In the Swim

Five-year-old Melinda Harrison frolics in the water, splashing her father Jim as he watches from poolside at the Central Orange Coast YMCA. Nearby, Melinda’s 3-year-old brother Nicky is having his first swimming lesson. He frowns, then pouts, then lets out a howl.

“He’s not so sure about this,” said Sandra, his mother, as the wet and slippery child struggled against her grasp. “His sister didn’t like her first swimming lesson either. He’ll be OK in a few weeks.”

With summer approaching, parents are readying their children for the water-soaked, fun-filled days ahead by enrolling them in swimming lessons. Spring sessions are underway at many facilities and summer classes are coming up.

What type of class is best for your child? Do swimming lessons prevent children from drowning? What about classes for adults? A look at swim instruction in Orange County:

Infants and toddlers: In this age group, learning is accomplished through play, with both parent and child in the water splashing and having fun. “The goal is for the child to get used to the water, have fun and maybe put their face in the water and blow bubbles,” said Julie Wills, a Red Cross certified instructor who has been teaching for 15 years.

Older toddlers are encouraged to lie on their stomachs in the water and practice kicking and paddling while the parent holds them afloat. Some are able to practice holding onto the side of the pool unassisted or jump into the pool to the arms of a waiting parent.

“For this age group, the most important thing is to have fun,” Wills said. Some kids take to the water right away, but there are always those who scream through the entire lesson.

“I never try to force kids to do anything they aren’t ready for,” Wills said. “I just encourage parents to keep bringing them to class and to let them see others having fun. Most of them settle down after a few lessons. If not, they can always try again when they are a little older.”

Helpful Tips:

* Coordinate lessons around the child’s meal and nap schedule so he or she will be well rested and have plenty of energy. A light snack about a half-hour before entering the water and another on the way home from class is also a good idea.

* All non-potty trained children should wear a swim diaper to prevent soiling the pool.

* Infants chill quickly, so watch the water temperature. An indoor or enclosed pool with water temperature of at least 80 degrees is usually better for infants and small children.

* Infants sample everything with their mouths, including pool water. A few gulps from a clean pool won’t hurt, but large amounts can be hazardous.

Preschoolers (ages 3-5): This group is usually taught directly by the instructor, with mom or dad watching from the pool deck. The emphasis is on learning to float and swim unassisted. Games, contests and rewards are used to keep children motivated.

Children are not allowed to use “floaties” (inflatable bands that fit around the arms) or other flotation devices during class, but Wills said these are fine to use outside of class on occasion. “They can help children build confidence in the water. But don’t let them get dependent on them,” she said. “Kids need to learn what their bodies feel like in the water without them.”

School age (6 and older): Participants are usually grouped according to age and ability, with an emphasis on learning efficient stroke technique and endurance. Children may advance to team workouts and competitions sponsored by YMCAs and community rec programs as early as age 6.

Adults: Many programs offer private or small-group instruction for adults. “We’ve had 80-year-olds who have been afraid of the water all their lives come to us for help tackling their fears,” said Paul Barrera, an instructor at Aqua Wave Swim School in Foothill Ranch. “Some just want to improve their technique. Swimming is a great way of staying in shape without placing too much stress on joints and ligaments.”

The drowning issue: With drowning a leading cause of death in children younger than 4, some swim schools push swimming lessons as a way to “drown-proof” infants and toddlers. But the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a statement expressing its concern that swimming lessons for children younger than 4 may give children and parents a false sense of security in and around the water.

“I agree that swimming lessons are not a substitute for supervision,” Barrera said. “Water is enticing to children.”

Selecting a program: Successful swim instruction consists of three important factors, according to Mary Landon, a San Clemente resident who has taught swimming to South County children for more than 28 years.

* Learning environment: “The water must be warm enough and there shouldn’t be too many distractions. I prefer only one class at a time in the pool,” she said.

* Quality instructor: Look for someone with experience teaching your child’s age group. Older kids respond especially well to someone who is caring, yet firm. “Working with someone who has high expectations and the ability to motivate will build your child’s self-confidence,” Landon said.

* Attendance: Parents must be willing to commit enough time to bring children to lessons regularly to achieve results.

Teaching your child yourself: Many families cannot afford swim lessons, and some parents prefer to teach their children themselves. To help, the Save-A-Life Foundation has produced Aqua Tykes, a video that provides a practical demonstration of swim instruction techniques based on positive reinforcement and confidence building. It is available at libraries or from Save-A-Life for $29.95 at P.O. Box 5145, Deltona, Florida, 32728-5145. (407) 574-0538. The Web site address is https://www.aquatykes.com.

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Swim Lessons

YMCA

Morning, afternoon and evening classes offered. Purchase of full or limited membership required. Class and membership fees vary, call for information:

* Anaheim Hills YMCA

(714) 921-9203

Classes: Two-week sessions for children ages 6 months to 12 years.

