Learning to swim can save your child’s life. Learning to do it well leads to a lifetime love of the water. But how do you tell the difference between great and average swimming lessons?
Carlile Swimming pioneered teaching babies in Australia, opened Sydney’s first indoor learn to swim centre and has long been regarded as one of the world’s leading swim schools. If you would like to contact Carlile you can find them here.
Below are some questions to ask your potential swim school, based on Carlile’s 65 years leading the industry.
- Are your teachers well trained and accredited? Your teacher should be accredited by a nationally recognised organisation such as Swim Australia.
- What is your child protection code of conduct? Your swim school should be able to provide you with their child protection policy and ensure the right practices are always followed.
- Do you use flotation aides, such as bubbles and floaties? Tragically in Australia 84% of drownings amongst children aged 0-4 are caused by falling into water. If your child falls into water, the chances are they will not be wearing a flotation aid.
- How many students are in a class? The numbers should vary. Learning to swim requires more individual attention than stroke correction. A teacher’s ability to keep children engaged is just as important as the teacher to child ratio.
- When is the best time to start? As soon as possible!Babies can start as young as three months. These classes are done with a parent in the water.
- Why is good technique important? Swimming with an efficient technique means a child can swim longer without tiring. Good technique can save a life.
- Will my child be in a level for a set period time? Children should always be promoted as soon as they are ready to confidently move up.
- How far will my child swim? Further is NOT necessarily better. Shorter distances, with more opportunities for stroke correction and less chance to lose concentration or tire, develops better swimmers.
- When will my child have learnt to swim? If your child can comfortably swim 400 metres of freestyle with good, efficient technique and a balance of other strokes, then they can swim well.
- What are the benefits in starting swimming early? A four-year research study by Australia’s Griffith University found children who attended regular swimming lessons improved physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills. The 3 to 5 years old’s in the study were:
- 11 months ahead in verbal skills
- 6 months ahead in mathematic skills
- 2 months ahead in literacy skills
- 17 months ahead in story recall
- 20 months ahead in understanding directions
It’s little wonder Carlile believe “to swim well is an asset for life.” You can see more about their approach below.
If you’d like to book your child into lessons contact:
Freshwater – Harbord Diggers, 88 Evans Street, Freshwater
Phone: 9137 4545
Killarney Heights – 14 Tralee Avenue, Killarney Heights
Phone: 9451 3677