Infant swimming: a first look

Through the years, I have noticed an increased interest in infant swimming/survival lessons.  Maybe it's because I've only recently become a parent it's been brought more to my attention.

Swim diapers for new parents

If your little ones have already moved on from diapers, then this is old news (and congratulations!!). If you don't yet have children, or they're so young that you haven't yet ventured to the pool, then read on....

Age ranges of swimming skills

Just as children grow and learn to walk, speak, and read, there is a wide age range of ability to swimming. There is also somewhat of an order to learning to swim.  Learning to swim can be affected by a child's temperament, gross motor skills, and opportunities to be in the water.

I've been compiling a list of skills that are appropriate for certain age ranges.  These skills build upon each other.  Take a look and see what your child can do and what his next steps may be. Remember, this is just a rough range.  I've seen kids move faster and slower through these skills.

A look back - 6 months old

Even though I've been teaching lessons for years, I had a brand new experience teaching my own child to swim.  She is now two and a half, but here's a little glimpse of my little Julia when she was 6 months old.

We were living in a cool apartment complex in Austin, Texas at the time and the water was already unbelievably warm in May.  My focus for her that first summer was comfort in the water.  We had a lot of access to splash pads in the area, so she got to explore nice and slowly.

Aww, I miss those chubby cheeks. 

Moms of the under-1 crowd.  Expose your kids to the water.  Get in there with them.  Let them get splashed.  The more they are in the water, the less scary it will seem to them as they grow.