Parentsandtots learn to swim at Lake Worth pool {HEADLINE2} Parents
0 Comments | Palm Beach Post, Jul 29, 2010 | by WILLIE HOWARD
Learning to swim is something everyone should do, especially in a place like South Florida where water seems to be everywhere — in pools, canals, lakes and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean.
The summer learn-to-swim programs at the Lake Worth Municipal Swimming Pool offer 12 sessions for children as young as six months (with parents). The lessons progress through five levels covering basic swimming skills and advancing to specialized skills such back stroke, side stroke, the butterfly, flip turns and standing dives.
Instructors say each beginning swimmer tends to progress differently, depending on their comfort level in the water and eagerness to learn.
“Some kids are absolutely terrified of the water,” instructor Jenna Congdon said. “Some are completely fearless, but they can’t swim.”
With young children, the first goal is to get them comfortable in the water and teach them to blow bubbles and hold their breath under water. They learn to grab for the side of the pool. Some swim short distances.
During a recent parent-and-tot session in the shallow end of the city’s Olympic-size swimming pool, children ages six months to 3 years bobbed around the pool with their parents and instructors.
“It’s important that the parents are with them,” said Tim Ehmke, chief of Lake Worth Ocean Rescue. “It’s really us teaching the parents how to teach them.”
Lyntrice Grant said her 2-year-old daughter, Jordyn, was afraid of the water when she first started swimming lessons
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