Take a Splash with Your Toddler This Summer at Local Northern Columbus, OH Area Pools!

Summer is the time children run around until dark and spend days by the pools. It is also a great time to take swimming lessons. Several area pools, recreation centers, and gyms offer a variety of swim lessons. Most that target toddlers require a parent to accompany the child. Most lessons are between $30 - $60, depending on residency or membership status and lessons run for about five to eight sessions. Most lessons also last 30 minutes. Some programs offer additional playtime after the instructional period.

Your experience with any particular swim class also will depend on the teacher. Some teachers relate well to young children and to parents. You may also want to consider who the target audience is for, how comfortable your child is in the water, and the temperament of your child when selecting the right swim class for you.

For example, my son and I participated in a parent and child class this past spring through a local YMCA branch. Because he was not three-years-old (he turned three in May), he needed to be enrolled in the parent-child class. My son was one of the oldest children in the class, if not the oldest. He clearly did not like being among babies nor being treated like a baby. He did not care for being talked to in that cutesy sort of baby way to be bribed or enticed to splash around the water or blow bubbles.

You must understand that my son has an older brother who is 18 months older. My son has always thought he was the same age as his older brother. Also, this was not my son's first swim class and he loves splashing around the bath tub at home or other pools we've gone to in the past. All of this led to him being quite bored and "too old" for the parent and me class. It was apparent that other parents and their younger children (of roughly 12 months to 18 months of age) really enjoyed the class! So, just be careful choosing which class is right for you!

Our best experience has been at the Worthington Community Center. You don't have to be a member or a resident to take a class. They offer four different classes for parents and children and they are progressive. This is great as children get more familiar with the water and swimming and the classes are structured so that children gradually are used to swimming without their parents being in the water at the same time. Kids also learn basic swimming techniques through games.

If you are a member of a gym, you may want to inquire what classes are offered to members and at what price before seeking out lessons elsewhere.

What follows are some information gathered from the web about some programs that local recreation centers and pools offer. Be sure to contact the individual swimming venue for registration information and deadlines as some sessions have already started or will start soon. Some venues may offer on-line registration options. Happy swimming!

Orange Township Park Aquatic Center

7560 Gooding Blvd.

Delaware, OH 43015

Telephone: 740-549-4622

E-mail: cpmcolumbus@aol.com.

Website: http://orangetwp.org/parks/aquatic_park.php

Classes:

TADPOLES. For children ages three to six learning to adjust to the water. The class emphasizes water orientation, basic water safety and development of a comfort level within the aquatic environment. Skills include water adjustment, bubble blowing, bobbing, prone float and glide, back float and glide, flutter kick and the human stroke.

Session Schedules:

Eight 30-minute intense lessons are offered. Four sessions are scheduled for the summer: June 8 to June 18; June 22 to July 2; July 6 to July 16; and July 20 to July 30. Times of classes are 9:15, 9:45 and 10:15. Not all levels are scheduled for each time period.

Class Fees:

$40.00 per child for Resident Pool Pass Holder; $45.00 per child for Resident Non-Pool Pass Holder. Payment must be made with a check, payable to "Orange Township", at the time of registration. Non-Residents may sign up on a waiting list. Non-Resident class fee is $50.00 per child.

MingoPark500 East Lincoln Avenue

Delaware, OH

Telephone: 740-203-1460

Website:

http://www.delawareohio.net/departments/Recreation%20Services/Mingo%20Pool

Classes:

WHALE TAILS I: (6 months to 2 years) 30 minute classes. The parent or guardian will participate in the water to work one-on-one with the child. It is designed with safety education as its core focus. This course provides parents a variety of safe, enjoyable water activities for their child.

WHALE TAILS II: (2 to 5 years) 30 minute classes. The parent or guardian will participate in the water to work one-on-one with the child. It is designed with safety education as its core focus. This course provides parents a variety of safe, enjoyable water activities for their child.

Session Schedules:

Lessons are 45 minutes (except as otherwise noted), Monday-Thursday, for two weeks. Fridays are class make-up days. Four sessions are offered throughout the summer.

Session I: June 15-June 25

Session II: June 29-July 9

Session III: July 13-July 23

Session IV: July 27-August 6

Registration is taking place now for Learn-to-Swim classes for all sessions. Minimum of five registrants per class. Times may be consolidated to reach class minimums.

