Swimming Lessons For 3 and 4 Year Olds
Our award-winning swimming programme continues, with a focus on water confidence, stroke development, and essential life-saving skills leading naturally to independent swimming.
Independent Swimming Starts Here
Our approach to swimming ensures that your child’s needs are expertly fulfilled and will nurture their confidence in the water. Building on the foundations that they have already acquired, your child will now be progressing to independent swimming on both their front and their back using paddle strokes.
Amongst many skills, they’ll be developing streamlining, rotation, diving to collect objects, treading water and floating. We maintain our strong focus on water safety and you may find your child coming swimming in their pyjamas in our themed water safety week! You will still accompany your child in the water to support their swimming journey as they still benefit hugely from your love and the sense of security that this gives them.
The shared fun of a swimming lesson with your pre-schooler is a wonderful bonding experience. Children who attend Turtle Tots lessons are usually happy, confident and safe little swimmers by the time they start school. We want them to learn to love swimming for life!
Benefits of swimming for 3 and 4 year olds
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get in the pool with my child?
Yes, our lessons are designed for parents to accompany their child into the pool. Our pools are warm and comfortable and shallow enough to stand up in so parents do not need to be confident swimmers to join in. Our teachers are fully trained and experienced in helping parents and carers to feel confident in the water and will support both you and your child throughout the whole programme.
Why teach my preschooler to swim?
The Turtle Tots philosophy is to ensure safety and water confidence, encouraging parents to fully utilise the benefits and enjoyment that can have swimming with their children – whether that is at our lessons, on holiday or trips to the pool. We also provide a great social environment for parents and toddlers, giving them the opportunity to meet other families and children, forging friendships for life.
When will my child learn to swim on their own?
The age a child learns to swim independently depends on many factors including ability, confidence, and regularity of swimming.
Introducing children to Turtle Tots from an early age, and continue regular classes, means that by the age of 3 and a half many children will be swimming short distances independently.
more Information about swimming lessons for 3 and 4 year olds
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Clock change … how to manage your little one’s sleep routine
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Time to DITCH THE DISPOSABLE
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MyBump2Baby Podcast
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Summer holiday swimming skills you can practice at home
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Top ten tips for staying safe near the water this summer
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Top 10 questions about baby swimming
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Lily sets her sights on swimming success!
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Why teaching water safety skills to children from an early age is important
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Nervous about baby swimming lessons?
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Choosing the right baby and toddler swimming lessons
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Encouraging little ones to be confident & safe in the water this summer
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Enjoy a Safe Holiday in the Water this Summer.
Reviews
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My son has thrived at Turtle Tots. The program has gradually built his confidence and taught him valuable water safety. At just 3 he swims independently on a noodle, loves going (aided!) under water and his lessons are the highlight of his week. The team are knowledgeable, supportive and make lessons fun and we couldn’t recommend Turtle Tots highly enough!
Hannah 
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My son has been swimming with turtle tots for over 4 years. They take a really gentle approach to learning & prioritise safety in the pool for both children & parents.
The teacher are so lovely & really passionate about their role.Jane -
Turtle tots with Natalie and Charlotte has been a weekly enjoyment me and my son Cooper have had the pleasure of doing together. He started as a baby and grown into the happiest of swimmers now ready to start big boy lessons with his sister. I will cherish my time with him in the pool and the friends we made 🙂
Emily -
Our daughter has been going to turtle tots for the best part of 3 years now. We have experienced quite a few of the teachers and all are fantastic. They are all great with kids and the classes keep them engaged and smiling. My daughter looks forward to her turtle tots class every week. As a parent, the classes are easy to arrange and manage.
Feonagh -
I’ve been taking my eldest son (nearly 4) to Turtle Tots Surrey for well over a year and would have been longer except for the lockdown. H’d currently going through an autism diagnosis and can have moments when swimming. Nicky is fantastic with him and we look forward to bringing out 8 month old to one of her classes.
Stefan -
Turtle Tots has been brilliant for my daughter, we’ve been going since she was 10 weeks old and has always enjoyed it. She is 3.5 years old now and has so much confidence in the pool and she adores her teacher Amanda. She has learnt so much and we will continue our journey for as long as we can.
Danielle -
Both of our children adore TT. It’s a highlight of the week and both are now very confident in the water, always having fun and they trust the teachers completely, after the eldest being quite nervous post covid lockdowns. Rebecca is fantastic and we will be very sad when our Turtle Tots journey comes to an end for our eldest this summer.
Abby -
We love our turtle Tots classes for my 3 year old and 10 month old. Rebecca is so friendly and engaging and the children love it. It’s a lovely thing to do for quality time with the family.
Alex -
Turtle tots have seen our son through lessons from 6 months to 4years. He’s loved every session- all of the teachers have been super, and we can’t believe where his is now with his swimming compared to when he started. Thanks a million turtle tots x
Amelia -
My daughter and I have been swimming with Turtle Tots in Exeter since she was 7 weeks old and have recently had our last class now that she’s almost 4 and no longer a ‘tot’. We’ve loved our time with Turtle Tots, the teachers are brilliant and the lessons are so much fun for the children but, at the same time, are teaching them invaluable skills.
Amy -
Highly recommend Turtle Tots. I took my grandson every Friday from the age of 2 until 4, unfortunately Covid interrupted some of the terms however he has just smashed his Stage 2 swimming certificate and working towards Stage 3 at the age of 5, so thank you Turtle Tots for giving him such a good start.
Bridget