Water Safety: 3 Reasons Why Florida Kids Need Swim Lessons

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning remains the number one cause of injury-related death among children ages 1-4, and the second leading cause of death for children ages 5-14. And while drowning prevention requires layers of protection, swim lessons have been shown to reduce the risk of drowning by 88%! Here in Florida, we see many cases of fatal and non-fatal drownings among tourists visiting from states and countries that don’t have as much access to or knowledge of aquatic environments.

One of the most proactive things you can do is ensure that your children know what to do if they find themselves in a submersion situation. That’s why I’m a huge advocate for Florida swim lessons.

We love Staci with Baby Otter Swim School and highly recommend her, she is mobile and will travel to your pool, she is so knowledgeable and patient and it’s her passion to keep children safe around the water

We did their exclusive program, Turn Kick, Reach for our 2.5-year-old. It is dubbed as the “World’s Fastest Learn To Swim Program®️” because it is a 5-day program for 30 mins a day. By day 5, your kiddo is able to swim and safely get to the side of the pool.

We love that Baby Otter Swim School is also state accredited and has over 75 years of combined experience among its staff.

Pro tip: If you’re able to do early morning lessons vs. afternoon, it’ll save you from getting rained out due to summer thunderstorms.

3 Reasons Why Florida Kids Need Swim Lessons

It builds a strong foundation: Putting your kids in swim lessons is a great way to build a strong foundation in the water. It helps them feel less scared of pools, lakes, or beaches and can even spark their interest in swimming for fun. As they practice what they’ve learned from their instructor, pool time becomes more enjoyable. You can encourage them to swim back and forth between two adults or swim to the wall to grab a toy. Once they get the hang of it, swimming boosts their confidence and becomes a skill they’ll carry with them as they grow up.
It can save their life: This is priceless. By the end of my toddler’s swim lessons, I knew that if an accident happened, he would be able to flip over and get to the edge of the water until help arrived. Drowning happens fast, and it’s scary because they are silent with young children. Even if you’ve taken precautions, kids are curious and end up in places they shouldn’t be. They might wander off and find a neighbor’s pool or stumble upon a little pond in the backyard. They can even slip into the bathtub and go under. You never want to think something like this could happen, but accidents do occur, even to the best parents. That’s why it’s so important to give your child the tools they need to stay safe.
It improves their health: Swimming is awesome for kids! It helps them improve their motor skills, strengthens those little muscles, and teaches them how to control their breathing. Plus, it wears them out, so they’ll be ready for bedtime!

For more information on Baby Otter Swim School swim lessons click here and view their Instagram page here.