Things to consider when signing your swimmer up for swim lessons

​Learning to swim and how to stay safe in, on, and around the water is a life skill that all children should know. One of the best ways children learn to swim is by participating in swim lessons and can begin learning as young as 6-months-old.

According to the National Institute of Health, ​formal swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning by 88%.

When you are considering signing your little one up for swim lessons, ask yourself these three questions!

What is your little one's experience with the water?

When thinking about your little one's experience in the water, think about bath time or your trips to the beach, consider how your little one reacted when feeling the water. 

Did they smile and laugh? 
Did they start to cry or shiver? 
Did they hesitate to stick a toe in or did they start splashing immediately? 
Was their first experience indoors or outside? Was it a hot summer day or a little breezy? 

Your little one's reaction to the water gives us so much information and will help you determine which type of swim lesson would be best to start your little one.

Which type of class would your little one learn best in?

​Teach America To Swim offers three types of swim lessons to meet the needs of all our swimmers and their families. We offer group, semi-private, and private lessons. 

Group Lessons (Up to 10 swimmers)
Group lessons are a great way for swimmers to learn water safety skills with a group of peers who are at a similar swimming ability. Lessons are grouped primarily based on swimming ability with few age restrictions. Group classes are great for swimmers who are comfortable in the water and want to learn to swim during summer camp or with friends.

Semi-Private (Up to 4 swimmers)
Semi-private lessons are perfect for swimmers who benefit from more one-on-one time with an instructor while still exploring the aquatic environment and learning water safety with their peers. Semi-private classes are great for swimmers who are a little hesitant about the water and are willing to try something new. 

Private (1-2 swimmers)
Private lessons include one-on-one swimming and water safety instruction. We strongly recommend private lessons for infants, toddlers, and swimmers who may have a fear of the water.

Which swim level is best for your little one?

American Red Cross swim lessons are designed to teach swimmers skills in a logical progression that is mentally and physically developmentally appropriate for the swimmer. Every swimmer progresses with these skills at different rates and also comes to swim lessons with different levels of experience with the water. To help our families determine which level of swim lessons would be best for their swimmer, we've created a questionnaire that parents could use as a guide to determine which level would be a good starting place for their little one. To view our questionnaire, click here!

Before signing your little one up for swim lessons, it's important to reflect on where your little is currently at with their comfort and skill level in the water. By taking the time to reflect on these things, you'll be able to determine the best type of lesson and starting point to set your little one up for success!

Considering swim lessons for your children?

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We can't wait to support you and your swimmers in building safe water habits!

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