BERNICE HARRISONon alternatives to movies and the mall
THERE CAN’T BE a parent who hasn’t experienced the heart-stopping moment when they think their child has been underwater – whether in a pool or open sea – for a fraction of a second too long. Even though we’re an island nation, we’re not known for our swimming abilities among children, teaching confidence in the water is an absolute must.
The sunny south-east is a major holiday destination and parents can combine the hols (and keep the kids happily busy) by enrolling them in one of Wexford Water Safety’s summer courses. The classes – one for children over four, the other for the 10-plus age group – are at the major Blue Flag resorts in Wexford (including Courtown, Rosslare, Curracloe, Duncannon) for around €30 per week. Lessons are taught by qualified voluntary instructors and depending on tides, courses generally run from 10am to 2pm daily. www.wexfordwatersafety.ie.
Swimming clubs also offer lessons. The Dolphin Swimming Club, Mayfield, Cork (www.dolphinsc.com) offers non-competitive learning programmes for children. And younger children could start with the Swim-a-Song programme designed by Swim Ireland for babies from four months to three years old.
Some local swimming pools run the programme (and the Learn to Swim Programme for older children), and Swim Ireland (www.swimireland.ie) has a list of local pools to contact.
You could start at home with the Swim-a-Song Parent Pack (€19.99 plus p+p from Swim Ireland) which includes a CD, a songbook and teaching instructions.