Swimming Lessons

In the picture, the children are having a swimming lesson at a public pool. Four of them are standing in the shallow water at the edge holding blue kickboards, and the instructor is standing in the water facing them, showing them what to do. The children are looking at the instructor and listening rather than swimming yet. What I also noticed is that they are all within the shallow end where they can stand, so the lesson is being conducted safely.

I learnt to swim when I was eight, and the hardest part was putting my face in the water. For weeks I would practise the kicking with a board but lift my head every time, and my instructor kept telling me to blow bubbles out slowly instead of holding my breath. One lesson I finally managed a full lap with my face down, and I remember being shocked that it was easier, not harder. Now I swim on most weekends and I cannot imagine being afraid of it.

Yes, I feel every child in Singapore should learn. We are surrounded by water, with beaches, reservoirs and swimming pools in almost every neighbourhood, so the chance of ending up in water is high. Swimming is one of the few skills that can save your life or someone else's, and it is far easier to learn as a child than as an adult. Most importantly, a child who cannot swim often avoids water activities entirely, which means missing out on a great deal that Singapore has to offer.