July 16, 2007
By Claire McCarthy, M.D.
Boston Children's Hospital
On a hot day, there's nothing better than playing in the water. Actually, on a cold day, spending time in a warm indoor pool can be pretty great, too. If you know how to swim or can do more than jump and splash, it's even better.
Enrolling your child in swimming lessons can be a wonderful way of introducing them to this great form of exercise and fun. Swimming lessons teach water safety skills. Given that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1 to 14, those skills can save lives.
Here's what you need to know about teaching your child to swim.
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When Should Lessons Start?
This is an area of some controversy. Many groups tout the health and safety benefits of infant and toddler swimming classes. But the American Academy of Pediatrics takes a more cautious approach. It recommends that parents wait until a child is four years old to learn to swim. They point out that:
- Babies can make simple swimming movements in the water (most will do something resembling a doggie paddle around age 1). But most children don't have the strength, coordination, or ability to follow directions necessary for independent swimming until around age four.
- There is no data to show that infant and toddler swimming classes decrease the risk of drowning. In fact, they can give the parents and the child a false sense of the child's safety around water.
A study published in the June 2007 issue of the journal Pediatrics gives parents another reason to wait. Researchers in Belgium found that children who had taken swim classes in indoor pools as infants were more likely to develop asthma and chronic bronchitis later in childhood. This was presumably due to inhaling trichloramine. This chemical is used to keep pools clean, but it can damage the lining of young lungs.
That's not to say that you should never take your infant or toddler to a swim class. Playing games in the water (preferably in an outdoor or well-ventilated pool, or at a beach), and learning some simple skills with other children, can be fun. They're also great ways to introduce your child to swimming and spend some time together. Just don't expect your children to be independent swimmers when they finish a swim class. Their increased comfort with the water actually may mean that you need to watch them more closely.
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Is Your Child Ready?
You may think it's a great idea to get Junior in the pool, but Junior may or may not agree with you. Some kids are frightened of the water. (And if fear keeps him from jumping in, that helps keep him safe!) If Junior is screaming and putting up a fight, it's unlikely that much learning — or fun — will be possible.
Sometimes a child will warm up to the idea by just watching a swim class or two — perhaps from poolside in regular clothes. Some kids need to hold tight to a grown-up in the water at the beginning before they're willing to try things on their own. But if after two classes you aren't getting anywhere, don't force it. You could end up making your child even more afraid. Try again in a few months.
Some kids are so excited to get into the water that they overestimate their own ability. If that's the case with your child, talk to the teacher — and be sure you find a class with good supervision.
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What To Look For in a Swimming Class
How do you know which swimming class is best for your child? The experiences of other parents can be very helpful. Ask around. Visit the place where the class is held, and, if possible, observe the teacher in action. Some things to think about and watch for include:
- Safety – Is there a lifeguard on duty? Is there appropriate lifesaving and first aid equipment? Are there safety rules posted and enforced? Do the children learn water safety skills as well as how to swim? Is the teacher watching all the children at all times?
- Facility – Is the pool or beach clean and safe? What about the bathrooms and changing areas?
- Certification – If you can find a teacher certified by the American Red Cross or YMCA, you know you are getting someone who has training in teaching and in safety.
- Class size – The lower the student-to-teacher ratio, the better. Try for a class of no more than six children per teacher.
- Class length – For most children, 30 to 45 minutes is plenty of time. After that, they start getting distracted and tired.
- Class organization – Are children grouped by age or skill level? (One or the other might work better for your child.) Is there a curriculum that advances the children as they gain skills (such as the programs used by the American Red Cross and the YMCA)?
- Teaching style – The teacher should get in the water with the children, and be supportive and positive. Look for a teacher who makes learning fun by incorporating games into the lessons.
Remember that knowing how to swim doesn't mean your child can't drown. Even if your child is a proficient swimmer, she still needs constant supervision around water and should wear a lifejacket whenever she is on a boat.
Remember, too, that each child learns at her own pace. Try not to compare your child with others. Swimming should be fun and a skill that can bring your child a lifetime of exercise and safety.
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Claire McCarthy, M.D. is an assistant professor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, an attending physician at Children's Hospital of Boston, and medical director of the Martha Eliot Health Center, a neighborhood health service of Children's Hospital. She is a senior medical editor for Harvard Health Publications.
