When it comes to teaching your kids to get used to the water, it doesn't have to be sink or swim. But it might surprise you to learn that experts suggest you get your kids in the water at a very young age - before they're even old enough to walk.
Many parents fear their youngsters will drown if they sign them up to learn the pool rules too soon. But those fears may be put to rest after a recent study in the
U.S.
showed that simply isn't true.
The research looked into 61 very young children and what happened to them in the water. Of the kids one-to-four-years-old who drowned, only three per cent had taken swimming lessons. But 26 per cent who had no problems in the water learned what to do.
The experts believe there''s a lesson there for mom and dad, too.
"They should have the opportunity to take swimming lessons and be involved but it should not replace the supervision role of parents," warns Barbara Byers of the Lifesaving Society.
One parent has seen a great benefit to taking her child for a dip in the pool.
"She's not scared of the water, she's jumping in," explains mother Renee Campbell of her daughter. "She loves getting ... her face wet and that to me is very important."
For a list of some GTA area programs where your infant can learn to swim,
click here. The Lifesaving Society also has programs which can be found
here.