If you are a parent with an infant or toddler, you may be considering swim lessons for a number of reasons. Getting your child comfortable in the water is important from an early age, but it is more than that. With swim lessons at Blue Buoy, your child will learn how to be safer in the water when we teach them simple maneuvers to stay afloat and how to control their breathing. Additionally, they will understand the dangers of the water and have the competence to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Still not sure if lessons are for you and your child? Read on for how your child’s swim skills can be lifesaving!

Cognitive and Motor Skills Development

Your infant is constantly interacting with the world around him or her, and through these experiences their cognitive functions and motor skills are developed and improved. As a parent, you have a big hand in what environment your child’s development unfolds. This includes interactions ranging from what they watch on television and what toys they play with, to how nutritionally dense their food is. Consider the positive impact swimming lessons will have on your infant’s development:

  • By receiving and following instructions given by their swim teachers, your child’s cognitive development will improve. They will process given directions, use reasoning, and develop conceptual resources, all while spending time in the pool with their instructor, making what they learn second nature.
  • As swimming is a physical activity that relies on constant motion, your child’s motor skills will develop rapidly and improve over time as their swimming lessons continue. Muscle memory will also kick in, and your child will be able to recall physical motions easily, helping to keep them safe in the water.

With swimming lessons initiated during the first couple years of your child’s life, cognitive function and motor skill development will be positively enhanced, making them stronger and better prepared for mental and physical challenges for the rest of their lives.

Social Skills and Emotional Preparedness

At Blue Buoy, we have a multi-level approach to water competency, ensuring that your child has the competence and confidence in their skills pertaining to aquatic safety. We also offer three different types of lessons for infants under the age of 3: Parents & Me, Semi-Private or Private lessons. No matter which you choose, your child will receive individual attention from one of our skilled, CPR and first-aid certified instructors.

By receiving swim lessons at Blue Buoy, your infant will develop social and emotional skills that will last a lifetime. They will constantly be interacting with our instructors, developing a relationship of trust and mentorship, as well as relating with other children who are in their class, or who they meet at one of our many social functions. Your child will become stronger socially and emotionally at Blue Buoy, building relationships as well as understanding how to be safer around water. Through their time in our pools, they will begin to understand the difference between deep and shallow water, making them less likely to venture out into deep water and into a potentially life-threatening situation.

Enjoying the Life Aquatic

For your infant, it hasn’t been that long since they were comfortably in the womb. Of course, as your infant grows, they develop a natural fear of the water. The younger your child is when you give them swim lessons, the less afraid they will be of the water. Lessons at Blue Buoy will teach your child that water is fun (they may even begin to enjoy bath time!) and with the skills learned at their lessons, will know how to stay safe. Depending on your child’s age, they may be too young to swim, but their lessons will involve floating on their back and controlled breathing, which are important safety skills. Once kids are grown enough to swim, they will be comfortable in the water and ready to go. It’s all about progressive movements forward, at your child’s individual pace, so they are comfortable and can learn to safely maneuver in the water.

Why Choose Blue Buoy

Since 1956, we at Blue Buoy have been teaching generations of Orange County families the skill and joy of swimming. Your child will always be under constant adult supervision, and taught at their own pace. No rush on our part! And with our skilled instructors giving your child individual attention and positive reinforcement, your child will develop life-saving aquatic skills and have fun doing so.

Give us a call today to schedule a free trial swim class: 714-832-8910.