Living at the Jersey Shore the water is an essential part of our everyday life. We live only a few blocks from water, only a few minutes' drive from either the bay or ocean and we own a boat. Our kids are constantly around the beach life and with that being said, knowing how to swim is of upmost importance. Each of my children started with swim lessons as early as 10 months old and some can even start sooner. Knowing we would be spending most of our time either out or on the water having some kind of basis set for our kids gave us a small piece of mind when out on the water, sitting near the pool or enjoying the beach.
Why Start Young?
Starting swim lessons at an early age can be transformative. For babies as young as six months, early water exposure helps build confidence in the water. In beach communities like ours, children are often around water at the park, during family outings and events, during school trips or just regularly when we take the boat out.
Studies have found that participation in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning in the 1- to 4-year-old children (Brenner et al., 2009, p. 203). This past summer my son fell into the pool and was pulled out by someone who happened to have been right there. The mere seconds he was underwater felt like hours, and I could not get to him fast enough. He knew to try and use his "scoops" to keep his body up and to keep his head pointed "to the stars" but still, it was terrifying. Or on the flip side, my youngest thinks it's hilarious to jump into the pool and go underwater... with NO bubble or swimmies.
Safety First
The primary motivation for enrolling little ones in swim lessons is safety. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in children aged 1 to 4 years. By teaching your children to swim early, you are proactively reducing the risk of such tragedies.
Swim lessons help children learn key water safety skills, such as floating on their backs and understanding emergency exits. For example, a 2022 report showed that children who had completed swim lessons were 80% more likely to survive a water-related incident. These skills enhance their awareness and help them make safe choices when they are near water.
Building Confidence in the Water
A 2020 Red Cross survey found that many Americans overestimate their swimming abilities. Although 85% claimed they could swim, only 56% could perform the five basic skills essential for water safety, known as water competency. The Red Cross defines water competency with three key components: water smarts, swimming skills, and helping others. The best way to learn these components, swim lessons.
Swim lessons help build a better relationship with the water, help get out some of that extra stored up energy, can be a fun bonding experience and is a great source of exercise. Recently we took a trial class at a new swim school in Toms River, Aqua-Tots Swim School. We were met with such a warm welcome, a tour of the state-of-the-art facility, and a clean changing area with BATHING SUIT DRYERS! (Because nothing is worse than schlepping around wet bathing suits.)
Social Skills Development
Both of my babies are "covid kids" meaning they were born during the pandemic when most things were shut down, required masks, or had limited capacities which made socializing challenging. I did my best to sign them up for classes, groups, and other activities. Swim class is also one of those classes where you can get to know the other parents and kids too!
So, What Were the Classes Like?
My son was in the level 3 class. The Leapfrogs class is the first swim class where children, aged 2.5 years and up, swim without caregivers in the water, which is awesome for days you truly don't want to change and hop in a pool. This class helps them build comfort and confidence, teaching skills like holding their breath underwater, independently rolling over to float on their back, floating while moving, and reaching the pool's edge to climb out. My son is very cautious and nervous around water without the safety of his "bubble". By the end of the class (his first one there) he was jumping in and telling me how he can now "dive in the ocean"! I love seeing his confidence boost! He has since taken his second class and wanted to go back to swim again!
My daughter, the wild one, was in the level 2 class. The Parent & Tot class teaches caregivers how to help their toddlers explore water safely and build essential water skills. Aimed at this curious age, the class guides parents on setting safe boundaries while introducing life-saving skills, such as breath control, safe submersion, independent kicking, rolling over to float, and returning to the pool's edge.
She was going underwater and getting rings from as deep as the third step in the pool by the end of the class! I was so impressed. She too has since had her second class and was swimming (by herself) underwater from me to her coach. She able to grab the ring from the 4th step and was beyond happy in the water. She is our little fish or mermaid as she'd tell you.
So, while yes, I needed to get in the pool with her, the water was warm and AMAZING. There is nothing worse than getting into a freezing cold pool, trying to convince yourself you need to stay in for the class and trying to wrangle your shivering toddler "it's not that bad".
Each of my kids were in swim classes prior to this one but another thing I really love is the individualized attention. At the end of each class the coach talks to parents one on one going over the skills checklist and giving feedback. We loved our trial class and signed up for once-a-week swim classes. If you live in the area of an Aqua-Tots, I highly recommend you checking them out!
Embracing the Schedule
As our weekdays and weekends fill with various social gatherings, sports, school activities, and more, signing your kids up for yet another activity can be daunting. However, knowing that they are building the skills to safely enjoy our beach and boat life, makes it worth it.
Investing in swim lessons is an investment in their safety, confidence, and future enjoyment of water activities. By teaching our little fish to swim, we set them up for a lifetime of fun and safe adventures in the water. So, grab those goggles and let’s dive in — your child will be grateful for the skills they gain!
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