MOUNTAIN LAKES — Teaching children how to swim and be safe around water is one of the most important life skills parents can help their children learn, especially in communities that have an abundance of lakes and backyard pools. It not only saves lives; it builds confidence.
Research shows that participation in formal water safety and swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning among children one to four years of age. It also teaches them at a young age to strive for physical achievement.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children one to four years old and is the second leading cause of death for children from 5 to 14 years old. In fact, two children die every day because of drowning.
The Y is “America’s Swim Instructor” and the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming. The Y introduced the concept of group swim lessons more than 100 years ago (1909) and each year, the Y teaches more than a million children invaluable water safety and swimming skills. According to Lakeland Hills Family YMCA’s Aquatics Director, Ed Soder, “Here at the Y, we believe swimming is an important skill to learn especially in our lake communities.” There are three general categories of Y swim lessons:
- Swim Starters develops water enrichment and aquatic readiness in children ages six months to three years. This category focuses on developing swim readiness skills through fun and confidence-building experiences. Parents also learn how to supervise children in the water, how to prevent accidents and how to plan for emergencies.
- Swim Basics develops personal water safety and basic swimming skills in students of all ages. Swimmers develop a high level of comfort in the water by practicing safe water habits, engaging in underwater exploration, and learning how to swim to safety and exit if they fall into a body of water.
- Swim Strokes introduces and refines stroke technique in older students (school age, teens and adults). Having mastered the fundamentals, students learn additional water safety skills and build stroke technique, developing skills that prevent chronic disease, increase social-emotional and cognitive well-being and foster a lifetime of physical activity.
“Swimming is a life skill that has many benefits, and everyone should remember that it’s never too late to learn!” For more information about the Y’s swim programs, contact Ed Soder at (973) 334-2820 or by email: eds@lhymca.com
