Dolphin Swim Club Makes A Splash With World's Largest Swim Lesson

Peggy Lim knows swimming lessons save lives—she has seen them pay off.

Lim, mother of three and swimming instructor at , has witnessed at least two 1-year-olds fall into swimming pools and know how to get out of the water – a skill only picked up from lessons.

“I’m so into the baby swimming lessons,” Lim said. “I love them. They’re the best idea in the world.”

Tuesday morning, Lim showed other 4-month to 2-year-olds how to fall into a pool, roll over for breath and move toward the wall – one of the many lifesaving techniques taught in conjunction with the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. 

The Dolphin Swim Club, along with other swim facilities worldwide, participated in the WLSL and attempted to teach children how to swim while also breaking the Guinness World Records mark for most simultaneous swim lessons. 

“We want to teach kids to respect the water,” said Sara Batchelor, the facility manager at Crystal Lake’s Dolphin Swim Club, “and teach parents the need for constant supervision. It’s the only way to keep kids safe.”

Three instructors, including Lim, worked with the children during the WLSL and practiced basic swim skills, such as back floating, submersion and jumping into the water. 

All Swim Club instructors must have at least 40 hours of shadowing and both CPR and lifeguard certifications, Batchelor said, something in which the Dolphin Swim Club takes pride.

Kendra Moldenhauer and her 19-month-old son Trace took part in the event. Trace has been swimming since he was 4 months old, and Moldenhauer thinks swim lessons and pool safety should start as early as possible.

“There’s such a value in showing your kids how to swim at a very early age instead of waiting,” she said. “If you start them early and it becomes part of their life, then you’re teaching them something they’ll be able to do for the rest of their life.” 

Last year’s WLSL established the world record of 3,971 swim lesson participants. Today the Crystal Lake location contributed 27 individuals in the water, both parents and babies, and surpassed its goal of 25. 

“The whole idea is to get the word out that early swim lessons prevent drownings,” Lim said. “And I know of at least two. I believe it.”