I grew up in Charleston, SC, and didn’t even know a beach existed until I was in high school. Yep, my mom never mentioned one, and I didn’t bother to pay attention in class because they probably said it and I was just in a daze. I never knew how close I lived to a beach I mean I lived within 15 min of one. I also grew up in front of a creek and there were several drownings there as a kid. My mom would occasionally tell me someone died at the creek and I was never allowed to be around it unless I was with an adult. My mom never taught me how to swim or the importance of water safety. When I went off to high school a friend of mine drowned in the creek and I said right there and then if I ever have kids I will make sure they know how to swim. As a black mother, I want to make sure my kids know basic things about swimming I mean we aren’t in the Olympics like that when it comes to swimming but we need to know how to swim and it’s been a silent subject among my people. I want to talk about why it’s important to teach my kids how to swim and why it’s also important that I learn myself.
Why it’s important to teach my kids how to swim
My son and my daughter took classes at around 10. Why I waited so late? I have no idea but when my son turned 10 I started him in class that Summer and my daughter started her class. We went to the local gym where they had group classes. We did that for 2 summers and then the next year I got them both private lessons in Gwinnett county. After 3 years of lessons my son can swim pretty good. The girl however needs more training.
I went to a private swim class for 6 weeks. One because I was too ashamed of my body to swim with a group. I’m a big girl and I wasn’t trying to be in a pool showing off my body. I took the class and honestly, I only know how to float. That’s all I remember. She said I swam but it didn’t feel like I did. I need to go back for swim classes myself so I’m thinking maybe a private mommy and me class at a friend’s private pool will be on our agenda for next Summer. Until then it’s important that my kids learn how to swim.
According to the CDC black children between the ages of 5 and 19 are more likely to die by drowning in swimming pools than other races. Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death for all children but among black children, it is a huge problem because of our trauma surrounding water. You see my great grandmother and them weren’t allowed to use public pools alongside white people which meant never learning how to swim and unfortanley that was passed down to my mom who never learned and then to me. The buck stopped though with me because my kids are growing up in a new generation although still racist we are able to go to a pool and have that access more to pools and beaches. To take it way back though we came over here as slaves so water is a huge thing for us. Some of us chose death by drowning and some of us were tossed overboard. All that trauma with water has been passed down and so many in my generation never learned how to swim and y’all I am not even 40 yet.
Jayz himself just learned how to swim around 40 so it’s a new thing for us. There are also websites like black people will swim dedicated to making sure we learn. When you are ready to learn I recommend getting a private person so that you can have that attention put on you solely. My kids did well at the YMCA and the local gym but they didn’t really shine until they had private lessons. Here are some other reasons why it’s important for kids to know how to swim
- so that you don’t have to worry about them near a body of water. We love the beach and we should be able to enjoy it without fear
- to promote a great way to exercise. Swimming is one of the most relaxing and cooling exercises there is especially in the heat of the Summer.
- Swimming teaches great survival skills
- Knowing the basics of swimming may one day save your kids or they can save a friend
When did you learn how to swim? Were you thrown in or did you learn on your own? What advice can you give about swimming?
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