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H2-(N)O?
Is Your Baby Ready for the Backstroke?
By Johnathon Allen
Over the past 20 years, McKay has developed numerous playful techniques for teaching young children to swim. In his classes, parents participate in the pool with their little ones singing songs and playing games with balls and slides specifically designed to help children "find their fins."
"One of the most terrifying moments of my life was being thrown into the deep end of a pool by my dad," says Steve Schotz, a father of two from Palm Beach, Fla., who has been taking his 14-month-old daughter, Vita, to swimming classes for a month. "Strange as it may sound, I still harbor faint feelings of resentment over it. I vowed never to do that to my children. Now, instead of being mad at me her whole life because I forced into the water, she'll remember us playing together and having a good time."
There are a number of "gentle" baby swimming classes available across the country for parents who are ready to take the aquatic plunge with their toddlers. Such programs are often offered by local YMCAs. In addition to the classes offered at his Lifestyle Swim School, McKay has created an award-winning instructional video series for families called Diaper Dolphins that parents can use as a guide.
"Swimming is an important skill with lifelong benefits for parent and child alike," says McKay. "The thing to do is take it slow, have fun and enjoy the journey. They're only little once.
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