Many parents are often curious – and understandably hesitant – about first introducing their young child to swimming. 

The Learn2Swim programme, based here at Active Blackpool, offers a positive structured way to guide youngsters. 

Whether your child is dipping their toes in for the first time or ready to paddle with purpose, our swimming lessons for kids offer an experience that supports them in a safe environment.

Here we share the benefits of starting swimming early and how Learn2Swim provides a progressive pathway.

Swimming isn’t just a recreational skill – it’s a lifesaving one. 

Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children under five. 

Enrolling your child in a structured swim programme helps them develop essential water safety habits from an early age. Even the most basic skills including floating or treading water can dramatically reduce the risk of drowning.

Getting started in the pool early can also allow children to learn how to react calmly in water and recognise dangerous situations.

The physical developmental benefits of swimming are brilliant. Swimming is great for coordination, balance, and muscle strength.

It also offers great cognitive benefits for children, who will need to follow instructions and remember what they’ve been taught. 

Learning to swim is brilliant for enhancing fine and gross motor skills, especially hand-eye and limb coordination.

Not only is it a healthy hobby, but being in the water can have a calming effect, helping to reduce any stress and anxiety your child may be facing. Fun lessons can boost mood and promote a positive link with physical activity.

If your child is unsure socially, swimming lessons are great for sociability, as well as celebrating milestone achievements with others.

Babies under 2 can begin water familiarisation because early exposure builds comfort and prevents fear later on.

It is important to show children that swimming is a fun, familiar activity, rather than a challenge or fear.

Our Learn2Swim qualified coaches use a successful pathway to guide little ones to confident swimming.

The course starts with water familiarisation, aimed at babies and toddlers who can access the lessons with their parents in tow. These sessions are based on getting comfortable in the water and feeling safe.

During Learn to Swim Stage 1, school-aged children are encouraged to move around the pool and become confident in getting water on their face.

They will develop basic safety awareness, learn basic movements, and water confidence skills.

At this stage they will use armbands and floats, while they learn to conquer the building blocks for future technique.

The stages taught by Learn2Swim go right through to seven, with qualified instructors guiding children along the way.

By the end of the stages, youngsters will be able to swim up to 100 metres in backstroke, front crawl, breaststroke, and butterfly.

They will also be able to perform a movement sequence linking skills with strokes and sculls, as well as perform a dive, complete an obstacle course, and tread water for 30 seconds.

Parents can track their child’s progress on the Active Blackpool app and see which certificates they have achieved. They can also find any teacher feedback there following lessons.

Early swimming lessons are more than just fun – they build skills for life. Consider them a long-term safety investment.

Lots of parents are enjoying our current sessions which are available after school every weekday and during the day on Saturday at Moor Park; they are held after school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at Palatine.

**Testimonial here if there are any**

If you’d like to sign up for our Learn2Swim children’s swimming lessons, you can enrol online or come along to one of our centres, and we’ll be pleased to assist.