISAGREE WITH THE IDEA OF WAITING UNTIL LATER TO GIVE KIDS SWIMMING LESSONS. MY TWO YOUNGER KIDS STARTED LESSONS TOGETHER. MY DAUGHTER WAS 2 AND TOOK TO IT LIKE THE PROVERBIAL FISH. MY SON WAS ALMOST 5 AND IT TOOK WEEKS TO EVEN GET HIM TO PUT HIS FACE IN THE WATER. I TOTALLY ENDORSE THE IDEA THAT NO YOUNG CHILD IS WATER SAFE, BUT I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF LITTLE ONES FEELING COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN THE WATER WITH AN ADULT WATCHING CLOSELY.

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  Posted by James from BabySpot.com Thu Apr 3, 2008 9:38pm PDT

  I am sorry but I must disagree as my mom started me at 2 years of age! She says its easier when the y are smaller. She is currently showing my two year old how to swim.....its so funny!!!

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  Posted by Chris Fri Apr 4, 2008 5:37pm PDT

  I started swimming at 8 months old and there is nothing wrong with me!

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  Posted by AnnieT Fri Apr 4, 2008 6:17pm PDT

  I am taking my 3yr old to her 2nd swimming class now and she loves it. We first took a 10 session private one on one course and are now taking a group mommy n me class with the red cross at the local college. Maybe under a year is too young but in the end - the parents know best (at least should) as to the readiness of their child. I am disapointed though when I see parents forcing their children in these swim classes as that has built a fear of the water which is truly sad. I firmly believe in allowing the child to let us know when they are ready to walk, potty train, go to school, etc. Milestones are guidelines - not required times which must be met or else...

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  Posted by JO H Sat Apr 5, 2008 4:15am PDT

  Okay ladies i have a major problem!!! Short story I'm married to a great guy, i have 1 child from another man, gave my now husband a beautiful girl, but my in-laws act as if my youngest is theirs. Most of the problem came about when i went back to work. unfortinly it was on midnights at a county jail. When i go to pick up my youngest both of my in-laws tell me how she will cry for them. And whats bad is that my husband is blind to this fact. And i've noticed that my youngest is getting to close to her grandparents. So how do i stop this and still make every one happy NEED TO KNOW SOON

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