With summer fun, swim instructors stress a healthy respect for the water

'Green light,” one swimming instructor shouts from in the pool - the three children sitting along the edge of the pool ferociously flutter their legs, thumping the water, sending splashes into the air.

'Red light,” the instructor says, and the kicking comes to a halt.

In the next lane over, an instructor has the swimmers take turns holding milk cartons that keep their arms afloat, learning to roll to each side and turn their head to breathe for their freestyle strokes. Far off in the deep end, swimmers put their arms in a streamline and dive into the pool.

It's a typical day for the 20 kids taking swimming lessons with Cedar Rapids Aquatic Association at the Coe College pool in Cedar Rapids.

Parents can find swimming lessons teaching various skill levels, such as through the CRAA, throughout the Corridor.

'Water safety in general is important,” said Karlene Hummel, recreation and aquatics coordinator for the city of Marion.

Even if children aren't swimming, it's still important for them to have a healthy respect for water, if they are boating, fishing or just walking by a creek, Hummel added.

'We start with the basics of water safety - blowing bubbles, breath control, floating - really basic stuff,” said Mary Bonine who coordinates swimming lessons for CRAA, which teaches children aged 3 to 12. 'Since we are a swim team, with competitive aspirations, we are looking more at developing strokes as they move through our lesson program, with the idea that they may be interested in joining our swim team.”

CRAA is a year-round competitive USA swim club whose members help teach the swimming lessons. Not all instructors are from CRAA, but all are competitive swimmers with lifeguard certifications, Bonine said.

At CRAA, some parents watch their children's lessons from the stands overlooking the pool. A distance between parents and the lessons is not unique to CRAA.

'We encourage parents to be at a place where they can see kids, but aren't right up next to the pool,” said Carolyn Hamilton, aquatics supervisor for the Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation. 'With that Level 1, this may be the first time they (the swimmers) are in a small group away from mom or dad.”

Separating the child from the parent is important to help them concentrate on the lesson and become an independent swimmer, Hamilton said.

Swim class levels are based on skills of the swimmer and not their age.

'Something I hear from a lot of parents is that they expect that their kid is going to be in a level one time and then move to the next level,” Bonine said. 'What I always tell them is that progress is not always a straight line, it's often a very bumpy road.”

Sarah Ries's twins, Hallie, 7, and Jenna, 7, of Lisbon, were placed in different levels on their first day with CRAA after instructors tested their skill levels.

'They're more confident in their own swimming,” Ries said. 'They're learning good technique so they can go do their own thing in the pool.”

DIFFERENCES IN LESSONS:

Each swim lesson program has a slightly different structure. When considering swim lessons to sign their children up for, parents might observe these characteristics:

' Instructor to child ratio

' Time of year swim lessons are offered

' Length of swim lesson sessions

' Skills included in each level

' Price of program

' Instructor training and certification