CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center are currently hosting swimming lessons to get kids ready for summer water activities. Classes will run Monday-Thursday, June 6-16, June 20-30 or July 11-21. Classes are $80 for CWAC members and $90 for non-CWAC members. Registration is open at the front desk of CWAC.
There will be four different lesson levels increasing in difficulty:
- Level 1 – Bubbles: an introduction to water. Children will learn to be comfortable in the water while learning water safety. Basic kicking and paddling will be introduced.
- Level 2 – Minnows: Children will learn more about water safety, voluntarily going underwater, breath control, bubbles out of mouth and nose, floating on back and front with limited to no assistance.
- Level 3 – Fish: Children will learn to increase the distance of swimming unassisted, tread water, dive into deep water, underwater skills and to breathe while swimming.
- Level 4 – Dolphin: Children will learn stroke technique, back stroke arms, increase distance, surface dives, breaststroke and butterfly.
Classes are for ages 3 and up. For children older than 3, class placement is based on ability. Class times are 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.
Swimming comes with many health benefits and is great way to teach kids to be more confident as well as enhancing stamina, posture and balance. Another benefit is that it makes swimmers stronger and more flexible.
Most importantly enrolling children in swimming lessons is crucial to preventing drowning accidents. According to the CDC, “In the United States, more children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects.” Drowning can happen anytime, including when children are not expected to be near water, such as when they gain unsupervised access to pools.
The CDC also states, “Drowning can happen quickly and quietly anywhere there is water, especially to unsupervised children. It happens in lakes and oceans, pools, bathtubs and even buckets of water. Drowning can occur when lifeguards are present.” Many adults and children report that they are weak swimmers or can’t swim, but if a child learns to swim at a young age, that skill is with them forever, providing them with an essential skill to improve their quality of life.
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