Swimming Lesson Toddlers

Fulton Swim School - Toddler Swimming Lessons

The first swimming lesson for toddlers with a parent/guardian is a time of discovery for your child
Toddler Levels

Our swimming lessons for babies are always with a parent or guardian present with the baby in the water. This bond is needed to reassure your baby and gently introduce them to the experience. Our staff members are fully trained to offer parents support and guidance in these early stages with a programme designed to be fun and enjoyable for your baby. Over the first few lessons we will slowly start introducing new experiences for your baby to grow their confidence. Here we explain the first 13 months of their development in our swimming lessons for toddlers.

First lesson - from 6 months

At six months old usually the baby has control of their head movement. It is still large compared to the rest of the body. They have better control of their arms and legs. When lying on their back they can raise the leg and catch the foot. Rolling over is also becoming voluntary and they will roll from front to back and back to front when they want a change of position.

Babies enjoy social contact and like to be around their parents and others. If talked to by others and smiled at, they smile back and babble away in baby talk. Parents are still the main focus in a baby's world and enjoy contact with Mum and Dad best and may become upset when handed to the teacher. In the first set of swimming classes for toddlers there is minimal contact with the teacher so the baby gets comfortable with us.

The head, arms and legs proportion make the child top heavy, which makes floating on the front hard. They may be able to float on the back but this is an unnatural position and they may want to roll to the prone. When on the back, have the ears right under the water or right out, as half in and half out is uncomfortable as it makes the ears vibrate.

From 9 Months

Between nine and ten months infants are starting to pull themselves up on furniture and walking around. Most are crawling at this stage and no longer are content to stay in one place, but like to be where the action is or in the midst of what is going on.

For swimming the righting reflex is strong and they don't like being on their backs. However we still need to practice this for water safety reasons. Infants enjoy being on their tummies and will mimic the crawling motion and will swim further.

They have become very good at reading parents' thoughts and feelings. These should be positive and encouraging as this will help build self confidence.

At ten months the toddler is crawling, pulling himself up on furniture. In the swim school for toddlers he is swimming between instructor and Dad with a crawling motion. He is happy on his back when doing rotations and rolling over through the tunnel.

Aged 10 - 12 Months

At this time babies become self confident. This happens as the baby is moving around and trying to master the environment without parents' help. They will also be starting to leave the separation anxiety stage behind and establishing their own identities. The infant enjoys routine and predictable events as this makes them feel in control which leads to self confidence. It is also very important to provide new and different experiences with lots of fun and positive encouragement.

This is also a time that fear can start happening. The easiest way to instil fear is to push an experience that they are not ready for. During the swimming classes for toddlers, parents and caregivers always need to be happy and positive.

The child’s language skills have improved, they can now understand more words and they are speaking. They enjoy imitating others so are more likely to copy parents and other children in the swimming class for toddlers.

Toddler Swimming Lesson at Fulton
Toddler Swimming Lesson at Fulton
Toddler Swimming Lesson at Fulton
Toddler Swimming Lesson at Fulton

Swimming for Toddlers Levels Available

Be sure to remember your class level when booking

Need help finding the right level?

Swim Level Assessment Form

Nemo Level - Fulton Swim School

Nemos

  • Age Indication: 6 - 14 Months
  • Adult Participation
  • 8 child per class limit
  • 25 minute duration

Introduction to swimming learning key skills that will aid in development of your child and their swimming skills. Beginner to advanced

Wiggles Level - Fulton Swim School

Wiggles

  • Age Indication: 14 - 36 Months
  • Adult Participation
  • 8 child per class limit
  • 25 minute duration

Introduction to swimming learning key skills that will aid in development of your child and their swimming skills. Beginner to advanced

Sprats Level - Fulton Swim School

Sprats

  • Age Indication: 28 - 36 Months
  • Adult Participation
  • 4 child per class limit
  • 25 minute duration

New students to be assessed by Fulton Swim School for toddlers prior to being booked in this class