Guide To Choosing Baby Swim Lessons West Chester PA Parents Will Find Helpful

By Misty Tyler


A love for swimming is something that can be instilled in a child as early as infancy. These first experiences with water must be positive if the child is to continue to enjoy swimming and eventually master it. If interested in baby swim lessons West Chester PA parents need to be aware of these key points that will help them find the best classes.

Classes should be paced slowly, allowing each child to learn and acquire new abilities at his or her own speed. Teachers must demonstrate exceptional patience and enthusiasm to create an encouraging learning environment centered around fun. Babies and toddlers respond particularly well when lessons implement colorful toys, and lively games and songs to stimulate their senses.

The group class is a good choice for children of this age, as they can learn from one another and enjoy the social interaction at the same time. This format is often referred to as "parent and tot" classes, and it serves as a good opportunity for moms and dads to socialize as well as their children. Learning swimming skills as a group generates an overall sense of support and unity but also allows for individual progress and development.

If private instruction is preferred, this is another option for learning to swim. The parent and child are paired up with a teacher who provides individual attention. This can be a good way to learn, as long as the child is not pressured and the teaching method employed uses a baby-friendly technique and is no more than half-hour long.

Not only is it much safer for young children to learn with a parent alongside them, but it also makes the strange, new world of water seem less intimidating if mom or dad is close by, it also serves as great bonding experience between parent and child. The parent is also better able to gauge the aquatic abilities of their child so they can later work with him or her at home and practice these new skills.

The temperature of the pool and the surrounding air also make a difference to the comfort level and performance of these young swimmers. Warm water, ideally between 90 and 92 degrees Fahrenheit, is most conducive to making babies feel at ease when they are in it. The air temperature should be warmer than 80 degrees. Baby-sized wetsuits and swim-caps can also be helpful in maintaining body warmth.

At the beginner level, it is recommended that these young swimmers attend classes four times per week for the first month of lessons. Afterwards, bi-weekly instruction is suggested. Short but frequent classes seem to be the most effective for this age group. Busy parents may not always be able to accommodate this schedule, in which case they can always practice with the child at home in the bathtub.

Parents need to make sure they are choosing the right swim program for their child before enrolling him or her. Talking to other mothers and fathers who are taking their children to lessons and then checking out any classes they recommend in person is the most reassuring way to find out if the program and teacher make the grade.




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