Importance of Swim Safety
By Marci Lutsky
We enrolled our twins in swim lessons when they were 14 months old. At the time, it felt young but after speaking with Katrina Abbottt, Aquatics Director at Tilton Fitness, I realized that it wasn’t so young after all because they enroll babies as young as 6 months old in their program. Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in the world and it is preventable. As you focus this month on New Year’s resolutions and how to improve yourself, make sure you also think about your children. Resolve to provide them with the necessary skills so that they know how to swim and can save themselves in the event of an emergency.
When children begin swim lessons at a young age, the focus is on getting them comfortable in the water. This usually involves mom, dad or a family member accompanying the child in the water. As they get older, the focus shifts to important skills like treading water, turning in a circle to locate an exit, being able to swim to an exit, pulling oneself out of the water without a ladder and emerging to the water surface after jumping in. Water safety is important to teach children not only because we live at the beach, but because children are naturally curious when they see water. They can wander away in the blink of an eye and if that happens, you want them to be able to save themselves.
Katrina Abbott teaches swim lessons to people of all ages and needs at Tilton Fitness through private instruction and semi-private instruction. Lessons are held in 8-week sessions with prices starting at $160. Tilton Fitness is one of several area locations offering swim lessons to children with autism through Massi’s Mission, which is part of Faces for Autism. These lessons are one-on-one and scholarships are available. More information can be found at www.faces4autism.org.
The winter months can be long with young children and if you find yourself looking for indoor activities on weekends, make sure to check out Family Swim at Tilton Fitness on Saturdays from 1pm to 3pm and Sundays from 11am to 1pm. You do not need to be a member of Tilton Fitness to attend Family Swim. Cost is $5 per person or $16 for 4 tickets. Swimming is one of my children’s favorite activities and always feels like a special treat so family swim is a fun option for us.
Winter is a great time to enroll your children in swim lessons so that when summer comes around and they are more exposed to outside pools, they will be ready. For more information about swim instruction at Tilton Fitness, you can visit www.tiltonfitness.com. Katrina Abbott will be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
Marci Lutsky is a local mom of eight year-old twins and can be reached at veggingattheshore@gmail.com.
