签约你的孩子参加游泳课程在很多方面都是有益的。研究表明，游泳课有助于儿童获得更好的平衡和更强的运动。此外，正式游泳课程可将幼儿溺水的风险降低88％。
如果您刚刚注册了您的孩子参加游泳课程，或者仍然在逛街，那么您的头脑中可能会出现一百万个问题。德克萨斯溺水预防联盟主任Linda DeSanders为有兴趣参加游泳课的家长提供了一些有用的提示。
它始于沐浴时间
许多父母在洗澡的时候保护孩子的脸不受水污染。但是，游泳课程的一大部分是让孩子感到舒适。 DeSanders建议将清澈而不肥皂的水浇在浴缸里的孩子脸上。他们会慢慢习惯水进入他们的耳朵和脸部，这将有助于游泳课程。
学会浮动
学会相信水可能对孩子和父母都是困难的，但躺在他或她背上和浮动的能力对于年轻游泳者是有帮助的。这可能是可怕的，但DeSanders建议在洗澡时将宝宝放在背部。这个位置可以帮助宝宝习惯水面。许多孩子不习惯在这个位置上，并且无法相信水。在家中练习会帮助你的孩子保持冷静并相信水。
开始他们年轻
孩子们可以在3个月大的时候开始游泳。 DeSanders建议尽早开始使用儿童，因为这有助于他们跳过许多孩子在水中遭遇的恐惧阶段。她说，在2至4岁之间，许多孩子如果没有定期游泳课，就会体验到对水的恐惧。年轻的时候开始上课会帮助孩子跳过这个阶段，因为他们会了解水的安全性，并将他们作为一种有趣的体验加入水中。
在5岁以前，孩子很可能无法参加独奏课。年龄小于此的孩子的课程要求家长加入，这可让您的孩子有机会与他们信任的人在水中。
确保游泳池具有合适的温度
游泳池的温度和室外的空气对于游泳课程都很重要。德桑德斯说，当水太冷时，孩子们无法学习，他们颤抖。一般来说，游泳池应该在84至88度之间，但DeSanders喜欢让自己的泳池保持温暖，接近90度。
避免花车
虽然他们看起来是个好主意，但DeSanders说漂浮物 – 或者像它们一样称之为漂浮物 – 给水中的一种虚假的自信感。尽管由于漂浮物而无法游泳，但很多孩子习惯了更深的水。此外，他们让你的孩子直立游泳，这是一个溺水的位置。相反，孩子们需要学会平行于水面游泳。你和孩子一起在水中游泳会更好更安全，保持他们的长度。这样，他们习惯于正确游泳。
并非所有的游泳班都相同
做什么游泳课对你和你的孩子最适合的研究是至关重要的。尽管让孩子玩耍很重要，但确保课程安全包含在课程计划中非常重要。德桑德斯说，寻找像钻泳一样没有护目镜的课程。孩子们在游泳课程中习惯了护目镜，但在紧急情况下，孩子不太可能穿着一双。让您的孩子适应现实生活中的情况非常重要，这将有助于他们的游泳技能从课程转移到日常生活中。
Signing your child up for swim classes is beneficial in many ways. Research shows swim lessons help children develop better balance and stronger movement. Plus, formal swimming lessons reduce the risk of drowning in young children by 88 percent.
If you just signed up your child for swim lessons or are still shopping around, there are probably a million questions running through your mind. Linda DeSanders, director of the Texas Drowning Prevention Alliance, has a few helpful tips for parents interested in swim lessons.
It Starts with Bath Time
Many parents shield their child’s face from water during bath time. But a big part of swimming lessons is getting a child comfortable with water. DeSanders suggests pouring clear, not soapy, water over your child’s face in the bath. They will slowly get used to water getting into their ears and face, which will help during swim lessons.
Learn to Float
Learning to trust the water may be difficult for both the child and the parent, but the ability to lie on his or her back and float is instrumental for young swimmers. It may be scary, but DeSanders suggests putting your baby on his or her back at bath time. This position will help the baby get used to water being around their face. Many children don’t get used to being in this position and have trouble trusting the water. Practicing this at home will help your child stay calm and trust the water.
Start Them Young
Children can begin taking swim lessons as young as 3 months old. DeSanders suggests starting children early because it helps them skip the fear stage many children experience with water. She says that between the ages of 2 to 4, many children, if they haven’t taken swim lessons regularly, experience fear of the water. Beginning lessons at a young age will help your child skip this stage because they will understand water safety and associate being in the water as a fun experience.
Children most likely won’t be able to take solo lessons until they are 5 years old. Classes for kids younger than this require parents to join in, which gives your child the opportunity to be in the water with someone they trust.
Make Sure the Pool Has the Right Temperature
Both the temperature of the pool and air outside are important for swim lessons. DeSanders says kids can’t learn when the water is too cold, and they shiver. In general, a pool should be between 84 and 88 degrees, but DeSanders likes to keep her pools on the warmer side, closer to 90.
Avoid Floats
While they may seem like a good idea, DeSanders says floats—or as many call them, floaties—give a false sense of confidence in the water. Many children get used to deeper water despite not being able to swim because of floats. Plus, they make your child swim upright, which is a drowning position. Instead, children need to learn to swim parallel to the water. It’s much better and safer for you to swim in the water with your child, keeping them at arms length. This way, way they get used to swimming correctly.
Not All Swim Classes Are Alike
Doing research for what swim class works best for you and your child is crucial. While it is important for your child to have fun, making sure the class has safety included in the lesson plan is important. DeSanders says look for classes that do drills like swimming without goggles. Kids get used to having goggles during swim lessons, but in emergency situations, it is less likely your child will be wearing a pair. Getting your child used to real-life situations is important and will help their swim skills transfer from the lesson to their daily lives.