Facilities: Classes held in local residential pools

* Orange YMCA

(714) 633-9622

Classes: Two-week sessions for children ages 6 months to 12 years

Facilities: Classes held in local residential pools

* Saddleback Valley YMCA

Mission Viejo

(949) 859-9622

Classes: Three-week sessions for ages 6 months to 12 years.

Facilities: Outdoor pool

* Central Orange Coast YMCA

Newport Beach

(714) 642-9990

Classes: Year-round group and private lessons for all ages.

Facility: Covered outdoor pool

* North Orange County YMCA

Fullerton (714) 879-9622

Classes: Year-round group and private lessons for all ages.

Facility: Indoor pool

* West County Family YMCA

Huntington Beach

(714) 847-9622

Classes: Two-week sessions for ages 6 months to 12 years.

Facilities: Classes held in local residential pools

* Yorba Linda-Placentia YMCA

(714) 777-9622

Classes: Two-week sessions for ages 6 months to 12 years

Facilities: Classes held in local residential pools

* South Coast YMCA (Laguna Niguel)

(714) 495-9622

Classes: Two-week sessions for all ages

Facilities: Outdoor pool

* Anaheim Salvation Army

(714) 491-1450

Classes: Private lessons for all ages offered year-round. Group lessons offered during the summer.

Facilities: Indoor pool

* Boys and Girls Club of Fullerton

(714) 525-8241

Classes: Group instruction for children 6 months to 12 years

Facilities: Outdoor pool

PRIVATE SWIM SCHOOLS

Private swim schools offer year-round instruction for all ages. Fees are higher, but instruction is more individualized and class times can be arranged to fit your schedule. Group classes range in size from two to four students per instructor. Some schools do not offer group instruction. Expect to pay $8-$15 for 30 minutes of group instruction and $20-$30 for 30 minutes of private instruction.

* Aqua Wave Swim School

(949) 455-2535

Foothill Ranch

Facilities: Enclosed outdoor pool

* Blue Buoy Swim School

Tustin

(714) 832-8910

Facilities: Indoor and outdoor heated pools

* Watersafe Swim School

(two locations)

* Orange

(714) 538-6388

Facilities: Outdoor pool

* Seal Beach

(562) 596-8608

Facilities: Enclosed outdoor pool

* Australian Swim School

(four locations)

Facilities: Indoor pools

* Buena Park

(714) 994-3966

* Fullerton

(714) 572-9282

* Fountain Valley

(714) 962-7574

* Santa Ana/Tustin

(714) 541-7946

* South County Swim School

Mary Landon

(949) 498-5600

Facilities: Residential pools

* Aliso Hills Swim Ranch (Mission Viejo)

(949) 581-1135

Facilities: Outdoor pool

* Sandpiper Swim School (Orange)

(714) 532-3916

Facilities: Indoor pool

* Aqua Duks Swim School

Anaheim Hills

(714) 637-7090

Facilities: Indoor pool

* Aqua Club (Garden Grove)

Instruction in English and Korean

(714) 537-6233

Facilities: Indoor pool

* Troy Club Swim School (Yorba Linda)

(714) 970-8476

Facilities: Outdoor pool

* Virgo Family Swim School

Garden Grove

(714) 636-2550

Facilities: Indoor pool

* Los Caballeros Aquatics

Fountain Valley

(714) 546-8560 ext. 210 or 211

Facilities: Outdoor pool

CITY RECREATION PROGRAMS

Group lessons for children and adults. Fees range from $25-$40 per two-week session (eight to ten 30-minute lessons). Teacher-student ratios vary according to type of class. Information:

* Anaheim (714) 765-5130, Brea (714) 990-7100, Buena Park (714) 562-3844, Costa Mesa (714) 645-8551 or (714) 645-2797, Cypress (714) 229-6780, Dana Point (949) 496-4251, Fountain Valley (714) 593-4446, Fullerton (714) 738-6575, Garden Grove (714) 741-5200, Huntington Beach (714) 536-5486, Irvine (949) 559-0472, La Habra (562) 905-9708, Laguna Beach (949) 472-1450 or (949) 497-0716, Laguna Niguel (949) 362-4350, Lake Forest (949) 768-0981 ext. 3, Los Alamitos (562) 430-1073, Mission Viejo (Nadadores Swim America) (949) 380-2550, Newport Beach (949) 644-3151, Orange (714) 744-7272, Placentia (714) 993-8232, San Clemente (949) 361-8265, Santa Ana (714) 571-4200, Seal Beach (562) 431-2527, Tustin (Tustin High) (714) 730-7414, Westminster (714) 895-2860, Yorba Linda (714) 961-7160

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Group lessons for adults and children. Fees range from $25 to $45 per two-week session (eight-10 30-minute lessons). Information:

* Cal State Fullerton (714) 278-3978, Cypress College (714) 826-4223, Fullerton College (714) 992-7412, Golden West College (Huntington Beach) (714) 891-3991, Orange Coast College (Costa Mesa) (714) 432-5880, Saddleback College (Mission Viejo (949) 582-4646, UC Irvine (949) 824-5346

Compiled by JANICE JONES DODDS/LOS ANGELES TIMES