Class Fees:

Whale Tails

Resident Rate: $35

Non-Resident Rate: $50

Worthington Community Center

345 East Wilson Bridge Road

Worthington, Ohio 43085

Telephone: 614-436-2743

Website: http://www.worthington.org/services/communitycenter.cfm

Classes:

Flounder
The Flounder swimming class is for preschool age children who are not comfortable in the water. The children will play games and we will do various activities to help the children become more comfortable in the water. We kindly ask that parents come ready to get into the water the first couple of classes if the child or the instructor needs their help.

Little Nemos
This class will be designed for those children who are ready to move up from the Tiny Tots class, but are not yet old enough to move into Flounder or Guppy. Children should be comfortable in the water, and able to move around and explore the pool by themselves. Mom, Dad, or whomever must be in the water near each child.

PM Peewee Pool Time
Want to wear out the kids before bedtime? Come join us for some playtime in the pool. We will splash around, play with the toys, play some games and maybe even go down the 'big''slide. There will be lots of splashing and fun! Just a reminder that all the children must be accompanied by an adult and those children that are not yet potty trained must wear a swim diaper.

Tiny Tots
The Tiny Tots swimming class is designed to help the child develop a comfort level in and around the water and also develop a readiness to learn more advanced swimming skills. Parents will work one-on-one with their child in the water to learn various holding positions. The children will learn how to blow bubbles, float, kick their legs, underwater exploration and other aquatic skills. Children not yet potty trained will need to wear a swim diaper.

Session Schedules:

Session I (programs run June 13 - July 18)

Tuesday, June 2 Resident Registration

Wednesday, June 3 Working/Pass Holder Registration

Thursday, June 4 Open Registration

No classes on Saturday, July 4 (Independence Day)

Session I I (programs run July 22 - August 25)

Sunday, July 19 Resident Registration

Monday, July 20 Working/Pass Holder Registration

Tuesday, July 21 Open Registration

• There are no restrictions when registering for Parent/Child or beginning level classes. These classes include: Tiny Tots, Little Nemos, Flounder, Guppy I, Guppy II and PM Pee Wee Pool Time.
• If you have never taken a swim class at the Worthington Community Center, you will be required to come in and be tested by our Aquatics Administrator on Duty. Once you've been tested you will be enrolled in the appropriate prerequisite course and online registration will then be available to you.

Online registration will begin at 12:00 am. In person registration will begin at 6:00 am.

Class Fees:

There are five sessions - 30 minute of instruction, 15 minutes of play

As little as $30 for residents and as much as $39 for non-residents

Westerville Community Center
350 N. Cleveland Ave.
Westerville, OH 43082

Telephone: (614 )901-6500

Website: http://www.westerville.org/Default.aspx?tabid=121

Classes:

Goldfish Swim Lessons

The Goldfish (19- to 36-month olds) program is designed to develop the child's comfort level in water and readiness for learning more advanced swimming skills. Parents work one-on-one with their child in the water.

Guppy Swim Lessons

Also known as Level I - Water Exploration, this class is suitable for young children (ages 3 - 5-

years old) who are beginner swimmers. Children will learn elementary swimming skills for building upon in future levels.

Tiny Tot Swim Lessons

The Tiny Tot (6- to 18-month olds) program is designed to develop the child's comfort level in water and readiness for learning more advanced swimming skills. Parents work one-on-one with their child in the water.

Contact the Westerville Community Center for session schedules and class fees.

Powell Pool

Olentangy Swim Association

Adventure Park

Powell, OH

Telephone: (614) 846-6112
Website: http://www.osapool.org/Default.asp?snid=185213390&org=osapool.org

Classes:

Tadpoles (Level 1)- For children ages 3 to 6, to adjust to the water. The class emphasizes water orientation, basic water safety and development of a comfort level within the aquatic environment. Skills include water adjustment, bubble blowing, prone float and glide, back float and glide, flutter kick and human stroke.

Session Schedules:

All sessions are Monday through Thursday for 2 weeks for 30 minutes. Friday is a make up day if lessons are cancelled due to bad weather.

• You may sign up for more than one session but you cannot split sessions.

• Session times are as follows:

Morning

9:30am-10:00am

10:05am-10:35am

10:40am-11:10am

Evening

5:45-6:15pm (Session 1 and 2- Tadpoles)

Session 1: Monday June 22nd- Thursday June 25^th

Monday June 29th- Thursday July 2nd

Session 2: Monday July 13^th- Thursday July 16th

Monday July 20^th- Thursday July 23rd

Session 3: Monday August 3rd- Thursday August 6th

Monday August 10th- Thursday August 13th

A class will consist of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 students. Eight- 30 minute lesions are offered for the above times.

Class Fees:

OSA Members: $50.00 per child per session

Non- Members: $60.00 per child per session

Please make checks payable to: Olentangy Swim Association (OSA)