Children swimming lessons are a crucial life skill that provides children with numerous benefits. This includes improved water safety, physical fitness, and confidence.
Determining the appropriate number of swimming lessons for a child can be challenging. It varies based on age, prior experience, individual abilities, goals, and most importantly, the child’s motor skills. Every swim school will suggest a different number of recommended swimming lessons.
The Instructors at Life Saver Survival Swim School
Life Saver Survival Swim School instructors teach their lessons one-on-one with ALL of their students. Going into these classes, all parents and guardians need to assume that there are going to be 32 lessons (8 weeks; four classes per week), but the instructor will determine if fewer classes are needed by each student’s individual performance. It is not uncommon for students to achieve full performance and learn all their lessons in under 32 lessons.
The instructors are parents also and they realize that everyone wants to minimize their costs. However, the instructors also realize (by also being parents) that nothing is more important than having a fully trained student – especially NOT money!
In this article, we will provide guidelines for different age groups to help parents and guardians understand the ideal number of swimming lessons for their child here at Life Saver Survival Swim School.
Age Guidelines
Toddlers (Ages 8 months to 2):
Swimming lessons for toddlers will focus on water survival skills. Toddlers will also be introduced to the swimming pool water and taught to have a positive association with it. If the child is still not walking, he/ she will learn the rollback-to-float technique. Infants in this age group are taught the survival skills of rotating from a face-down to a face-up position; then independently maintain a floating posture to rest and breathe until help arrives. When fully skilled, children have the ability to remain in this posture for an extended period of time without becoming exhausted because they are floating naturally.
Recommended Number of Lessons: Four 8 to 10-minute lessons per week for 4 to 8 weeks.
Preschoolers (Ages 3 to 5):
Preschoolers are more receptive to learning basic swimming skills and water safety. Besides teaching water survival skills, the focus of our lessons will be on floating, kicking, and basic arm movements.
Recommended Number of Lessons: Four 8 to 10-minute lessons per week for 6 to 8 weeks.
Young Children (Ages 6 to 10):
At this age, after learning the water survival skills, children will work on perfecting their floating, gliding, and stroke techniques.
Recommended Number of Lessons: Four 8 to 10-minute lessons per week for 6 to 8 weeks.
Preteens and Teens (Ages 11 and Up):
Life Saver Survival Swim School does not teach water survival skills nor swimming lessons to any child over 10 years of age. It is not that we don’t know that there are children older than 10 that need and could use these skills, it is just not the age of children that our school chooses to focus on. There are many other schools in the Houston area that will teach children 10 and older. If you need help finding such a school, just ask and we will certainly help.
It’s important to remember that the recommended number of lessons is a general guideline and may vary for each child based on their individual progress and abilities. Some children may grasp the water survival and swimming skills more quickly and require fewer lessons, while others might need more time to develop confidence and proficiency.
Other Factors to Consider,
Individual Abilities:
Every child is unique, and their learning pace can differ significantly. Some children may be more natural swimmers and require fewer lessons to master the basics, while others may need more time and practice.
Practice Outside of Lessons:
The number of lessons required can be positively influenced by regular practice outside of our formal swimming classes. Encourage children to spend time in the water recreationally or under adult supervision to reinforce their skills and boost their confidence.
Goals and Objectives:
The number of lessons needed can also depend on the child’s swimming goals. If the primary aim is water safety and basic swimming skills, the recommended lesson duration may suffice. However, for competitive swimmers, a more extensive training plan will be necessary.
Motor Skills:
Motor skills are the different ways in which the human body uses muscles to perform specific tasks. These tasks include crawling, sitting up, standing, walking, and jumping. A child’s motor skills will change as a child ages. Some children will develop these skills earlier than others. This is just natural!
As a final reminder, the number of swimming lessons a child needs varies depending on their age, prior experience, individual abilities, goals, and motor skills. It is crucial for parents and guardians to work closely with their swimming instructors to create a personalized learning plan that suits the child’s needs and aspirations.
By considering the specific guidelines for each age group and other relevant factors, children can have a successful and enjoyable swimming journey while acquiring a valuable life skill that will benefit them for years to come. We want children to be SAFE around all pools of water and to ENJOY them!
Are You Ready to Register Your Children Swimming Lessons?
If you are, you can GO HERE to do it online. Or, perhaps you still have questions. If you do, call the owner of Life Saver Survival Swim School, LLC…. her name is Bonnie and she can be reached by dialing (832) 366-3008. Or, you can email her.