FAQs

Why PediaSwim at SouthWest Aquatics?

PediaSwim continues to be the safest, most effective learn to swim program available.  Our staff, at SouthWest Aquatics, is constantly refining, studying and learning to stay on the cutting edge of aquatics.

When can infants and children learn to swim?

Once a child is crawling, usually between 6 months and 8 months, he can learn to swim between two people for fun and roll to a safe, balanced, secure float for safety.  Once a child begins to crawl, they are at risk of finding an unguarded body of water and falling in.  If they have learned how to behave in the water, they will roll to a float and calmly await rescue.

Once a child is walking, usually between 12 months and 18 months, the swimmer can learn to swim float swim.   A toddler can swim in the proper head down posture, with feet kicking at the surface, roll to a balanced float to rest and breathe, then flip back over to swim to safety.  With practice, they can swim longer distances using the swim float swim sequence.

Once a child is two or three years old, depending how early they began their aquatic education, she can begin Stroke Progression.  Small children can easily learn to backstroke from the balanced backfloat.  Side breathing is simple as they already have the core strength for a roll. Butterfly and breaststroke are fun to learn when children are confident and secure in their swimming and floating.

How are lessons conducted?

Our PediaSwim Course provides children with private, one-on-one lessons.  At the end of the course, your child will be able to swim with their face in the water and feet kicking at the surface.  They will learn to rotate onto their back to rest and breath – then return to the horizontal swimming posture.  The lessons are private, everyday, Monday to Friday, with the same instructor for approximately 4 weeks, until they can confidently and independently perform the skillset.  The duration of the course depends on their previous swim experience.  Each lesson is ten minutes long and the course is cumulative, they will learn from the previous lesson.  As they are private lessons, we have on-going enrollment and can start at your convenience.  We have a heated, in-door pool and teach all year long.

We are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 7pm and schedule throughout the day to accommodate your work schedule and any other activities.  I invite you to come by any time to preview lessons – we have an open door policy.  I will be happy to give you a tour and show you lessons.

For parents…

We invite parents to come in and watch lessons before enrolling your child in our course.  The parents job is to be the child’s chearleader.  We want you and your baby to be comfortable.  Your baby will be more comfortable when they see you sitting down, with a smile on your face and giving signs of encouragement.

After handing your baby to the instructor, grab a seat and enjoy your child’s progress.  Your instructor will invite you into the pool once the instructor is confident the child is ready to practice their new skills with you.  This is typically in the second or third week of lessons.

What is toddler survival swimming?

Once a child can walk, they are strong enough to flip from a float to swim back to safety.  Toddlers can be taught to swim float swim and even begin stroke lessons.  PediaSwim and Infant Aquatics are the only programs that teach stoke lessons after a child learn their Basic Training.  Research shows that early swimmers meet their developmental milestones earlier than their non-swimming counterparts.

What is infant self rescue?

PediaSwim teaches children self rescue, lifesaving skills in the water.  Infant self rescue is the ability of an infant to roll over and float unassisted to rest and breathe until someone finds them.  Children should learn to love swimming and we should teach the whole child, physically and mentally.  Parent education is a huge part of teaching a baby. Children should continue their aquatic education to make sure survival skills stay sharp and the child stays confident in those skills.

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