Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children ages 1 to 4 in California. A residential swimming pool is 14 times more likely to cause a death than an automobile.

The sooner the better, but it’s never too late. As soon as babies come out of the birth canal, they are ready to swim, we typically wait until there’s a bit of head and neck control; starting at around the age of 3 months. The majority of students who start at a very young age will master the water and be able to navigate swimming pools on their own before they turn two. Callan Swim School has also found that children who begin lessons early benefit from advanced development, as they perform better academically and athletically because their brains have been exposed to more oxygen. An oxygen-nourished brain creates a stronger individual, mentally, and physically. While ages two, three and four are fine ages to start, sometimes children at this age experience more anxieties and emotional obstacles. As a child grows and becomes a teenager or an adult, they will often find that it is more of a struggle to learn to swim because of the initial anxiety that they must overcome. However, an open mind and commitment can often lead to great success.

We strongly recommend that you do not bring goggles to your swim lesson. Our philosophy is that every child should be comfortable enough to swim without them. This is to ensure that your child does not become dependent on them for any reason. Although there are exceptions we prefer every student to swim freestyle the length of the pool prior to the introduction of goggles. This is purely for the benefit of your child.