3 Essential Skills Babies Can Develop During Swimming Lessons

by Kevin Smith Author

Infant swimming is a natural reflex that babies have until they’re about six months old. This innate talent is a phenomenon that’s created the misconception that they’re born with the ability to swim. When placed in water, their natural response is to move their arms and legs - some babies can even hold their breath and open their eyes while submerged. This reflex shouldn’t be confused with skill, and while it’s not great for the pool, it can make for a lot of splish-splashing bath fun!

Once an infant reaches their first birthday, parents can enroll them in classes that offer baby swimming in Santa Monica. It’s a great first step in honing in on those developing motor skills. Here are some additional class benefits:

Body Balance and Coordination

Through these lessons, children become more aware of their bodies. Practicing their range of motion and increasing limb strength helps to create muscle memory and improve their coordination. Balance can even be taught during “swim, float, swim” prompts where infants and parents are instructed to maneuver between swimming on their backs and their bellies. All of these activities build their muscles, which contribute to better motor control when they're out of the water.

Eye Tracking

Babies can also improve their eye coordination skills through swim training. It’s easy to capture their focus with hand movements and active toys. The water in a pool acts much in the same way. It ebbs and flows, bubbles rise to the top, and even the splashing can grab their attention. The intrigue helps them remain alert as they keep an eye on their surroundings. This talent can also be developed when the lessons involve colorful toys; plastic balls and other floating playthings are used for pool games since they’re flashy.

Water Confidence

Baby swimming lessons increase confidence when going into a pool or even to the beach. Most toddlers and even older children can become uneasy in larger bodies of water without the familiarity and skill needed to navigate it. Getting them used to being in the water and helping them learn and practice when they’re young can help them overcome any developing anxiety.

These are just a few of the abilities that infants can develop when enrolled in swim lessons. Look for a program for baby swimming in Santa Monica to enjoy the benefits!