Tots Get First Swim Lessons at City Pools

Dagmar Jacobson held 6-month-old Emma as the infant floated atop shallow water in the San Fernando city pool.

“Living in California, it’s very important to get used to the water,” said Jacobson, a Chatsworth resident who hails from Denmark.

Mother and baby participate in a Recreation and Community Services Department swim class for parents who wish to introduce infants and toddlers to the swimming pool environment.

Slathered in sun block and clad in a sea-blue swim diaper, Emma stuck out her tongue as mom showed off the baby’s first two teeth.

“We’ve been bathing her in the tub at home,” Jacobson said.

“It’s definitely a different experience here. She loves watching all the other kids.”

Nearby, a class of 5- and 6-year-olds climbed from the water and clamored for their towels having completed the first five days of their Level I swim lessons.

With toddlers and Level I swimmers, the focus of the lessons is floating and kicking, said lifeguard John Berryman.

“You’ve got to make sure that they can go under and resurface,” Berryman said. “You’ve got to make sure they can hold their breath.

More advanced classes teach strokes and rescue skills.

For novice and intermediate swimmers interested in competition, Berryman coaches the San Fernando Sharks Swim Team, which practices at the pool during the week and competes Saturdays with other Valley teams.

Recreation department instructors teach six levels of swim classes at the Park Avenue pool.

Classes last 30 to 40 minutes a day for two weeks.

Registration for the next session--which runs from July 6 through July 17--starts at noon Monday at the pool.

Fees for lessons vary, based on the class level.

None costs more than $20. The pool is at 208 Park Ave.

For more information, call (818) 898-1290.