7 Reasons to Start Swim Lessons Early at Goldfish Swim School

Disclaimer: We are provided free swimming lessons by Goldfish Swim School in exchange for collaborating blog posts. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I never thought I would take my baby to his first organized swim lesson before he could walk. But, when the opportunity for swim lessons became available, I decided that enrolling him at Goldfish Swim School would help him not just enjoy the water, but also learn how to actually swim. Below, I am sharing seven benefits my family has gained because our son started swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School at an early age.

Bonding Time: My son is enrolled in the Goldfish Mini 1 swim classes. In these classes, it is expected that one parent be in the water with their child for the entire lesson. Each week, my husband and I alternate swimming with our son. We discuss how nice it is to have this one-on-one uninterrupted bonding time where we sings songs, practice his swim skills, and check in for lots of hugs without the added interruption from his sister.

Bathtime Ease: Before we started swimming at Goldfish, baby P had a hard time in the bath. He loved splashing around in the water, but when it came to getting his hair and face wet, he refused. In the first few swim lessons, we learned tips and techniques to help baby P become comfortable in the water. We then implemented these same tips and techniques from the pool into the bathtub. He loves bath time now! He willingly dips his face in the water and allows us to pour on his head without a fuss.

Water Safety: Goldfish instills the importance of water safety from the very first swim lesson. At just 10 months old, my son began learning how to “walk” his hands along the edge of the pool, climb out of the water, and fully submerge under water. With all of the water hazards a young child could encounter, I am grateful my son is learning to respect the pool, and be safe in and around water.

Following Directions: Each swim lesson is a great opportunity to develop language skills. I have noticed my son’s biggest area of language growth recently has been his ability to follow directions. Throughout the lessons, he follows simple directions that involve a combination of actions and spatial concepts, such as “put in.” These one step instructions improve his attention and processing skills.

Coordination & Strength: Each week my husband and I are so impressed by how well our son is doing in his swim class. Each week, we have seen improvements in his leg kicks and arm strokes. It is amazing to watch his strength and coordination increase as he continues with his swim lessons.

Building Vocabulary: Swim lessons provide my son with a unique opportunity to learn words in context that he might not otherwise be exposed to. A lot of emphasis is placed out specific body parts and prepositions throughout the lesson.

Loving Water: The second we line up to enter the pool area my son starts clapping and bouncing. This joy makes it all worth it.

Starting swim lessons with my son at an early age has been a wonderful experience for our entire family. I truly cannot believe the growth he demonstrates daily both in and out of the pool. I attribute a lot of this growth to the lessons he has learned at Goldfish Swim School.

The Details: We are currently enrolled in the Goldfish Mini 1 and the Junior 1 class at Goldfish Swim School. We attend lessons at the Goldfish Swim School in Westerville, Ohio. Check out the link for location, address/telephone details and how to sign up for lessons.