Children and water play go hand in hand. I mean just think back to your childhood, and perhaps even into your adult life (chuckle), the thought of being around a body of water whether at the beach, by a pool or kayaking on the canal puts a smile on your face. It is no different for our children, they love water, it starts with bath time and continues with seeking out summertime watering holes (oops did I just give my age away). One thing is for sure children love to splash!

With summer just around the corner spring is a great time to have your children splash into safety! Water safety is such an integral part of what the Y Swim Lessons stands for.  Every child who comes into contact with the water should know how to stay safe at all times. Our swim lessons have a strong focus on safety and how important it is. As the kids go through our swim lessons and progress to the different levels, we go 1 step further in each level and teach them how to help others. Our goal is to provide them with tools to help someone if they were in a situation of distress.

Oftentimes a love for swimming starts with swim lessons, because our instructors are encouraging as well as playful. Swim teams throughout the Y are known for their sportsmanship and passion for the sport. What a great sport to participate in to learn the balance between individual strengths and goals and what it takes to work as a team, encouraging and building each other up. So for some what started out as a small splash can grow into so much more.

Anyone can benefit at any age from swim lessons; at the Y there are opportunities for parents to swim with their children, as well as adult swim classes. Learning to swim is for everyone. So make a SPLASH this spring at the Y!

Nancy Gregory

Associate Aquatic Director