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Home › Articles › Toddlers › Ready to Swim

Ready to Swim

Toddlers Can Take to the Water for Health and Fitness

By April E. Clark

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"Its purpose is to provide a nationally standardized aquatic program that promotes water safety knowledge and practices, aquatic adjustment and swimming readiness skills – along with fun and enjoyment in the water, participant socialization and parental involvement," says Greg Stockton, aquatics expert for the American Red Cross. "The program is intended to develop a comfort level in and around the water, as well as a readiness for learning to swim."

Stockton says the popularity of youth swimming programs that provide strong water safety curriculums have become widespread, a trend he whole-heartedly supports. "Programs have sprung up across the nation, which emphasize swimming, 'drown-proofing' and 'survival' techniques for youngsters," he says. "Regardless of the number of times young children are exposed to water, whether in a structured experience or otherwise, they cannot be expected to comprehend potentially dangerous situations or to rely on their skill development or judgment to save their own lives. We've found a positive early water experience, combined with qualified swimming instruction, will help prepare kids for a lifetime of aquatic enjoyment."

Key Points on Toddler Swimming

  • Along with emphasizing fun and fitness, proper swim instruction should teach kids about safety and responsibility in the water. Make sure your toddler is learning more than just how to blow bubbles or kick in the water during lessons.
  • Avoid pressuring a toddler to take swim lessons if he or she is not mentally and physically prepared. Take notice of whether your child can change directions and grab the sides of the pool before enrolling in a private or group lesson.
  • While learning to swim, children should avoid becoming too dependent on floatation devices such as "noodles," arm "floaties" and inner tubes. A child should learn how to correctly swim, not dog paddle, before using flashy pool accessories that can often be confused for play toys.
  • The American Red Cross offers a nationally standardized aquatic program that promotes water safety knowledge and practices, aquatic adjustment and swimming readiness skills. To enroll, parents are advised to check with aquatics facilities in their area that offer Red Cross training.

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