Do you know how to swim?

[brin]

In my Youth, I went swimming in the way that you previously described.

Me too ! :thumbsup:

 

[LJH]

I can swim but not well and it isn't something I ever do on purpose. Even as a kid I hated being in the water and that hasn't changed. I mean, you can't breathe in the stuff and I really like breathing. Prolly drowned in a past life.

 

[riptides]

I learned real early. I learned right the hard way many, many years later.

All my kids learned very early.

We all are water bugs now. I cannot wait till it gets warm up here to enjoy the water.

 

[MossRoad]

It more important to learn how to float and be comfortable waiting in the water without panicing.
What usually happens is people panic and try to get their head as far above water as possible. That wears them out and they start trying to swim up-and-down instead of forward. They wear themselves out quickly, tire, and drown. It takes considerably less energy to just keep your mouth and nose above the water.

I encourage everyone to teach your kids to swim. Find the local chapter of your American Red Cross and they can usually set you up with very affordable swimming lessons.

Also, taking lessons all the way through lifesaving courses and then landing a job at a local pool or beach can be a good source of summer income for a teen/young adult and teach them some real responsibility. :thumbsup:

 

[DAD1220]

There has been a surge lately to "drown proof your toddlers." I think it's a good thing.

I grew up swimming in creeks and ponds. It WAS the "air conditioning." Besides, if I'd been in the creek that day, did I really need a bath that night?

We have a 4+ acre pond now...and the grand kids were hesitant to swim in it right up until they saw someone else in it! Once the "ice" was broken they were all for it! Now there are kids in it almost every weekend.

 

[Bird]

I grew up swimming in creeks and ponds. It WAS the "air conditioning." Besides, if I'd been in the creek that day, did I really need a bath that night?

A buddy & I learned to swim that way with no lessons when we were 10 or 11 years old. My wife never learned to swim. We put an in-ground vinyl liner pool in the backyard when our daughters were 9 and 12 years old. The girls took to the water like ducks and the pool was used a great deal until the girls were in their teens and working as lifeguards at other pools, and ours didn't get used hardly at all from then on.

I used to go fishing occasionally with my wife's oldest brother in West Virginia. He never learned to swim, loved to fish, wsn't afraid in a small boat, but he DID always wear his life jacket.

 

[polo1665]

My father would never have let us get away without learning to swim. He taught us the basics and then had us take lessons at the community beach. All of us boys also got our swimming merit badges in the scouts.

Seems like all of our vacations revolved around lakeshores and beaches. Had many good times in the water.

 

[CliffordK]

I believe every child should be taught to swim. Especially if they are ever to go fishing or boating.

I must admit that cold river water is a little different from a warm pool though.

 

[Western]

I went swimming almost every day as a kid in the summer. Hardly lucky enough to use a real "pool", mostly creeks and ponds. I cant ever remember knowing anyone that couldn't swim? I guess kids dont get out much these day's. They still have those "city pools" dont they?? I know some have been closed because of budgets around here, but COME ON!!

 

[DAD1220]

My mother-in-law couldn't swim. One day at the beach a big wave knocked her down and swept her around ten or twenty yards. She started yelling "HELP" and such.

A lifeguard got there before I did, grabbed her arm...and said, "Mame, you can stand up now."

We used that for years, every time she started to get excited about anything, we'd all say, "Mame, you can stand up now."