Differences between swim lessons for adults and kids can be really hard to spot, but make no mistake about it, they exist, and it is awesome that they do!
We would like to take you on an aquatic adventure and discuss the main differences between swim lessons for adults and kids.
While we do that, we will also try to convey why it is important that differences between swim lessons for adults and kids exist.
This topic may seem not so interesting from the outside, but for all people who are passionate about swimming and swim lessons, things like this are endlessly fascinating.
For example, we have previously covered both of the following topics: ‘can a 1 year old learn to swim?’ and ‘can we learn swimming at the age of 40?’
In both cases the answer was a resounding yes! That is good enough proof to show you that there are plenty of differences between swim lessons for adults and kids.
There is nothing in this world that can work, with the same efficacy, for both a 1 year old toddler and a 40 year old adult.
It is precisely the differences between swim lessons for adults and kids that make it possible for swim lessons to teach both these individuals.
Swim Lessons For Kids Are…
Right off the bat swim lessons for kids are much harder to classify than swim lessons for adults are, as you will see in the latter section of this post.
Swim lessons for kids are a bit harder to classify because of the differences in development and psychology between children.
When we talk about swim lessons for kids they can be for anyone starting from as young as 6 months old, all the way to teenagers of up to 17 years old.
The main factor that will change in any and all of these lessons is the focus of the lessons. For example; toddler swim lessons are mostly meant to teach basic survival skills in the water.
The idea is that if, godforbid, a toddler falls in water unattended their survival reflexes will kick in and they will be able to survive for enough time until someone notices.
As the age rises for the student, the teaching style also changes and the objective also changes. Up to 3 year olds it is basic survival skills.
Once we reach the tender age of 4, lessons can be a bit more complex and the instructor can dare to aim and teach something more than basic floating. This curb of complexity continues to rise.
Eventually, the teaching style and the things taught will reach those that are taught in swim lessons for adults.
Before we can start discussing swim lessons for adults a bit more, we need to stick to swim lessons for kids and talk about one aspect that teenagers, at times, go for.
Swim lessons for kids can be swim lessons that prepare the student for competitive settings. This is something that is done in other sports too, however with swimming it is even more the case.
Based on studies, the physical peak of swimmers is at 21. Making competitive swim lessons for kids a necessity, if they aspire to be a pro.
Swim Lessons For Adults Are…
Although competitive swim lessons for adults aren’t unheard of, when it comes to swim lessons for adults the majority are designed to teach actual swimming strokes and swimming techniques.
Swim lessons for adults, unlike swim lessons for kids, are tied with the swimming abilities of the student instead of their age.
The most common and simplest swim lessons for adults are lessons that teach freestyle swimming.
Then we have adults who want to learn to swim a more complicated stroke. We also see students who want to learn one specific stroke, and get swim lessons to achieve that.
If you ask instructors for swim lessons for adults, they will all tell you that these lessons are much harder than swim lessons for kids.
As we have mentioned countless times, swim lessons are very closely related to a bond between the student and the instructor.
With adults it can be harder to achieve that. It is also true that there is a bit of a stigma that goes around when it comes to adults that cannot swim.
This can make people timid when it comes to purchasing lessons, or make them embarrassed to participate!
Hopefully at this point you can clearly see the difference between swim lessons for adults and kids, and you now have an understanding of why these differences matter.
At the end of the day, the ultimate truth for both adults and kids is that swim lessons are a necessity and absolutely everyone should learn to swim!
