Swim safety for little ones during Drowning Prevention Week

20 June 2025

Aqua Tots is perfect for babies, toddlers and pre-school children who are new to swimming and spending time in the water.

With Summer upon us, many Wirral families will be spending more time on our borough’s beautiful beaches or making a splash in our swimming pools. Learning how to stay safe, in and around the water, is vital for everyone, especially little ones.

Introducing toddlers to swimming is a great place to start. Many Wirral leisure centres offer Aqua Tots sessions for parents with children under the age of five years and swimming lessons are available from three years old.

Jo, a lifeguard at Leasowe Leisure Centre, said:

I think it's really important that we get our children from a very young age into the water.[…] it's good to give them water awareness, water safety, things to do if they're getting into difficulty.
Parents, if you're not 100% sure yourself or you're a bit nervous, just come and get in the water. Bring your children, let them see that you can have a fun environment and it can be safe as well.

Aqua Tots is perfect for babies, toddlers and pre-school children who are new to swimming and spending time in the water. The sessions are ideal for gaining water confidence while staying close to adult support.

But don’t just take it from us, Lisa is a Wirral resident who takes her grandson to Aqua Tots swimming lessons.

Lisa said:

I've been bringing my grandson for the past couple of weeks. He's new to Aqua Tots. It's a fun way to start bringing him to teach him not only how to swim, but about swimming safety. […]
My Nan taught me how to swim, so I'm carrying it on down the generations and teaching my grandson to swim. And it's just good fun. Keeps everybody healthy and happy and safe.

Watch this video to see what you can expect at an Aqua Tots session.

Aqua Tots sessions are free for Invigor8 members (bookable 7 or 8 days in advance dependent on subscription type) or £6.40 per session for non members (bookable 7 days in advance). To find out more, visit: Swimming Timetables 1 - Active Wirral.

While being great fun and exercise for your children, swimming also provides a confidence that leads to other sports, such as water sports and days at the beach. In order to stay safe in these environments, you should understand basic safety before you head out to have a go:

During Drowning Prevention Week (14 – 21 June), organisations are providing safety information and advice. If you’re planning a trip to the beach or pool, read up on the latest: