Swimming Lessons for 3 and 4 Year Olds
Our award-winning programme continues with swimming lessons for 3 and 4 year olds, with a focus on water confidence, stroke development, and essential life-saving skills leading naturally to independent swimming.
Our swimming lessons for 3 and 4 year olds are just right for children starting on their Turtle Tots journey, with plenty of learning through play and familiar songs from preschool included. Children starting lessons for the first time will graduate from Turtle Tots the year they turn 5, and our goal is to ensure they are ready to move on to independent lessons for bigger kids.
Children can start our lessons anytime up until they are 4.5 years of age.
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!
THE BENEFITS OF SWIMMING
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 Our Lessons and Classes
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March 02, 2020
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Reviews
Posted on Google Sinéad McCabe01/07/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really enjoyed the lessons and I now feel more confident taking my baby swimming. Our teacher Kimberlie Rose is so kind and patient with the babies, cannot recommend Turtle Tots enough.Posted on Google Claire o'connor28/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Liam loved his swimming lessonsPosted on Google Ana Silva10/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My daughter has started swimming lesson with Turtle Tots, for the first time, for the summer time and we are having so much fun. As a parent I think swimming is such a great, fun and important skill. The classes are well elaborated for the young ones, and our teacher Niamh Doyle is great. Would highly recommend.Posted on Google Claire Bedford10/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really recommend turtle tots, excellent instructors, child led and child focused. Small classes with great interactionPosted on Google Keelin Hughes09/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great lessons, fun for parents and babyPosted on Google Stacey Murray08/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My little boy Ollie loves going to Turtle Tots every week. It’s amazing to see how much his confidence has grown over the last few months. Thank you to Emer for making the classes super fun, will definitely be enrolling in the Autumn term. ☺️Posted on Google Shane Kennedy07/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've done Turtle Tots with both of my daughters in the Clayton in Cork and they both absolutely flourished in the classes. Their confidence grew hugely over the courses, as did their enjoyment of it. The teachers are absolutely amazing and really respond to every child's needs during the class.Posted on Google Dervla07/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great instructor, both my boys really enjoy going every week, it’s a fun and stress free lesson.Posted on Google Siobhan Ní Dhufaidh07/06/2025Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Really enjoying the classes in Liffey Valley with Veronika. She has made us both feel at ease in the water despite my daughter only being 4 months old. The classes are fun too which keeps baby entertained.
