How old can children learn to swim?

Families should let children learn to swim when they are 12 months old, and should learn water survival skills before learning swimming techniques.

Swimming can support the comprehensive development of children, and at the same time help cool down the summer. Many families bring babies under 6 months old to the swimming pool with the hope of helping their children learn to swim as soon as possible. This method is controversial due to the lack of scientific evidence. Besides, children cannot regulate their body temperature as well as adults, and can get infections if they swim in public pools.

According to experts, children can learn to swim from 12 months old with a professional instructor. Children need to swim in a private pool with warm water at about 32 degrees Celsius. Families also need to consider factors such as emotional control, physical ability, development ability and level of familiarity with water before letting children learn to swim.

Ideally, families should start by using a toddler pool or taking their child to the shallowest part of the pool. Families should interact with their child through games such as blowing bubbles and splashing water to help them feel more comfortable. They can use floats or inflatables to help.

Children get used to water with the help of swimming floats. Photo: Unplash — Children get used to water with the help of swimming floats. Photo: *Unplash*

If the child is anxious, the family should use a gentle, calm tone to reassure the child, helping the child feel more secure and relaxed. Eventually, the child will need to practice basic swimming techniques, such as moving the arms and kicking the legs, and when they are confident and proficient, gradually reduce the support buoy. The family should not let the child learn to dive or submerge the infant while swimming, because the child is not ready to hold his breath underwater.

Parents should take their children swimming early in the morning if they need to use a public swimming pool. The reason is that the sound of splashing water and the noise from the crowd can scare children, making it difficult for them to learn to swim. In addition, families also need to focus on spending time teaching their children. The sunlight in the early morning is less harsh, reducing skin damage. When children feel uncomfortable, families should stop immediately, should not force children to learn to swim; if children are afraid of water, families should wait 1 month and then try again.

When enrolling children in swimming lessons, families should prioritize instructors who not only teach swimming techniques but also focus on water survival skills. Parents should avoid taking children to chlorinated pools, which can increase the risk of lower respiratory infections and allergies.

Chile (According to Momjunction, Parents )

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