When Can Children Swim Themselves?

When the children are small, it is of course the parents’ responsibility to help them while they bathe, but they eventually begin to ask themselves the question: When can my children bathe themselves?

When can children start bathing themselves?

The older the children get, the more important it is for both parents to encourage independence. With their encouragement, they eventually learn to swim all by themselves, without any help.

There is no age limit for the first independent bath. All children are unique and have different degrees of maturity.

At what age can parents start encouraging their children to swim themselves?

At the age of three to four, parents can start teaching their children to use a sponge.

Take advantage of the opportunity and teach them to take their first steps towards independence. Name the different body parts that they should wash clean and monitor them to see how it goes.

It is important for the children that they themselves take the initiative to swim independently. Parents can start by removing some of the bath toys that children usually use during the bath. In this way, the bathing itself becomes a game.

They will still need help washing their hair and rinsing off all soap residue for a few more years.

The moment when the children can swim themselves comes in due time. When they are between 7 and 8 years old, most children can swim themselves. 

In some cases, parents still need to jump in and help them with hygiene. When they reach the age of 10, all children can swim themselves.

Bathing is important

Bathing is about much more than just staying clean. It is important that parents not only teach their children to wash themselves but also to take responsibility and pick up their things after each bath.

They must learn to take responsibility for cleaning up after themselves and throwing dirty clothes where they belong – in the laundry basket.

It is also important to teach them not to waste water. It is an important natural resource that is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity. At the same time as you teach the children to be careful and not waste water, you also give them a valuable lesson in how to take care of the environment.

Safety during the bath

Many parents worry about their children’s safety when they start bathing themselves. Below are some tips to keep in mind:

• Do not close the bathroom door completely. By leaving the bathroom door ajar, your children can shout at you if there is something they need. We also advise you to look after your children from time to time to be sure that everything is in order.

• Lay a rug on the floor by the bathtub for safety. It helps to avoid possible falls and slips when the children get out of the bathtub. For the safety of the children and your peace of mind, you can tell them to call you when they have finished bathing so that you can help them out of the bathtub.

• The shower railing allows the children to hold on while they scrub themselves clean, so they are important for a safe shower.
• It is important to avoid burns from hot water. The first thing you should do is regulate the water temperature. Also make sure that no dangerous objects are within reach, such as hair dryers, razor blades and scissors, etc.

When children can swim themselves does not depend on age, but on the habits and knowledge the parents have taught. It is their maturity and development that determines when they are ready to swim themselves, without supervision and help.