I took swimming lessons as a child and could swim to save myself, nothing more! :) I am making sure that all three kids know how to swim...DS's(13 and 15) will take one more session this spring and DD (6) just loves the water and her swimming lessons, she takes lessons spring and fall. We got a pool a few years ago and it helps that they are in it so much.

I took lessons through our local Red Cross every summer from age 7 til I was a teen ager. I took the first year of life saving class--- but wasn't able to swim underwater long enough, so I flunked the class.

My kids have all had some swim lessons, but we don't have access to Red Cross lessons here and private lessons are exhorbitant.

No I don't. I almost drowned when I was 6 and since then I've been terrified of water. All 3 of our older kids can swim and dd and ds#1 are learning. I want them also to know how to swim.

My brother and I both took red cross lessons since we were little kids. We spent a lot of time on the water and it was very important that we could not only swim, but save someone else. I was thankful for many reasons. One being because my highschool had a pool and I would have completely hated gym class had I not taken lessons for years.

My Zachary has never even been in a real pool. (just the lake and kiddie pools)He really didn't enjoy water until recently. I am hoping there is a good local program. We do have the community center, so I'll be looking into their lessons for him.

I can swim a little - it's more like propelling myself from one side of the pool to the other. I have never tried to swim in open water - like a lake. I need to know there are sides that I can get to. I float great. Can just lay on my back and float all day. Ryan has taken swimming classes at the YMCA several times and swims well. She can just jump in the deep end and take off. Being under water doesn't bother her at all.

I am actually a pretty good swimmer, and took some lifesaving classes as a young adult, recently I have been thinking about getting a refresher course since it has been awhile and my kids have taken classes just for the fact to learn to save themselves if they ever had a reason to do so, but they are ones who decided to/not continue with lessons after they had learned the strokes and could swim at a good level.

They gave swimming classes as part of our gym coursed in Jr. High and High School. Sure glad I did! I started scuba diving at the age of 17 (in MI) and when I lived in Florida, I used to snorkle and scuba dive just about every weekend. I also knew how to water ski and belonged to the "Miami SkiBees".
I can't do these things anymore, but I sure am glad that I used to!

Susie in MN

Yep! I grew up in Hawaii where learning to swim was a survival skill. All my kids know how to swim and 2 of them have been on our town's summer swim team. My hubby is not a very strong swimmer and that worries me at times!

Yes, kids took lessons at the same lake I did as a kid. We all have skills just to the lifesaving level. Important skill to have & just so admire people who take it later in life. They feel awkward & keep practicing & trying till they can do it. Big :clap: to them.

Oh yeah....I could probably swim since I was very tiny. My Dad & I went every day after work in the summer & early fall. we swam in the "River" Now I love swimming pools...so much cleaner & safe. All my Kids can swim quite well. Only one Daughter was on a school swim team though. I would love to have my own pool, but unfortunately that is not in the cards.

Yes, I can swim. I grew up passing all my summers and week-ends up north and I would go swimming in the river with my friends and sister, alot. :) I took one or two swimming lessons when I was young, also. I love to swim in that same river where my parents live...it is clean and pure and I feel so peaceful when I go there....

I can swim too, Lucie. We all learn to swim at school in Australia. It kind of goes with the climate. That river sounds like a beautiful place.

Actually I don't know anyone who can't swim, must be the warm climate I live in. I taught my kids to tread water, and later on to dive, but they pretty much started swimming on their own. My sister enrolled her 18 month old in a Water Babies class, big mistake. She did learn to swim some, but she lost all natural fear of the water and trust me, she was a real devil to keep out of lakes, pools, rivers after that. I think sometimes a healthy dose of fear is a good thing. She learned just enough to get herself in some real trouble!