1 Year Old Swimming: New Guidelines Say Start Swim Lessons

Pediatrics advise that children should begin 1 year old swimming lessons

New guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics advise that children should begin 1 year old swimming lessons.

In the U.S., drowning is the top cause of injury-related death among youngsters between 1 and 4 years old. Even at such a young age, children can begin learning the building blocks of swimming. It is recommended to hire a certified instructor, though, for very young children, the parent should go in the water as well. Note also that swimming aids, such as water wings, are believed to provide a false sense of security.

1 Year Old Swimming

Key Takeaways:

• According to new AAP water safety guidelines, children should begin swim lessons at age 1.
• According to the USA Swimming Foundation, formal swim lessons can decrease the risk of drowning by about 88 percent.
• Teach young children to kick, blow bubbles, and float on their backs.

Wait... Get Your Lesson Plans Here

"Though Joseph and her husband, Bryon Thornburgh, now call landlocked Denver home, both their daughter, Sierra, 6, and 4-year-old son, Declan, were enrolled in swimming lessons before they were out of diapers. "Swimming is an essential life skill," Joseph says."

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/on-parenting/new-guidelines-say-kids-should-start-swim-lessons-around-age-1-heres-what-to-look-for/2019/05/27/73f68286-781f-11e9-b7ae-390de4259661_story.html