Matthew Holland M.D. & Mary Beth Holland R.N.

Dear Judy,

Matt and I were so excited to see the article in the Daily Camera’s Fit section regarding the dispute over when and how children should begin learning to swim and the issue of water safety. We were happy to note that you were interviewed and observed teaching and are in total agreement with the comments made by educated parents concerning the importance of teaching infants and toddlers to survive in the water.

It is very distressing to think that people in the medical field of pediatrics are making decisions that are not based on any studies or statistics related to infants and swimming; particularly when they admit that drowning is one of the number one ways children die!

Judy, we are so thankful to you for giving Emma, now two and a half, and Noah, 17 months, the ability to survive in the water. Knowing that your long term goal in teaching children at such an early age is for them to ultimately become stong swimmers; the short term result of them being “water aware” and able to float and swim to a nearby wall or edge is an invaluable possession for us. We realize this does not make it safe for them to wander around pools and lakes without supervision, but we all know that sometimes even supervision is not enough, and in that one instant of distraction, they could be in the pool or lake and may be gone forever.

Although it was sometimes difficult to watch our babies during their initial learning experience, it has turned out that they really enjoy the water. At the pool, people are amazed at the skill of our two year old in comparison to other children of all ages. We look look with Emma and Noah this summer, and also to their continued lessons with you. Thanks again; we highly recommend you and your Infant Aquatic Survival lessons for infants and children.