State program encourages swimming instruction for young children [Video]

This week, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a new Department of Health program into law, giving vouchers for free swimming lessons for children ages four and younger.

10 Tampa Bay dropped by Watch Me Swim in Riverview and spoke with Infant Swimming Resource master instructor, Kari Bahour as she gave lessons. She’s been teaching children four and younger survival swimming skills for nearly 30 years.

“Giving them the skills they need to survive,” Bahour says. “Confidence will follow after that.”

She became passionate about swimming skills for infants and toddlers after her son nearly died from drowning.

“If you have multiple children, you want them all to learn,” grandparent Richard Stanaland said, who was there watching his granddaughter Isla Rayburn learn to swim. ”A lot of people can’t afford it and this’ll help out all the ones that can’t.”

The program is only for families who live up to 200% above the poverty line, according to the bill. For parents with two kids, that’s …