Remember that even after your child learns to swim well, he still needs full adult supervision in the pool and at the beach until he’s a teen, and even then he should only swim when a friend is around. Make sure that you or another adult who can swim is watching and listening in case of emergency. Keep in mind that toddlers may be more likely to swallow water during swim time, which might make them sick. But the benefit of knowing swim basics, such as turning on their back to keep their face above water if they fall in, may outweigh the risk of illness from ingesting some water. Be sure to find an instructor who is certified by the Red Cross or YMCA and knows CPR. Your local Red Cross chapter or their website, www.crossnet.org, can point you to swimming instructors in your area. Also, check out this list of pool safety tips.
