05/26/2026
Goggles are great! For competition. But for learning to swim they are a hindrance that is not necessary to have. They will leak, they will fall off, they will cause tears for small children who don't have the motor skills to put them on properly.
If a child never learns to swim WITHOUT goggles, then I don't believe they ever learn to truly swim. Water competence and water confidence is what promotes water safety. If you don't have either without goggles then its a problem.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children ages 1-4 and 70% of fatal drowning occur during non-swim times. Times when the child is not wearing goggles.
If your swimmer NEEDS goggles to swim, please reach out for some strategies and tricks to wean them off of rhe goggles. If your swimmer is just starting out, skip the goggles!!