Are you a new parent, wondering about how to introduce your baby to the water, safely and enjoyably?
Or maybe you are a parent of a five-year-old and thinking that she really needs to learn how to be safe around water.
Or maybe your ten-year-old has had swimming lessons before but just never took to them, and you are wondering if there is an opportunity for a do-over.
In all of these cases, and more, the new Guelph location of Making Waves Swim School is your solution.
Making Waves Swim School was founded in the summer of 1994 by then 18-year-old Tiernan Murphy, who taught 50 kids to swim that summer in his parents’ backyard pool. After almost 30 years, the school has grown to teaching over 7,000 kids a week how to swim.
Making Waves now operates in five locations in Ontario, including its newest, in Guelph, which has just opened to the public.
“Learning to swim has so many benefits,” said Making Waves founder Murphy. “Not only does swimming build motor skills, provide numerous health benefits, and improve cognitive function, but it can also reduce your likelihood of drowning by up to 88% in children ages 1 to 4––which makes it a life saving skill!”
He finished, “But despite a parent’s desire for their children to learn to swim, a lot of parents wonder what age is appropriate for them to start.”
At Making Waves, parent and tot swim lessons are open for babies as young as two months, up to thirty months. In the first level, babies learn fundamental aquatic skills that include breathing control, buoyancy, and balance in the water. The second level begins to introduce your tot to propulsion, how to move through the water.
But what if your baby never got that introduction to the water? What if you are dealing with an older beginner?
“Introducing older children to swimming often raises valid concerns for parents, ranging from worries about water safety to apprehensions about their child’s comfort level and ability to catch up with their peers,” said Murphy. “It’s crucial for parents to recognize that it’s never too late for a child to learn to swim and that they will reap the lifelong benefits of water competency no matter what age they begin lessons.”
At Making Waves in Guelph, quality swim programs tailored to older beginners emphasize a supportive and gradual approach, ensuring that children can progress at their own pace. Dedicated trained instructors are adept at addressing any fears or anxieties, helping older children build confidence and embrace the water with enthusiasm.
Making Waves has programming for all levels and ages of swimmers, from beginner to lifeguard training-ready.
“Making Waves in Guelph is open, ready, and excited to begin your and your children’s swimming journey. We are here to help, support and instruct you, and to make swimming fun!” said Murphy.
Making Waves' new location in Guelph is located at 104 Cooper Drive, Unit 4. Registration for Fall is open! The Winter sessions begin January 2 and registration opens for that on November 20. For more information and to register, click here.