Learning to swim will introduce you to the aquatic environment in a controlled and safe way where your instructors can work with you or your child to develop important swimming and water safety skills.

Generally, the recommended age that children can start learning to swim 3 to 4 years. From 6 months you can introduce your child to water confidence and familarisation lessons, however some swim schools start earlier than this.

WaterSafe Auckland, Swimming New Zealand and the Auckland Regional Council have produced a brochure 'Early Childhood Aquatic and Water Safety'. You can order a copy, or copies, from the Resources page.

An interactive educational component was designed in consultation with swim schools in the Auckland and Northland region. This project has now expanded to involve around 6000 families at 36 swim schools and was designed to educate parents on the importance of ‘supervising toddlers within sight and reach’ regardless of the child’s swimming ability.

This project is based on one theme each school term with an over-riding message of supervision. The promotion includes:

1. Swim teachers telling parents and toddlers one safety message each term. A pre-campaign survey of the attitudes and knowledge of parents and care-givers on poolside.
2. Swim Schools displaying safety posters and material each term.
3. Swim schools distributing resources to parents each term (see Fact Sheets).
4. Swim schools distributing tattoos and colouring competitions to children each term.
5. Evaluation and research.

Information on research examining parental perceptions on the role of toddler swimming ability and pre-school swimming lessons in drowning prevention can be found in the Research section.