What Happens During a Beginner Swim Lesson at Atlanta Swim Academy?

For babies, learning to swim does not always start with swimming across the pool. It starts with feeling comfortable in the water, building trust, and being introduced to skills in a safe and positive environment. At ASA, our youngest swimmers can begin their journey as early as 3 months old through Baby Splash and then continue building their skills in our Shrimps level. While these classes look a little different from swim lessons for older children, it is important to start EARLY! A lot of people are surprised at how young we start our children here, but at ASA, water safety is our top priority and starting them at this age helps build skills that can be used in emergencies and get them used to the water!

Baby Splash is designed for babies ages 3 to 6 months and provides a gentle introduction to the water alongside a parent. At this age, lessons focus on helping babies become comfortable with new sensations and movements in the pool. Parents are actively involved throughout the class and learn how to safely support their baby in the water. During Baby Splash, families are introduced to skills and activities such as supported front and back floats, gentle kicking, water exploration, and getting the face wet. Babies also practice balance through activities like tummy time and begin experiencing movement through the water. Songs, toys, and interaction are incorporated throughout the lesson to keep babies engaged while creating positive associations with the pool. Even something as simple as gently pouring water over a baby's head helps them get used to the water and learn in the process. Our instructors use consistent cues before the water touches the baby's face, helping them begin to understand what to expect. In Baby Splash, parents learn safer ways to enter and exit the pool while caring for their baby. Once they move into Shrimps, they begin becoming more involved in the process themselves.

Shrimps practice skills such as holding onto the pool wall and using the ladder with support. This introduces children to the idea that getting into and out of the water is a skill too. Both Baby Splash and Shrimps introduce supported front and back floats! Parents provide plenty of support while babies experience what it feels like to have their bodies positioned on top of the water. In Shrimps, babies continue developing this skill through supported back floats and begin practicing rolling from their back toward their front with assistance. The goal isn't to rush them, instead, we're giving babies repeated opportunities to become familiar with different movements in the water. You might see a lot of little legs moving during class! In Baby Splash, parents can gently guide their baby's legs through kicking movements while moving backward through the water. As children progress into Shrimps, instructors and parents encourage babies to begin kicking on their own. These early movements help introduce the body mechanics that will eventually support independent swimming skills.

For a young child, getting their face wet can be a big experience. That's why water acclimation happens gradually. Babies may start with water gently poured over their head before progressing toward putting their face in the water and eventually practicing submersion activities. In Shrimps, submersion follows a progression rather than happening all at once. Instructors work with each child and family as they become more comfortable. Creating a positive experience is especially important at this age. Encouragement from parents and instructors helps babies associate these new experiences with something safe and enjoyable. If you watch one of our baby classes, you may see toys, songs, games, and plenty of cheering. It may look like play, but these activities are helping teach important skills. Reaching for a toy can encourage a baby to move through the water. Songs can make a new environment feel more familiar. Playing at the wall can help introduce holding on. Interaction with an instructor can help a child become comfortable learning from someone other than their parent. For babies, play and learning go hand in hand.

Another important part of Shrimps is helping children become comfortable interacting with their swim instructor. As children gain confidence, the instructor may work with them one-on-one while the parent remains nearby. This helps prepare children for greater independence as they continue progressing through Atlanta Swim Academy's swim program. A baby's first swim lessons aren't about how far they can swim. They're about building comfort, introducing water safety, and creating positive experiences that can grow with them. From a first supported back float to kicking through the water or happily going to an instructor, each experience helps build the foundation for the skills that come next.

At ASA, we've been helping families build confident swimmers for over 40 years. With Baby Splash and Shrimps, even our littlest swimmers can start building a positive relationship with the water from the very beginning.