Should Swimming Lessons Be Mandatory?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) was against swim lessons for babies.
They feared that swimming lessons before the age of 4 would give the child & parent a false sense of security in the water.
Say what? Sorry, but does that sound a little off to you? Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t children soak up the most learning from birth to the age of 5.
So what could possibly be “WRONG” with a baby learning how to save it’s own life.
Parents are asking why are all these drownings happening to children under the age of 2yrs, yet the Academy was saying no swim lessons until the age of 4yrs old.
Personally that’s a little backwards to me.
The AAP, in new policy says that swim lessons for children as young as 2yrs of age can be effective now.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded In 2004, of all children 1-4 years old who died, 26% died from drowning (CDC 2006).
Fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1 to 14 years (CDC 2005).
Just imagine what those figures really could be around the world. Some Doctors have been known to tell parents not to give them lessons until they say so.
As I was researching these small facts I always came back to saying, that it is always up to the parent to make sure that their child has this permanent life skill.
Dr’s, pediatricians, commentators etc. can say all they want, but swimming is a lifetime safety skill that can never be taken away.
I know it is hard for a parent to see their child go under water, but I have to say please get lessons. Your child does not need to be in the statistic number.