It’s summertime and the heat is on full blast. It’s a great time to let your little ones have some fun in the sun and water. Slip and slides, water hoses, sprinklers and a pool to take a dip in can all be great options. Not everyone has the space, the budget or the ability to have a large pool, but a kiddie pool can be just as enjoyable for children. Before you let your kids go free in their child-size pool though, it’s important to know and follow some crucial safety tips. Let’s take a look at some do’s and don’ts below. DO stay close. It doesn’t take a large pool or amount of water to drown ..read more

From the womb to a newborn’s bathtub, your baby has always been exposed to water. It’s a very natural thing, but does this mean that it’s safe for babies to go into a pool? And if so, how old should they be when they do? Let’s find out below. What Age Is Safe for Babies to Go Into a Pool? There is no official age for taking babies into the pool, so it’s really up to the wisdom of the parent. Some choose not to take their little ones in until they are six months or older, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait that long. In fact, the Emler swim lessons can introduce babies to pools as early as ..read more

Little ones tend to pick up illnesses easily, as their immune systems haven’t fully developed yet. When your little one does get sick, deciding whether or not they should go out – especially to swim lessons – can be a bit challenging. You don’t want to interrupt their progress, but you also want to take the best care of them possible. And you don’t want to be responsible for getting other kids sick. Though there are no set-in-stone rules to follow, the guidelines below will provide you with a basic roadmap for deciding whether you should attend swim lessons during sickness. Colds Can Be Tricky ..read more

Anyone who starts taking swim classes regularly needs also to take care of their skin and hair to protect them from the sun and pool chemicals. Learning to swim is an important skill set. It’s also an activity that can bring the whole family together for a fun time and exercise. From the youngest ages to more advanced swimmers, everyone should have fun but also protect themselves in the water. Getting into Swim Classes Swimming classes can start very early for babies and toddlers. This can build muscle strength, coordination, and brain synapses, and it also gives babies fun time with their par ..read more

Starting your very young child in swim lessons is literally an immersive experience – you get in the water too! You won’t be in the water with them forever. In no time at all they will progress through the lessons and  you’ll  be close by on the sidelines, watching and cheering. Congratulations, you’re becoming a Swim Mom (or Dad), and being prepared is part of the journey. Here are some tips on how to navigate the process for your child, you, and everyone’s busy life.  Getting Prepared for Swim Class There are a few things that parents will need to bring along to make the class ..read more

Being a swim mom can be a hectic experience, with juggling schedules, packing gear, and ensuring your child is ready for their lessons. However, with a little organization and planning, you can make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful for both you and your child. Here are some tips on how to stay organized as a swim mom. Plan Ahead Before your child’s swimming lesson, ensure that you have packed everything they will need such as swimwear, goggles, towels, and a change of clothes. Keep a list of items and pre-swim tasks, and check them off as you pack and pace to avoid forgetting a ..read more

For those of you who like hard data, this one’s for you. Let’s take a look at the statistics surrounding swimming and swim lessons for kids so that you have a better idea of what’s at stake at any age. Swim lessons are a vital part of your strategy to keep your kids safe, so it’s good to know what the experts have found on the subject. Formal swim lessons result in an 88% reduction in drowning risk for children ages 1 to 4, according to the National Institutes of Health. Teaching kids to swim needs to start at an early age, before the age of 5 ideally, to prevent the risk of accidental drownin ..read more

A few years ago, my family made the decision to join a summer pool. It’s not flashy or fancy, but it has something that hooked us every year since: a diving board. My son was fairly young when we first joined, but he fell in love with diving. Well, to be clear, first he fell in love with jumping off it. Then he felt brave enough to try a forward dive….and the rest is history! A few summers of dive lessons, one summer of dive team (so far!) and he has cemented diving in his summer activity routine.  Diving isn’t quite as easy to participate in as swimming. There aren’t diving boards at hot ..read more

Happy New Year, SwimWest families! We start another year so thankful for our time with your kids, and your support of our mission to keep kids safe in and around the water. This year, as you make your own resolutions (or not! No judgment here!), we hope you find the energy, motivation and time to see them through. In my own family, resolutions come and go. Some years it feels important to set goals and boundaries, and other years, we are at peace without making resolutions at all.  Whether you’re the kind of family that likes to create a list of resolutions each new year, or whether you s ..read more

Swim lessons are a valuable experience for children and adults of all ages. Not only do they teach the physical skill of swimming, but they also provide important life skills that can be applied to other activities. One of the most obvious benefits of swim lessons is the physical fitness aspect. Swimming is a full-body workout that requires strength, endurance, and flexibility. These physical skills can translate to other sports and activities, such as running, cycling, and gymnastics. For example, a child who has developed strong arm and leg muscles from swimming may find it easier to perform ..read more