Toddler Swimming Lessons
Our lessons for toddlers age 14 months to 3 years are a natural progression from baby swimming and carefully designed to balance technique, safety skills, floating, games and songs with an emphasis on having fun!
The path to independent swimming
Our Turtle Tots toddler lessons are a great way to teach your child to swim and will develop your toddler’s water confidence and stroke development, helping them progress to independent swimming. We consolidate the fundamental skills your child has already learnt and introduce new skills too. You’ll see your child’s strength and confidence increasing, as they become more independent.
Play is an essential part of early development and we use songs and games in the lessons, with the emphasis on learning though having fun. Lessons improve balance and co-ordination. They also focus on promoting water confidence and early stroke practices, helping them to progress towards independent swimming. By this time, most children are happily self-submerging multiple times within each lesson and this remains under their control.
During this phase there is a stronger focus on developing aquatic breathing techniques so that younger toddlers learn to exhale as they swim and then surface to breathe. Water safety is of course key to our lessons and we build your child’s ability to assess and make judgements about risk – they will also further develop their knowledge of water safety techniques, enabling them to be as safe as possible around water. Our lessons for younger toddlers are fun-packed and energetic for both toddler and parent! We incorporate themed lessons into our programme to keep lessons feeling fresh and exciting.
Benefits of Toddler Swimming
Frequently Asked Questions
How many children are in a typical 2-year-old swimming lesson?
Typically, our swimming lessons for 2-year olds will have between 4 and 10 parent and child pairs in the pool depending on the size of the pool and the wider facilities.
What should my 2-year-old wear for swimming lessons?
A comfortable swimsuit or swim shorts are ideal. If your child isn’t toilet-trained, you’ll need a swim nappy, and many pools also require a snug neoprene nappy cover over the top. Always check your pool’s policy before your first lesson.
How long are swimming lessons for 2-year-olds?
This can vary by provider and pool, but toddler lessons are typically kept short and structured to suit attention spans. Our Penguin lessons are 30 minutes long.
What swimming skills should a 2-year-old be learning?
At this age, it’s about strong foundations: water confidence, floating, body position, coordinated arm and leg movements, and breathing skills (learning to exhale in the water and surface to breathe). Water-safety routines are also introduced and reinforced.
What should I expect from my 2-year-old’s first swimming lesson?
Expect a gentle introduction to the pool environment, the lesson structure and the teacher’s routines. A good first lesson is focused on comfort and familiarisation. Some toddlers join in straight away, while others prefer to watch and warm up. Both are completely normal.
How often should my 2-year-old attend swimming lessons?
Most toddlers benefit from weekly lessons. Regular repetition helps your child recognise the routines, feel more confident in the environment, and build skills steadily over time.
What makes 2-year-old swimming lessons different from baby classes?
Two-year-old lessons are more active and more independence-focused. While baby lessons centre on supported holds and early familiarisation, toddler lessons introduce more energetic activities and a stronger focus on technique foundations, breathing skills, floating and water-safety routines, all taught through play.
Why teach my toddler 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 lessons, means that by the age of 3 and a half many children will be swimming short distances independently.
Do lessons include submersions
Swimming underwater is not the main focus of Turtle Tots swimming lessons. Our award-winning swim programme does include natural submersions once your little one is ready. This will be different for every child and our teachers are fully trained to understand when this will be. However, most of our activities take place above the water, with lots of fun and games.
More information about Toddler Swimming
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Building water confidence: from bath time to pool time
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Baby Swim Nappies – The Lowdown
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It’s time to get ready: how to prepare for babies first swimming lesson
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Name the Turtle Tots Mascot and WIN free swimming lessons
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Baby Swimming with a Disability or Complex Needs
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Why the Right Pool Matters for Your Baby’s First Swimming Lessons
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Making a Splash for Mental Health: How Swimming Supports Children’s Wellbeing
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When can babies go swimming? Your complete guide
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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
Reviews
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Our 2 yr old daughter loves it. Slow patient progress gaining confidence every week at her own pace. Shout out to Stephanie!
Reece 
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We have used Turtle Tots for our 3 yr old who loves it, the pools are a great temprature for all ages, the teachers are warm welcoming, friendly and positive encouragements to the children. Our daughter loves it as they learn to swim through play and songs. You’re also able to book ‘catch up’ lessons if you have to miss one due to your child being unwell, holiday etc which is extremely helpful and we’ve had to use a few times so you don’t loose your money. Would highly recommend Turtle Tots!
Georgina -
We love our swim days! Ivan is always so excited to go and has no fear of water or being in it! Vic and KT are lovely and make everyone feel welcome
Sorcha -
My gtandson started lessons with Ailsa at Buchanan Arms about 6 months ago in a class of four other children of similar age. We thought that he would be nervous to be in the pool without a one to one carer but he took to the class situation straight away and loves his Monday lessons. Ailsa is very parient and gtrat at giving children confidence in the water
Anonymous -
I take my three year old granddaughter every Monday. I am really happy with the team. The teaching staff are brilliant and make it lots of fun.
The admin team and the staff at reception all go out of their way to assist. I have already recommended Turtle Tots to my family and friends. Keep up the good work.
From Hatice ElliottElliott -
My son has been having swimming lessons for over 3 years, since the age of 1. Catherine his swim teacher is amazing with all the children, William is extremely confident in the water and can pretty much swim a fee metres by himself. I highly recommend Turtle Tots and Catherine to teach your children a life lesson. We will miss going when he starts school x
Catherine -
AMAZING! My daughter and myself look forward to going every week. It’s quality time together and lots of fun. She loves the water and is so very confident in herself
Purdy -
Kate is a fantastic teacher! She teaches confidently and creates an environment that all the kids enjoy. My three-year-old son has developed excellent swimming skills and water confidence since he started with turtle tots.
Cleide -
I came to turtle tots as my little boy had a bad experience with a previous swimming coach and lost all confidence and would not even get in the water. After just the first lesson with Anna it was amazing to a smile back on our little boys face. He enjoyed the class so much!!!
Kerry -
We’ve attended this class since my son was one and he’s now three. My son initially wouldn’t go into a pool on holiday, he now loves the water and his class. It’s enabled us to be safe and comfortable in the water and have fun. Thoroughly recommend.
Anonymous -
Turtle Tots swimming lessons have been the best thing we could have ever done for our little girl, we enjoy the lessons so much and are absolutley blown away by her progress. Could not be happier with the instructors.
Lucy -
Turtle toys is an amazing programme for teaching children to swim. My child loves it and her confidence has soared. She enjoys every lesson and the lessons are very fun and active. The lessons focus not just on swimming but how to stay safe in and around the water. My child always looks forward to seeing Michelle who is a very warm and friendly teacher. Highly recommend.
Danielle