Little Fish
Rio's first swimming was actually far later then I had thought it would've been. She was a few months short of one year. I'd recommend as early as six months for lessons but swimming for enjoyment and water exposure as early as six weeks.
Back in NZ, I'd been a swimming instructor of pre-schoolers myself so I knew and saw the importance of the lessons for kids. The importance, I think, is more of a necessity in Australia. Water everywhere; pools, lakes, beaches, rivers; knowing how to swim, how to keep yourself safe in or near water is as important as sunscreen here, in Australia.
Swimming lessons for children are imperative.
This term we opted out of lessons for Rio, only because it was a little far to travel every Saturday morning and we do like our Saturday sleep-ins. But, because of my experience with teaching, we've been able to keep up her progress in the lake.
She's kicking, blowing bubbles, torpedoing under water from one parent to the other, and can stand up from under water should her footing slip on the uneven sand. For any parent who lives close to the water, seeing this constant improvement in her skills helps ease an anxious mind.
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