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Why Start Swimming Before Your Baby Can Walk? Your baby may not be walking yet, but that doesn't mean it's too early to start swimming lessons, and one of the most important reasons to begin early is water safety. As summer approaches, enroling your child in Learn to Swim classes is one of the best ways to help them become safer and more confident around water. Beyond safety, however, swimming offers a wide range of developmental and social benefits for babies. For many families, quality one on one time can be hard to come by. Swimming lessons provide a valuable opportunity to connect with your child without the usual daily distractions. During class, your focus is entirely on them, making it a special bonding experience. To make scheduling more efficient for families, we also offer afternoon classes for babies, allowing younger children and school-aged siblings to swim at the same time. Swimming can also have a positive impact on your baby's sleep routine, which is great news for any sleep deprived parents. While there's no guarantee it will result in uninterrupted nights, the extra physical activity can help little ones feel more relaxed and ready for rest. Swimming may also stimulate a healthier appetite, and a content, well-fed baby often sleeps more soundly. That's a win for everyone! In the water, babies begin developing important muscle strength and body control. Simple movements such as lifting their head, kicking, reaching and engaging their core muscles all contribute to their physical development. These activities help improve balance, coordination and overall body awareness. While these movements may seem small, they represent significant developmental milestones. Swimming provides unique benefits for brain development. As babies kick, splash and move through the water, they engage in activities that stimulate the formation of new neural pathways. Many of these movements involve both sides of the body working together, helping strengthen communication between the two hemispheres of the brain. Research, including a four-year study conducted by Griffith University involving more than 7,000 children, suggests that children who participate in swimming may experience enhanced physical and cognitive development compared with their non-swimming peers. Another benefit of swimming lessons is the social interaction they provide. Water Babies classes incorporate songs, games and close interaction between babies, parents and instructors. Children begin engaging with others in a group setting and learn important social skills in a fun and supportive environment. These positive experiences can help build confidence, sociability and overall wellbeing. Don't wait to get started. Give your child the opportunity to build confidence, learn valuable water safety skills and enjoy all the developmental benefits swimming has to offer.

What Can You Expect from Swimming Lessons?

As the warmer months approach, it's time to talk once again about water safety!

Christmas Fun For The Whole Family Underwater

No Child is Left Behind

Every year, the end of summer comes up far too quickly, and I find myself urging everyone to just keep swimming – all year round! Why? Swimming is for absolutely everyone: from birth to the very end, swimming is an activity that enhances a person’s life. Once you know how to swim, it’s a skill you can use for a lifetime, in so many settings. Swimming brings families together: whether it's bonding with your baby during swimming lessons, enjoying the beach or poolside at home or on holidays, or supporting your competitive swimmer at meets, swimming time is often family time (especially as electronic devices and water don’t mix!) Most importantly……….. swimming can save your life. That’s it. The bottom line. Improved water safety is the number one reason to enrol in swimming lessons to improve swimming skills, no matter what age or stage you or your child are at. We encourage children to begin swimming at 6 months of age, and to regularly attend swimming lessons until their age-related safety milestones are met – consistency is key. Never learnt to swim and now as an adult don’t know where or how to start? We offer adult swimming lessons to help you reach your goals. Are you over 60 years of age? We also have a very special Seniors Water Wellness Program coming up in March in conjunction with Royal Lifesaving Australia and Seniors Week, offering a free lifesaving skills refresher program to kickstart your journey back into aquatic recreation. Visit www.drowningprevention.org.au/event-details/penrith-seniors-water-wellness-nepean to b ook your free spot. Want to fast-track your child’s water safety and swimming skills in the school holidays? Our school holiday intensive swim lessons and Paddles Super Swim camps are designed to build your child’s capability and confidence. Check out our website for upcoming dates and details. Like to work out in the water and enjoy all of the benefits of low-impact exercise? Join us for Aquarobics classes or lap swimming in our indoor heated pools. Looking for a pool party that isn’t dependent upon the weather? Come party with us, complete with lifeguards and inflatable slides for hours of birthday or team-building fun. Since 2011, we have taught thousands of local people to swim at Nepean Aquatic Centre! Whether you're a child or an adult, mastering the art of swimming offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond the water's edge. To celebrate our 15th birthday at Nepean Aquatic Centre, we are offering a Special Offer in March for Western Weekender readers - get your first lesson free upon enrolment! The offer is applicable for all new enrolments and re-enrolments, at both Nepean Aquatic Centre and Eva Borys Swim School, and all enrolment T’s and C’s apply. Just mention the Western Weekender to get your First lesson free and enrol with us today! Until next time, stay safer! Love to Swim, Swim for Safety, Swim for Life!

