Courtesy: National Recreation and Park Association
Ashburn, Va. (Feb. 4, 2019) — According to a recent poll conducted by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), more than 9 in 10 Americans (95 percent) believe it is important for children to learn how to swim at an early age. Parks and recreation is a leading provider of low-cost/free swimming lessons. Nearly 70 percent of agencies nationwide provide aquatics programming, including learn-to-swim lessons and water safety programs for children and adults.
People of all ages agree it’s important for young children to learn how to swim. However, baby boomers (97 percent) feel the strongest. In fact, eighty-five percent of baby boomers believe it’s extremely or very important while Gen Xers (79 percent) and millennials (73 percent) also feel it is extremely or very important.
“Every child, no matter their age or background, should have the opportunity to learn how to swim,” said Barbara Tulipane, CAE, NRPA president and CEO. “Parents and care givers everywhere are encouraged to visit a local aquatic or recreation center where there are affordable options for everyone.”
Research shows risk of drowning can be reduced by 88 percent if children participate in formal swimming lessons between ages 1–4. That’s why NRPA is proud to partner with the World Waterpark Association to support the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™, June 20, 2019, which brings together tens of thousands of individuals from hundreds of communities around the globe who all participate in the same lesson over the course of a 24-hour period to raise awareness about drowning and the fact that swimming is a vital life-saving skill that every child should learn.
This poll is part of NRPA’s Park Pulse, a continuing series of monthly surveys that gauge the public’s opinion on topics relating to parks and recreation. To explore previous Park Pulse survey results, visit www.nrpa.org/Park-Pulse.
“Affordable options for everyone”? No possible way everyone can afford swimming lessons. I wish it was that easy but when 1 out of 5 kids in America do not have enough food to eat it is hard to justify spending money for swim lessons when they can’t afford to feed their kids. Wish we, myself included, could do a better job offering NO cost to the most vulnerable.
Good point. It depends upon the city or county. Let’s say in the part of Arizona I lived in their is a lot more rec and park pools than the last county I lived in California where you have to learn to swim at a private swim school more.
Good point. It depends upon the area or county you live in. Some support the rec and parks more than others. Some places to learn to swim you have to go through private lessons at a swim school.
21% of Millenials ‘ kids will learn to swim by social media .