Blogs #baby swimming

In baby swimming lessons, the most common question isn't about technique, but emotion: Will I have to put my baby in the water?

The answer is no. And that's not just to reassure mothers.

It is not the water the baby finds foreign, but loneliness.

Water is a familiar environment for babies. They lived in water for nine months. Entering the water is not an entirely new experience for them.

What's new is something else: separating from the person she trusted.

If you put a baby in water while it's in the arms of a stranger, its reaction will be to separation, not to the water. The crying isn't from the coldness of the water or fear, but from the disappearance of a familiar person.

That's why in baby workouts, the mother or father is in the water. The baby starts in your arms and doesn't leave your side. The trainer accompanies you in the water and shows you the movements.

It's also a learning experience for parents.

The subtle benefit of these lessons is this: parents learn too.

A mother who learns how to hold and support her baby in the water, when to let go and when to pick them up, is more comfortable outside the pool as well. In the sea, in the bath, on vacation.

Being cautious around water is a good thing. Not panicking is. Most parents understand the difference in these lessons.

Crying baby

You don't put a crying baby in the water. That's a rule we follow.

When the baby cries, you leave, they calm down in your arms, you come back in if they want to, otherwise that's the end of it for the day. It will be tried again in the next lesson.

There's no point in forcing someone. Babies don't learn to like water by being forced; they learn by feeling safe in it.

Why is the lesson only 30 minutes long?

Babies have a short attention span and limited energy levels. Anything beyond thirty minutes leads to fatigue, and for a tired baby, the experience turns negative.

The goal isn't to stay long, but to finish well. If your baby is happy when the lesson is over, then that lesson has achieved its purpose.

When should we start?

From 2 months old. Lessons are one-on-one, no groups. Pool water is kept between 30-32 degrees Celsius. We recommend consulting your pediatrician before starting.

Come see the pool, ask your questions.

For information: 0549 613 18 28

In Türkiye, swimming courses mostly accept children aged five and older. There's no pedagogical reason for this; there's a practical one. A five-year-old child follows instructions, waits in line, and can be managed within a group. So, five is a suitable age not for a child, but for group lessons.

However, a child's relationship with water is established much earlier.

What happens at a young age?

A three-year-old child doesn't learn to swim. What they learn is more fundamental: how their body behaves in water.

Water is a different environment than land. Balance is maintained differently, breathing is done differently, and falling doesn't hurt. When a child learns this through experience, it contributes not only to their swimming skills but also to their overall body awareness.

The clearest thing we've seen in eight years is this: in children who start early, the stage of fear of water never develops. It doesn't become an obstacle that needs to be overcome later, because the obstacle is never created.

What difference does it make in a child who starts later?

A seven-year-old child who enters the water for the first time learns technique faster than a three-year-old. Their muscle control is better, and they understand instructions better. But they still have to contend with one thing: the fear of losing control.

A seven-year-old can now conceive of the idea that they might sink. A three-year-old cannot. That's why, for children who start late, the first few weeks are spent building confidence, not focusing on technique.

They are both learning. But one begins learning by overcoming fear, the other without ever having fear.

Is too young the right age for every child?

No, and that needs to be stated clearly.

Some children are not ready for a group at age three. They may experience intense separation anxiety and have difficulty following instructions. This is not a deficiency, but a developmental difference. With such children, one-on-one work or waiting a few months is more appropriate.

It's not about age, it's about observing the child. Our measure is this: if the child wants to go into the water on their own, then they're ready.

So how early is that?

Our club offers baby activities starting from 2 months old: one-on-one, accompanied by a parent, in water heated to 30-32 degrees Celsius. From the age of three, children can join the group independently.

Come see the pool with your child before making a decision. They don't have to go in; just looking is a good start.

For information: 0549 613 18 28