I am often asked by parents considering enrolling their child in swimming lessons ‘How long will it take for my child to Learn to Swim?” Unfortunately, it is not a question I can answer simply, as every child is different, and learning to swim is a long-term, ongoing process. My best advice – start early – and if you didn’t start your child early – start now. Australian experts recommend starting swimming lessons from 6 months, but you can and should practice early water familiarisation before this. Babies are not born with a fear of water, but can easily develop a fear if not acclimatised to water, so make sure the baby has regular baths and showers, and becomes comfortable with the sensation of water being trickled and then poured over their head. Your 6-month-old will then accept the water more readily and with less fear than an older child who is suddenly exposed to water in an unfamiliar environment outside of the home. Drowning is a fast and silent killer. Children aged 0 to 4 years are at high risk of drowning, and the impact on families is devastating. It is a risky time, as young children are naturally curious and attracted to water but do not yet understand the concept of danger. The earlier a small child can get to the side of the pool after a jump or fall into the water and pull themselves out, the better and the safer they will be. Acquiring this skill takes time and practice, but it is worth every effort to master. I cannot give you a timeframe in which a child will learn, but consistency is the key to the development and maintenance of swimming skills, so attending lessons should become an established part of your child’s weekly routine throughout their infant, preschool, and early school years. Regular lessons all year round allow your child to practise the swimming skills appropriate to their developmental stage and learn at their own pace. Patience and encouragement are key. As with any skill, it is normal for the child to go through periods of plateau, regression, and developmental leaps throughout the process of learning to swim, but over time, constant progress is being made. We usually say (as a general guide) that your child has become a capable swimmer when they are able to swim 400 metres with good technique, without stopping, and without becoming exhausted. This level of skill may take children individual amounts of time to reach, but it establishes a strong swimming foundation. These swimming skills should then be retained in children over 7 years of age, whereas younger children need consistent reinforcement to maintain their competency. It is important to remember that swimming is not just another option on the list of sports and activities available to children – it is an invaluable lifelong skill that may just save their lives – and we offer swimming lessons 7 days a week at 2 different sites. Jump onto the website www.nepeanaquaticcentre.com.au or give us a call, and get your child into swimming lessons asap. Not knowing how to swim in Australia is just not worth the risk.

Did you know that Royal Lifesaving Australia research shows that one-year-old children are statistically at the greatest risk of drowning in Australia, with the risk of drowning tripling after a child's first birthday? This is largely to do with children becoming more mobile at this age. "Parents and carers need to know that the risk of drowning triples as soon as a child starts to crawl, peaking shortly after a child's first birthday," Royal Lifesaving CEO Justin Scarr said. The importance of swimming lessons cannot be underestimated. The sooner a child can turn themselves around after a jump or fall into the water and return to the side, the safer they will be. We understand how busy parents are and that morning or weekend Water Babies lessons may not suit all families, especially families who also have older children in afternoon swimming lessons, which is why we also offer afternoon Water Babies swimming lessons at Nepean Aquatic Centre. Our Water Babies program teaches young babies and children games and exercises that teach them when to jump into the water, when to hold their breath, and to either turn over and float or paddle back to the side and hold on, or to pull themselves out. This is absolutely crucial to a child’s water safety. Lessons also teach children to wait their turn, and not to e nter the water until invited to do so with an adult, an important skill when by the pool at home. The Australian Bureau of Statistics lists drowning as the number one cause of accidental death in children under 5. Royal Life Saving said "almost all" drowning deaths in children under 5 were due to lack of adult supervision, with most of the deaths a result of a fall into the water. Royal Life Australia recommends that children aged 0-5 should be within arm’s reach of a supervising adult at all times when around water. Mr Scarr said, "We can't emphasise enough how important active adult supervision is in preventing these deaths. Distractions are dangerous - whether it is taking a phone call, browsing social media, or ducking inside to grab something - we ask parents and carers to always keep watch. In addition, it is essential that people install pool fences and check pool gates regularly to make sure they are not faulty or kept propped open." We run water Babies swimming lessons 7 days a week. Interested in afternoon Water Babies lessons? Jump onto the website www.nepeanaquaticcentre.com.au or give us a call.

With children back to school this week I wanted to remind parents of all the benefits of Learn To Swim, and why swimming lessons should be a non negotiable part of your child’s weekly routine! It is so important to swim all year round, alongside any other sports and activities in our busy family schedules. Learning to swim is an activity that offers numerous benefits for children beyond simply staying safe in water. From physical health to mental well-being, swimming provides a holistic approach to a child's development in a way that no other sport or activity can match. The most obvious and most important benefit of learning to swim is water safety. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death in children of all ages, with a high number of non drowning immersion incidents causing life long injuries, and teaching kids how to swim reduces the risk significantly. Knowing how to float, tread water, and perform basic strokes can save lives in emergency situations. Moreover, understanding water safety rules instils confidence and promotes responsible behaviour around water. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise that engages the entire body, improving cardiovascular health, strengthening muscles, and enhancing flexibility. Swimming is low impact, making it suitable for children of all ages and fitness levels, and regular swimming sessions can help combat childhood obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle from an early age. Swimming also has therapeutic effects on children's mental health and emotional well being. The soothing nature of water calms their minds and reduces stress and anxiety. Swimming releases endorphins and also provides an outlet for pent-up energy and emotions, helping children regulate their emotions more effectively. Plus, swimming lessons provide opportunities for children to socialise and make new friends! Learning to swim empowers children and boosts their self-confidence. Overcoming the initial fear of water and mastering new skills gives them a sense of achievement. As children progress in their swimming abilities, they gain confidence not only in the pool but also in other areas of their lives. This newfound confidence can translate into improved social interactions, academic performance, and overall well-being! Learn to Swim lessons are often a child’s very first structured activity. Swimming is a life skill that opens up a world of opportunities for children. It enables them to participate in water-based activities such as snorkelling, surfing, and kayaking. Strong swimming skills can lead to future endeavours such as lifeguarding, competitive swimming, or even careers in aquatic sports – we have lots of junior employees whose first job is with us! By introducing children to swimming at an early age and allowing children to consistently swim all year round, parents provide their children with a foundation for a healthy and fulfilling life both in and out of the water. On the flip side, a break from lessons often leads to skill regression, undoing some of the progress made prior to time out of the water. I encourage all parents (or grandparents!) to make swimming lessons non negotiable part of your child’s weekly routine in 2026 and beyond, at least until they reach their swim safety skill benchmarks. See you soon at the pool!