Teaching your child to swim and encouraging them to swim regularly can have significant benefits for both his or her health and safety.
Especially on a hot day, swimming is a way to keep cool while encouraging a healthy level of physical and social activity. Bring the kids to the aquatic centre during the winter months to promote an active, year-round lifestyle.
***
According to KidsHealth.org, drowning is the second leading cause of death for people between the ages of five and 24. By teaching your children to swim, they will not only become stronger swimmers, but also gain valuable experience in the water.
This experience greatly reduces the risk of an emergency if your child accidentally falls into an unguarded pool or gets pulled into deep water by a rip current at the beach or while fishing.
Grand Forks Recreation (GFREC) offers swimming lessons for children six months of age to adults. Parent and Tot lessons offer children and parents an opportunity to introduce babies and toddlers to the water in a fun, safe and supervised environment. Parents learn skills to help little ones overcome the fear of submerging in the water.
Preschool lessons for ages three to five help children overcome the fear of water, teaches them to move more comfortably in the water and starts them on their way to becoming a competent swimmer.
Swim Kids level 1 to 10 offers lessons for ages six to 15. Water safety awareness is a large part of each level at this age.
***
Parent and Tot lessons will be offered Monday and Wednesdays from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. for three weeks starting Monday, Nov. 5. Class sizes are limited so call today to reserve your spot in this session.
***
Preschool lessons will be held on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m., starting Saturday, Oct 13. Lessons will run in conjunction with the free Parent and Tot Swim and Play program from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. This program is sponsored by Success by Six.
Parents are very busy during the school year and GFREC would like to help ease the load by offering swimming lessons for kids in a condensed format.
Levels 1 to 4 will be offered for two Tuesdays, two Wednesdays and one Thursday starting Tuesday, Oct. 16. Levels 5 to 10 will be offered the following three weeks starting Tuesday, Oct. 30.
All swim kids classes will be held after school from 4 to 5 p.m., helping to free the evenings for other activities the children may be involved in.
***
To register for this fall swim lessons, please give GFREC a call at 250-442-2202 or email us at gfplay@rdkb.com.
