When to start swimming?

One of the 10-year-series FAQs.

Every first "Wow!" of parents when seeing their little ones achieving each milestone reminds me of my children's swim experience.

I would recommend at 03 months to start learn swimming, where the Physical, Cognitive, Language, Social & Emotional Developments are in process. Trust me, watching your baby & helping him/her learn new swim skills is a unique, fun & rewarding experience.

Having said, with most drownings taking place in swimming pools, it sets to wonder why some parents still believe that with the increased accessibility to swim pools nowadays, gives them a reason to delay the commencement of their child(ren)’s aquatic education. 

Most families comprise of working parents who are not with the children all the time. When these children are left unsupervised, even for a second, they are unable to rescue themselves during water incidents. The sooner a child learns water safety, swimming, & lifesaving skills, the better. 

This is where aquatic education comes in. Swimming sessions at dip! offer you & your child so much more than ‘just’ learn to swim. Safety aside, swimming promotes bonding within the family & opens the door to many water sports such as water polo, sailing & snorkeling etc. without tragic stories.

Whilst we know infants are too young to learn formal & complex skills such as swim strokes, many swim programs bore witness to infants & toddlers being able to swim from an early age. With appropriate coaching, babies in water will instinctively close their mouths & make motions to propel themselves through the water. Swim sessions provide a further means for babies to learn to relax in water, avoiding emotional hijacks during water incidents & develop water confidence.

It is the only activity where babies are completely independent, especially before they can walk or crawl unaided. The water supports their weight, & they are free to move their legs & arms.

For an infant aged 0 to 18 months, there is a natural association between immersion in water & the fluid environment of the womb. From the standpoint of a swim coach, this natural affinity of the child with the water was observed to decrease between birth & 14 months, & to decrease further between 18-24 months as toddlers enter the "terror two’s" phase. It can become increasingly difficult to teach water awareness & breath control. A creative & interactive dip! swim program can help overcome the obstacles inherent in this developmental swimming stage from 2 - 5 years of age.

Furthermore, there are some encouraging results from world-leading research led by Griffith University, showing that children who swim demonstrate more advanced cognitive & physical abilities, reaching milestones earlier than other children. They will be ready for school before you are ready to let them go!

https://www.dipswimsingapore.com/articles/swim-kids-are-smarter

dip! & many swim schools out there argue that the younger the child starts swim sessions the better. However, the decision ultimately comes down to personal circumstances.

The most important thing to consider when commencing swim sessions for your little one is to locate a swim coach who has experience in handling infants with developmentally-appropriate baby & swim programs where skills are gradually introduced as they progress. Through play, perseverance in a trusting & learning environment, your child will develop an appreciation & love for the water that will follow them through life. 

We provide 20 mins free online consultancy on swim development. Feel free to contact for more information on swim behaviour and progression.