What age does my baby need to be before I take him/her swimming?
We advise you to wait until your baby has had its 12 week injections before you bring them swimming.
Why is swimming so good for you?
30 minutes of activity is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land due to the resistance of the water making your body work harder. The water also holds your weight so swimming is great for people who require low impact exercise.
Why is learning to swim so important?
Swimming is a life skill. As 75% of our planet is water, it is vital that young people are given the opportunity to learn to swim for their own safety. Swimming is also one of the safest and most popular forms of exercise. It is a whole family activity, one that we participate in during our free time, whilst on holiday, at the beach and at our local pool. By learning to swim and getting the essentials right at an early age, a child is more likely to enjoy swimming in the future.
ASA Learn to Swim Parents Guide – ASA Foundation Framework P3
Do I need to let the swimming teacher know about medical conditions and illnesses?
When booking into swimming lessons please let us know if your child has any medical conditions. Your child should not attend swimming lessons if they have ear infections, infectious diseases, open wounds or sore eyes. We also advise you do not swim 48 hours after a sickness bug.
How long do I need to wait after eating to swim?
We do not advise you to swim on a full stomach, do not eat in the hour you are coming swimming. If children are coming straight from school for swimming lessons they may need a small snack to maintain energy levels.
What do I need for my swimming lesson?
- Swimming costume/trunks/shorts
- Towel
- Shampoo & shower gel
- Hair clips/hair bands
- Swimming cap if desired
- Goggles
- Armbands (if child has their own)
How long will it take a swimmer to pass each stage?
This will vary depending on skills and experience, if they started in an adult and child session they may move faster initially as they are familiar with the framework. Some children are also more naturally competent and confident in the water so will progress faster.
Why are some swimmers in the group given different activities?
This will depend on their strengths and weaknesses to help the teachers focus on their individual needs
What should I expect from each swimming lesson?
The lessons are led by a Swim England (formerly ASA) qualified swimming teacher with a class including a maximum of 12 swimmers. The teacher will provide a variety of fun based activities to help the swimmers learn new skills and provide feedback and instruction to help each individual swimmer develop. As the lessons progress the teacher will record this and let you know when they have completed all outcomes for that stage and the child is awarded a badge and moved into a new class where available.