Out and About at swim class with Alan and his daughter

NOVI, Mich. (WJBK) - It's never too early to learn how to swim.

In this Out and About, Alan Longstreet headed over to Aqua-Tots Swim School in Novi with his 9-month-old daughter.

Aqua-Tots teaches everyone from 4-month-olds to adults how to swim.

For the little ones, general manager Kathy Elrod says they teach the parents how to safely hold the children and work with the children in the water.

"We're teaching to the parent as well as the student," she says. "We teach our parents how to submerge their child safely using the epiglottal reflex, which is a big word for, basically, you put the baby up and down and it makes the epiglottis in the back of your throat open and close. So that up motion closes it for them before you put them under the water. That way they're not sucking in a lot of water."

She says the little ones are learning the swim skills through repetition. They go through the same skills and drills every time they're in the water.

Instructor Justin Zandolin says they add some songs and games, too, to distract the kids from realizing that they're learning.

Alan says there were a few tears during the first class, but overall he'd call it a success.

For more information on Aqua-Tots and to find a location near you, visit www.aqua-tots.com.