Deseret News | Reader comments: Never too young ... to learn to swim

Reader comments
Never too young to learn to swim

wet | 12:04 a.m. July 7, 2009

While this activity certainly may be a boost in mother/child relations and be a boon to a new level of expereinces for family members, this training does not make it safer for the infant in the water.

Many studies have shown that such infants are just as likely to drown as non swimmers.

There is no substitute for parental supervision. In fact, infants who swim may be more attracted to the water even if parents are not there to help.

Anonymous | 3:45 p.m. July 7, 2009

I agree that there is no substitute for vigilant parental supervision, but there are many stories of students with training such as this who have saved themselves for drowning situations.

The more lines of defense you can give your child the better. Supervision, education about water safety, and water safety and survival skills training are just a few.

Would you like your child's first experience of submersion to be when you are not watching, or would you like them to have the opportunity to learn in a controlled environment?

Something else to think about are the developmental benefits of learning to swim at a young age. Among other things, a water environment allows children more opportunity to develop neural pathways for motor skills at a young age since they are not restricted by gravity.

Stacey | 10:15 a.m. July 8, 2009

My child is in this class and learning to kick to the surface, float and find the side of the pool...all sound like life saving measures to me!

Comments continue below

Shawn Adamson | 6:45 p.m. July 8, 2009

My children completed the Swimkids program and we were amazed at how fast they progressed compared to other private lessons we had tried. They are both now very advanced swimmers for their ages thanks to Swimkids. I would highly recommend this program for other families.

Lori | 7:00 p.m. July 8, 2009

I agree with anonymous.

My child is enrolled right now and I am so glad. I first enrolled my child at 8 months in the mom and baby class and now he is 21 months in a private lesson. He can hold his breathe and just floated by himself for the first time this week. He has a huge respect for the water. Although he loves it, he doesn't just go running into it at first sight like so many other babies because he knows what it is.

When we were at a community pool, he fell face forward while walking and when I picked him up (I was right behind him), I had discovered he had been holding his breathe. That could have been a much more serious situation if he didn't have the skills and knowledge to have done that. Thank you swim kids. It is well worth the money.

Angela | 7:11 p.m. July 8, 2009

I enrolled my first two kids in Swimkids and they are fantastice swimmers. Have been able to go off the board since age 3. I decided not to enroll my smaller two (too complicated with 4 kids!) and let them learn on their own. Last summer my then 3 year old jumped into a neighborhood pool and sunk right to the bottom. We were watching him and jumped in and grabbed him.(There is no replacement for supervision!) I know that would not have happened with my older two. So we are back at SwimKids and the younger two are making phenomenal progress and I feel so much better giving them the skills my older two have. It is absolutely priceless.

Sandy | 7:46 p.m. July 8, 2009

I enrolled my first child at SwimKids 18 years ago. I enrolled my next two children also in this wonderful program. My neice enrolled her four children after watching how well my kids swam. Now I have my grandchild enrolled in this program. This program teaches the kids to respect the water and at the same time they realize they actually can swim. For the cost of the swim lessons, it is well worth saving a child's life if they accidentally fall into the water -- they are even safer in the bathtub. This program teaches the kids how to swim instead of spending money on class after class where the kids learn how to swim several years later. I tell everyone about SwimKids, there is too much water around here even in the desert, and you sometimes can't watch your child every minute of the day --thanks again SwimKids!!

A | 8:21 p.m. July 8, 2009

In regards to what "wet" said: I don't know what facts you are basing it on to say that kids who know how to swim may be more attracted to water than other kids. But, I do know that my daughter is so much more confident in the water than her friends. She respects the water and enjoys it. The way to make sure your child does not rush into the water without you there is to TEACH them not to! I do not think that any swim lessons should make someone feel they should not monitor their child, but that doesn't mean it is not wise to put your child in swim lessons. I am so glad I put my child in and I would recommend SwimKids to everyone I know. It is expensive, but you get what you pay for and it is definitely worth it! In addition, the instructors are so calm and kind. They are the type of people I want to influence my child and teach her.

Brooke | 9:38 p.m. July 8, 2009

My 3 year old has been taking lessons from SwimKids every week for 1 year now. He can swim 6 feet, roll over and float on his back to take a breath or 3 then roll back over and swim 6 feet - he's just now learning to take a breath while swimming (pillow breathing). He dives to the bottom of the pool and can jump off the diving board. I highly recommend SwimKids to anyone and everyone who has kids. There is nothing more important that having your child feel comfortable in the water and knowing how to "self rescue" should they fall into a body of water.

Helen | 10:25 p.m. July 8, 2009

My daughter has been with Swimkids for over a year now, since she was 6 months old. Because she started so young, she has always been comfortable in the water. I know she is not safe around water, but she is learning skills that will eventually help keep her safe. I believe her lessons also help her develop self esteem as she learns she can do hard things. I'm so proud of her!

not to follow in my footsteps | 7:17 a.m. July 9, 2009

After I had several drowning experiences throughout my life I decided to take swimming lessons finally at the age of 25. Now a mom, my first son was enrolled in SwimKids at 9 months. He loves the water, he has made so much progress since then. He's now 2. I will be enrolling my next baby into swimming lessons. I don't want to have them go through what I did. Being a teenager and having to stay in the kiddie area because I couldn't swim. I missed out on a lot of fun.

Amy | 11:15 p.m. July 9, 2009

In addition to the great testimonials about the Swim Kids program, I must add that Liz Walker does an exceptional job of addressing parental or student concerns as they arise. She is at once responsive, professional, caring, and very evidently expert in her field. The end result? More productive relationships between the teachers (whom she personally trains) and their students. My son has been enrolled at Swim Kids for the past few summers, and we've (finally) decided to keep him enrolled year round.

Benny | 8:57 a.m. July 18, 2009

I was so excited to find this program! I had spent years trying to get my son to swim in the "traditional group" lessons. After 4 years of not even getting his face wet I looked for a better approach. After 3 lessons with Swim Kids he was swimming under the water and learning to float on his back. I recommend this program to EVERYONE! It has been a great boost to my sons self confidence to succeed in learning to swim with Swim Kids!

Jennifer | 7:09 p.m. July 19, 2009

I used this program with my daughter a few years ago, and she is now a very good swimmer. We took my son (who is a few years younger than my daughter) to the pool earlier this summer and he completely freaked out. Refused to get his face wet, got terribly upset when the tiniest bit of water was splashed near him, even when I carried him into the pool, he just screamed and screamed. I called Swim Kids that day, and got him scheduled for a number of lessons that week. After just that first week with their program, he was jumping into and under the water. He was learning to swim and float on his back. And best of all, he enjoyed swimming in the pool. When our family went back to the pool the following weekend, my husband just couldn't believe his eyes. What a difference a week makes. We're signing him up for the rest of the summer and fall!!

Jacquie | 10:26 a.m. July 20, 2009

I have been an instructor for Swim Kids for over a year now. When I first heard about Swim Kids I was skeptical that a child as young as 1 year (and younger in some cases) could float, swim and roll over onto their back. Liz Walker has created a great program that can do just that. My job is very rewarding as I see children learn to swim in a matter of months. It is exciting when I see progress so quickly and know that knowledge can save their life. Yes, there are tears at first, but in a matter of weeks they learn that swimming can be fun and safe. They look forward to lessons as they know they can trust me and be challenged. Swim Kids offers lessons year round so that your child can continue what they learn this summer throughout the school year as well. I highly recommend Swim Kids! Email me if you have any questions about our program.

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