Summer is officially over. But, before you put away the swimsuits, consider
these 3 reasons to enroll your baby in swim lessons this fall.
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Early swim lessons help build a foundation for water safety skills, overcome
fear of the water and long-term enjoyment of various water activities. Maryia Johnson, USA certified swim instructor at CVMC’s Fitness Plus,
believes that it is best to start children in the pool at an early age.
“Children at a very young age may not have the motor skills necessary
to swim on their own, but an early introduction to the pool helps them
get over the fear of water while learning basic techniques needed for
pool safety,” Said Maryia. ”In my experience, children receiving
lessons on a regular basis are able to swim on their own with adult supervision
by the age of 2 1/2 to 3, although every child is different.”
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Swimming can be a helpful part of a child’s development. Early swimming encourages a healthy lifestyle, teaches a child about setting
and attaining goals, fosters independence and boosts self-esteem. Research
has shown that children who learn to swim at a young age achieve a wide
range of skills earlier than the normal population. Many of the skills
learned help young children transition into formal learning contexts such
as pre-school or school.
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Bonding time with parent and child. While learning important skills in the infant swim lesson, your baby is
gets to spend quality time with you! In fact some psychologists suggest
that the 30 minutes of undivided attention and skin to skin contact that
infant swim classes offer, benefit the parent/infant relationship.
What are Infant Swim Lessons like at CVMC?
All lessons are held in CVMC’s heated indoor pool and last about
30 minutes. Maryia insures that every parent and child is comfortable
in the water by using various toys, games and activities that make learning
to swim, fun. The age for infant and toddler classes rage from 6 months
– 3 years old requiring at least one parent to participate, but
she encourages both to attend. Children are taught how to float, kick
their legs and put their head under water while parents are shown things
like how to properly dip their babies under water for a short breath hold,
the beginning of gliding and separation in the water.
Babies, not even a year old, are already comfortable in the water thanks
to infant swim lessons taught by Maryia Johnson. If you are interested
in infant swim lessons call 828.326.3680, or stop by the Fitness Plus Center.