Swimming
Author: Stef Daniel
Of all the activities that you interest your toddler in, one of the most rewarding and naturally attractive is swimming. Children love water and enrolling them in swimming classes, taking them swimming at a local lake or pond and allowing them to splash away hot summer days is not just a healthy way to get them to spend their time but can be a great opportunity to teach them a life long respect and love for the water.
Much care and supervision must be taken, in order to ensure your child is safe in the water. For a toddler, this is a great time to introduce them to swimming lessons.
As you try to choose a swim instructor for your toddler, you should always ensure that they are properly certified. The lessons should be held at a certified pool and all people involved should be licensed in CPR and other lifesaving techniques. Most early instruction in swimming, involves parental involvement in the pool. In order for the class to be safe, the number of participants should be held to a minimum.
During the toddler years, when some fear of the water is normal, a slow introduction is best. Using bathing suits equipped with flotation devices or arm floats and other swimming aids can be a sure way to give your toddler a sense of security while getting used to the water. By no means do these flotation devices mean that your child can swim; and most toddlers do not realize this. For this reason, no child should be left alone near the water for even a second. They can easily jump in thinking they can swim and become fatally injured.
Supervising your toddler in wading pools or shallow lakes where they have a 'splash' area is a great way to allow your child to develop their own water sense. They can wade in and out as it is comfortable for them without the fear of going under. Lots of toddlers are fearful of getting their eyes, ears and faces wet but as they splash away, they will most likely get over this. Keep in mind that bathing in the bathtub is not the same experience as swimming in a pool or other body of water. Be patient with them.
Swimming is by far one of the healthiest sports that any person can participate in. By teaching water safety along with swimming, your child will learn to be confident in the water and will learn a skill that can potentially save their life.
Take care when swimming with your toddler as they are much more prone to sunburn than adults. Protecting their skin with children's sunscreen will help ensure that their swimming experience is safe and happy one.