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Learning to swim is a major milestone for kids. They’ll learn how to be safe in and around water and gain skills that will stay with them for life. Plus, they’ll have a great time discovering the world of swimming and making friends along the way.
At Kingswim, we’re committed to seeing every child learn to swim. So if you’re looking for your child to start swimming lessons but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered.
We’ve outlined everything you need to know about starting swimming lessons, including when to start swimming lessons, the benefits of swimming lessons and even what you need to pack.
Are swimming lessons necessary?
Spending time in and around water can be great fun, but it can also be dangerous. This makes learning to swim incredibly important – and swimming lessons are the best way to learn the skills needed to stay safe and enjoy being in water.
While your child can begin to develop their swimming skills with your guidance, it’s more enriching to take swimming lessons in a group setting. If your child has the opportunity to learn in a fun and encouraging atmosphere, the chances they will grow to love being in the water are high.
How old do you have to be to start swimming lessons?
There’s no specific age you must be to start swimming lessons. Whether your baby is ready to dip their toes in the water or you’re an adult learning to swim for the first time – there’s an opportunity to learn to swim at any age. At Kingswim, we offer a range of lessons for children and adults.
Baby and toddler swimming lessons
Babies as young as 12 weeks can start learning to swim. Foundation lessons focus on helping babies and toddlers feel comfortable in the water whereas independent lessons teach skills such as body position, kicking and floating.
Child swimming lessons
Swimming lessons for children turn children into great little swimmers. In our competent program, children refine their skills, technique and endurance, and learn water safety skills. When they’re ready, they can progress to our graduate program and become swimming experts!
Adult swimming lessons
Swimming lessons aren’t just for kids – plenty of adults learn to swim too. We offer different adult swimming lessons to suit a range of abilities. If you’re just starting out or want to advance your skills, you can find a swimming program that’s right for you.
What are the benefits of swimming lessons?
There are multiple benefits to learning to swim. Not only do lessons teach important skills to keep you safe in the water, but there are many physical and mental benefits too. Read on to learn more about why swimming lessons are so vital.
Swimming lessons save lives
We all know that being in the water carries risks, for both children and adults. When you learn to swim, you’ll gain important water safety knowledge as well as potentially life-saving survival skills. This means you’ll know how to keep yourself and others safe, whether you’re at the pool or the beach.
Improved fitness
Swimming lessons are a fantastic way to improve your overall fitness levels. As it’s a low-impact exercise, it’s great for a gentle workout or rehabilitation. It’s also an amazing activity for improving your cardiovascular health, muscle strength, endurance and even flexibility.
Improved mental health and confidence
Swimming provides an opportunity to boost your overall mental wellbeing. The feeling of floating in the water is calming for many people, making it a fantastic way to reduce levels of stress. Learning to swim also helps you to feel comfortable and safe in the water, so you can go to the pool or beach feeling relaxed and confident rather than anxious or scared.
Swimming is a life skill
When you learn to swim, you’ll learn skills that will stay with you for life. That’s especially important in Australia because we love spending time in and around water – whether that’s at the beach, on a boat or by a pool. If you’re a competent swimmer, you’ll be able to enjoy these activities with full confidence.
What should I pack for swimming lessons?
It’s clear that swimming lessons are incredibly important, but what should you pack when you head to the pool for a lesson? There are a few essential items you’ll want to remember, so check out our handy list below and you’ll feel prepared in no time.
Bathers
Bathers, cossies or togs are obviously one of the most important items to bring to swimming lessons, although not all types of bathers are well suited. Loose-fitting bathers like board shorts can slow you down in the water, so it’s best to opt for swim trunks, swimsuits or speedos which allow better movement in the water.
Swim nappy
If you have children who are still in nappies, they’ll need to wear a special swim nappy during their lesson. While they can be more expensive than normal nappies, they are worth it. Normal nappies absorb too much water and will not be effective, whereas swim nappies are designed to be worn in the water and will contain any accidents during baby swimming lessons.
Swim cap
It’s a good idea to use a swim cap during a swimming lesson to keep hair out of your child’s eyes. Depending on the length of your child’s hair, swim caps can also help keep chlorinated water out of their hair to some degree.
Goggles
We recommend children begin their learn to swim journey without goggles. This is so they can get comfortable with their eyes being in the water. That way, if they ever accidentally fall in a pool or a river, they will be less likely to panic as they will be used to being in the water without goggles. Once they start to develop their strokes, you can introduce goggles to help them focus on their technique.
Towel
Young kids are not able to regulate their body temperature as easily as adults, so a big fluffy towel is just what you need to stay warm when you come out of the swimming pool. Hooded towels are also a good option for kids as they are an easy and quick option to wear.
Shower items
It’s good to take a shower after your swimming lesson and wash off the chlorine. Remember to bring some bodywash and shampoo along with you.
Wet bag
After swimming, you’ll need somewhere to put your wet bathers, towel and other wet items to take them home. We recommend a swimming bag which is ideal both for taking all your things to the pool and then bringing home all the wet gear afterwards.
Change of clothes
If you come to the pool ready for your lesson, don’t forget to bring spare undies or shorts to change into afterwards. Then you can stay warm and dry on the way home.
Snack
Swimming lessons can tire out your little ones, so bring along some healthy snacks so they don’t get too hungry afterwards. Muesli bars, bananas or anything which is low in processed sugar or fats will help your kids replenish their energy levels.
Water bottle
Although your child will be surrounded by water in the pool, swimming can actually make them quite thirsty! Make sure to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated.
Begin your child’s swimming journey today!
Now you know why swimming lessons are necessary, the many benefits they bring and what to pack for lessons – why not begin your child’s swimming journey? Kingswim have multiple swim schools in Australia, so find a location near you and contact us today get started.
Kingswim also runs a water safety program for preschoolers to help kids start learning about water safety from a young age. Get your local kindergarten or early learning centre to get in touch to find out more.
