How long should a young child swim for?

We understand the importance of swimming lessons for young children in Singapore. Swimming not only provides exercise and recreation, but also teaches valuable water safety skills that can save lives. However, there is a debate over whether shorter, more frequent classes or occasional lengthy ones are better for children's swimming lessons. In this article, we will explain why we believe typical short classes are better for little ones in swimming lessons.

Attention Span

Children in Singapore have a limited attention span, which is why shorter, more frequent swimming lessons are ideal. Research shows that most children can focus for around 20 minutes per year of their age. Therefore, lengthy swimming lessons may not be ideal for younger children, as they may struggle to maintain focus for long periods.

Shorter, more frequent lessons provide children with more breaks and opportunities to rest, helping them to stay engaged and focused throughout the lesson. We recommend scheduling a 45-minute lessons up to twice a week, which can be more effective than a one-hour lesson once a week.

Skill Retention

Children have a limited attention span, which is why shorter, more frequent swimming lessons are ideal for little ones. Lengthy swimming lessons may be challenging for younger children as they may struggle to maintain focus for an extended period. Optimal swimming lesson lengths, frequency, and schedules should be considered to ensure that children are engaged and focused throughout the lesson. As a senior swim coach representing SGSwimClasses, we recommend shorter lessons with necessary breaks to help children stay engaged and focused while learning valuable water safety skills.

Physical Endurance

Swimming is a physically demanding activity that requires energy and endurance. Young children may tire quickly, especially if they are not used to swimming for extended periods. Therefore, shorter lessons are often better for younger children, preventing overexertion and ensuring that children are performing at their best.

Longer lessons can be overwhelming for children and may lead to exhaustion, which can be counterproductive to learning. Shorter lessons can help children build up their physical endurance gradually, allowing them to progress at their own pace without getting overly tired or discouraged.

Safety

Safety is a top priority in swimming lessons, particularly for young children in Singapore. Shorter lessons can be more effective in promoting safe swimming practices, as they allow for more focused instruction and supervision. During shorter lessons, our experienced instructors can devote more attention to individual students, ensuring that each child is practicing safe swimming techniques.

Shorter lessons also help reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, providing children with more frequent reminders of safety procedures and practices. With shorter, more frequent lessons, children are more likely to retain the safety skills they have learned and develop good habits that will stay with them for life.

Last but not least

We believe that shorter, more frequent swimming lessons are better for little ones learning to swim in Singapore. Shorter lessons provide children with the necessary breaks to maintain their attention and engagement, allow for more repetition of skills, prevent overexertion, and promote safe swimming practices. As a senior swim coach, we recommend finding a schedule and class length that works for your child's age, ability, and attention span. By choosing shorter, more frequent swimming lessons with SGSwimClasses, you can ensure that your child is learning effectively and safely while having fun in the water.