What is a good age to start swimming lessons for a kid?

Question

My son is 20 months and likes the water. I would like to teach him how to swim, I need some advice on a good age to start though. He goes in the neighbors pool with a floaty and loves it. I was always a very strong swimmer and I boogie board quite a bit. (I'm working on surfing.) I would like to teach my son to surf when he gets older. However he needs to be a very VERY strong swimmer to take on something like that. Any advice on age appropriate water training is much appreciated.

Answer 1

They have infant "swimming" classes for ages 6+ months.  Go ahead and start now if you want.  Getting him very familiar and comfortble with the water is the first step.  You can start formal swimmng lessons around the age of 4.

http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/weeklyque...

http://www.ymca.net/programs/programs_fo...

Answer 2

i started swimmin when i was around two if you want to teach him how to swim buy a baby pool or and big blow up pool just hold him up and tell him to kick and you move his arms for him

Answer 3

3 years old

Answer 4

I think around age 3 or better yet, 4 is good because they actually LEARN. Before that it's all about splashing around and having fun in the water but they don't really pay attention to learning HOW to swim. Definitely keep taking him to the water and splash around and have fun. But as for formal lessons, a couple more years and he'll probably be ready.

Answer 5

There are classes 6 months +. I would start as soon as you can :) It is never too early. My son is 12 months and I just started with him, but second one will start at 6 months. Also, I wanted to add that even if they are just splashing around, the exercises that were done during my son's lessons teach him how to act in the water in case he falls in. I believe this is the most important thing, not to panic when you fall in. They teach your child how to move hands and legs, where to look for help, to get to the side of the pool, to grab on to it, how to pull himslef out. Really worth it.