It’s not just at the Olympic level that swimming has international appeal. Babies in many parts of the world are learning an early love for the water. Parents take their babies for lessons, says U.S. Swim School Association representative Lana Whitehead, because it helps in “laying the groundwork for sensory motor development … (and) encouraging the parent-infant bond.” However, the American Academy of Pediatrics warns parents to think twice about a class for the littlest kids if it touts anything other than teaching basic skills, such as breath holding and kicking. Kids younger than 4 “do not have the developmental ability to master water survival skills and swim independently,” says AAP spokeswoman Deborah Ann Mulligan. “Swimming programs for these children should focus on building confidence and educating parents regarding water safety.”