Everybody's different and what works for one person mightn't necessarily work for another. When it comes to learning to swim, you can learn from friends and family, from a private swimming coach or instructor, teach yourself (it's possible!), or learn with the help of swimming lessons run by a swimming school.
Before you or your child learn to swim, there are a few things to consider. You'll probably want to think about whether or not you should learn to swim, the best time to start, how long it'll take, how much it'll cost, and whether or not you should learn via swimming lessons or not.
Here, we'll try to answer all those questions for you.
Why You Should Learn to Swim
Before you think about how to learn to swim, you'll need to think about whether or not learning to swim is a good idea.
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Not everybody learns to swim and, in some cases, it's either because they never thought that learning to swim was worth it or they never had the opportunity.
So is learning to swim a good idea?
The first and most obvious reason to learn to swim is for safety. You mightn't often or ever end up in a situation where you need to swim, but knowing how to swim could literally be the difference between life in death in certain situations. Hopefully, you'll never have to use your swimming skills for this purpose, but for those who can't swim, even fairly mundane activities on or by water can become much more dangerous.
On a lighter note, swimming opens doors to all manner of activities involving water from surfing to fishing and even just attending pool parties and going to the beach.
Swimming is also great for your health, a low-impact activity that comes with a lower risk of injury, and a great way to make the most of nice weather.
What Is the Best Age to Start Learning to Swim?
With most skills, the sooner you learn, the better. The youngest age a child can start swimming or learning to swim is between 1 and 4 years old. However, children as young as six months can start getting used to the water.
It's also worthwhile remembering that while these are the best ages to start learning how to swim, you can learn to swim at any age.
Can You Learn to Swim as an Adult?
Adults can comfortably learn how to swim, but it can feel a little weird at first, especially if you've spent your whole life avoiding the water.
Children can get used to water more quickly because they're not used to avoiding it and they'll even see other children using floatation devices and learning how to swim.
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Before adults can learn to swim, they need to acclimatise themselves to the water. They can start by getting used to being in the water and then progressing to putting their face and head in the water.
Don't worry about this too much, though, as with swimming lessons or a swimming instructor you'll be taken through all these steps. The important thing to remember is that adults can learn how to swim!
Can You Learn to Swim in Later Life?
Even those in retirement can learn how to swim. The benefits of swimming become even greater in later life, especially when we need to shift away from high-impact activities that can cause injury.
Learning to swim is a great way to get yourself into the habit of regularly exercising, getting out of the house, and even meeting new people.
How Long Does It Take to Learn How to Swim?
Since everyone learns differently and at different rates, you don't need to worry too much about exactly how long it'll take, but it can help to have a rough amount of time in mind, especially if you need to learn to swim in a specific time frame or before a specific event.
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It's estimated that between 20 and 25 hours of tuition with a private swimming instructor is enough to learn how to swim, but this might take longer if you're learning in a group. However, we've also found that two or three weeks of weekly sessions should be enough.
There are several factors to consider when calculating how long it'll take to learn to swim. Firstly, think about your past experience with swimming. If you've never been in the water, you'll need to acclimatise to it before you even start thinking about trying to swim. Those already familiar with being in the water can move directly on to learning to swim and save themselves a bit of time in the process.
You also need to consider how regularly you'll be swimming and for how long. Regular swimming lessons will be more effective than going once every so often for a long time so the more you practise, the more quickly you'll learn.
Like with any new skill, the law of diminishing returns also applies. You'll likely get the easiest stuff quite quickly but see your progress slow as you move onto more complicated techniques. Don't worry if this happens. It doesn't mean that swimming isn't for you, it's a natural part of the learning process and everybody will go through it.
Can You Learn to Swim in Less than a Month?
If you're really against the clock or want to learn over the summer, for example, you might be wondering if you can learn to swim in a short time.
If you have regular or even daily swimming lessons over the space of the month, it's quite likely that you'll be able to comfortably swim in a pool without needing any floatation devices or assistance.
Of course, before you do this, it's wise to speak with your instructor or coach as they'll be able to let you know when you can swim on your own. Once you get the hang of swimming, you can work towards becoming a more proficient and confident swimmer.
Why You Should Learn to Swim in a Swimming School
Now that you know that anyone at any age can swim, that it shouldn't take too long to get the hang of it, and that it's good for you, you're probably thinking about how you can learn to swim.
The most obvious way to learn to swim is through swimming lessons or with a swimming school. Most pools will either offer lessons or have lessons taking place for aspiring swimmers of all ages so you can always contact them for more information.
The reason swimming lessons at swimming schools are popular is that they're usually the most accessible and affordable option. They're affordable because there are normally several learners in a given class so the cost of the instructor's time is shared amongst the attendees.
However, for safety reasons, most beginners are put into smaller groups and those learning to swim from scratch shouldn't expect to find themselves in groups bigger than 4 to 6 learners. As you progress and become a confident swimmer, you may find that there are more people in your swimming lessons.
Swimming lessons are accessible, affordable, and a social way to learn to swim and are certainly worth looking into if they sound like they'd be right for you.
The Disadvantages of Learning to Swim in a Swimming School
Of course, there are also downsides to learning to swim with swimming lessons. For one, group tuition doesn't work for everybody and some people learn far more quickly with a dedicated swimming instructor.
As swimming lessons take place in groups, scheduling can also be a problem. If the lessons don't take place at a time that works for you, there's not really much you can do about it. However, most larger swimming pools will have several lessons scheduled throughout the week and on the weekends for different ages and abilities so in most cases, you should be able to find a time that works for you.
How Can I Find a Swimming School or Swimming Lessons Near Me?
The quickest and easiest way to find swimming lessons is either through your local swimming pools or your local government website, which features information on public pools and the services that they offer as well as opening hours and contact information.
If you live near the pool, you can always head over when it's open to speak to somebody and get more information about lessons, who they're for, how much they cost, and when they take place.
In the event the pool is part of a leisure centre or gym, you may even get discounts or free access to some of the lessons if you have a membership or similar. All you have to do is ask!
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