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Getting Wet 'n' Wild: I swore I wouldn't do it.
Last summer, I heard the stories and had the
big goal and swore to myself, I'm going to
keep up with it. But then winter set in and
the idea of going outside with wet hair just
couldn't settle with me.
So, consider this my slap on the wrist and
my do-over. With swimming lessons for my
daughter, that is. I'm not a strong swimmer.
But I can fake it enough to bring my daugh
ter to a pool (OK, I'm a bit petrified of large,
echoey, indoor pool spaces, but that's beside
the point), and since she could barely walk,
we've been bobbing around in the pools at
Bishop Park and at the YMCA. Last summer, I
enrolled her in some swimming lessons, and
what began as a whim—by the time she was
3, she was starting to get the idea—quickly
turned into a weekly tradition. By the time
school started, she was close to diving into
the deep end.
Which is why I swore to myself that we'd
keep it up. So many kids spend their sum
mers in the pool, the lifeguards told me, but
when school starts they don't get back in for
months, and lose some of what they learned
over the summer. It's a trade-off for school, I
suppose.
Which is why I'm imploring you, if you
haven't brought your kids to one of our many
area pools, get into the habit this summer and
then do better than I did at keeping up with
it through the cold months, too.
Athens-Clarke Leisure Services has
lessons scheduled all summer long, and
while they are filled up, it never hurts
to get on the waiting list. At $33 for a
county resident ($50 for nonresidents),
you can't beat the price to have college-
level swimmers teach your child how to
be comfortable in the water. Call (706)
613-3801 for info. There also are lessons
all summer at the YMCA ($50 members,
$70 nonmembers; [706] 543-6596) and
the YWCO ($50 members, $60 nonmem
bers; [706] 354-7880).
I think one of the reasons I was a
pool slacker was because once school
starts, a host of other activities start up,
too. But Oan Magee, ACC parks services
administrator, tells me that swimming
can actually enhance your child's skills
In other sports. Not only is it a skill that
can be useful throughout your life, but
it also keeps a range of muscles in shape
for other uses. "Swimming is the best
exercise, no matter what sport your child
plays," he says. "It is so much better for
their development—swimming helps them get
much more flexible, and if you're into football,
into track, it develops coordination. It adds to
the other sports."
Plus, with the Summer Olympics coming up,
how cool would it be to bond with your kids—
despite any fears of large, echoey rooms—over
a sport you both can enjoy?
-5>-
Let your kids rock their socks in the heat of the summer next
month, as AthFest takes over downtown. Embracing your sweaty
artistic side? Four air guitars out of five (c’mon, we don’t want to
be THAT sweaty).
Turn It Up: Speaking of water, break out the
water bottles for the annual party-for the
townies, AthFest. It's June 20-24, and the
kids portion (KidsFest!) runs the Saturday and
Sunday of the festival. Mind you, I'm a big
fan of popping some child-appropriate head
phones over your little ones' ears and toting
them down for the live music on* Friday, too,
but the hands-on stuff happens on the
weekend. >
This year's kid-friendly lineup has a
nice range of music and activities that
kids can relate to^ There will be lots
of dancing courtesy of DanceFX, step
and hip-hop teams from Barnett Shoals
Elementary School and even an interac
tive lesson. There will be two open-mic
sessions—3:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m.
Sunday—so alert your kids to start plan
ning their act And look for performances
from the UGA String Project (a partner of
the AthFest Educates! program), talented
local musician and artist Heidi Hensley
with her Googly Schmoogly Band, and a
couple of installments of Cedar Shoals
High School's Chicken Wing Theatre.
And, of course, there are the activi
ties that go along with KidsFest. Debbie
Watson, the KidsFest chair, says it's about
more than the music. "We are trying to
provide the 'overall' experience... KidsFest
is about exposing the kids and their
parents to all the arts in a fun and inex
pensive way." That means water-themed
games, a rock wall and macaroni art (to
name just a few activities).
Before KidsFest officially opens,
catch Atlanta-based family-friendly band
Laughing Pizza on the Pulaski Street
stage at noon Saturday, June 23.1 wrote
about the band a couple of months ago
when they played at the Melting Point,
then watched as my daughter went from sit
ting bashfully to dancing in the front row
when we watched them perform.
Pack the sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat
and some clothes that look good with sweat
on them. Your kids will thank you.
Kristen Morales kiddiedope@flagpole.com
Take a. 1
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available online
706.425
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