Get Ready for Safe Swimming

Summer has started to heat things up

Summer is in full swing and it is time to get your kids signed up for swimming lessons. Rita Goldberg, CEO and Founder of British Swim School, is featured in Opeeqo on the importance of water safety. Allowing your kids to play in the shallow end will not guarantee your kid the appropriate reaction if they have issues and struggle in the water.

"Formal survival/water safety classes should begin around 3 to 6 months, when Mommy and Me-style classes are available." - Goldberg

While summer is only 3-4 months long in most regions, taking an absence from the pool 3/4 out of the year can stunt a child's skills development. Goldberg suggests the following tips for finding the best swimming classes for your kids to master basic water safety and survival skills year-round.

• The temperature of pool water should be between 85 and 87 degrees Fahrenheit for infants and young children.
• To ensure your child receives the amount of attention they need to succeed, try to seek out swim programs that limit class size to 4 children per instructor.
• Make sure the playtime in the pool is included so your child enjoys going!
• Knowing backstroke won’t matter if your child doesn’t know what to do if they accidentally fall into the water. Making survival skills a priority – such as teaching the child how to instinctively turn over and float on their back should they fall into the water – is a critical first step in their swim journey.