Through an initiative developed in partnership between the Municipality of Rio Maior and Desmor, children in the municipality learn to swim from a very young age.
For several years now in Rio Maior, the Swimming Project in Preschool and 1st Cycle provides the youngest children with a first contact with swimming pools, in an initiation and adaptation process to the aquatic environment.
Throughout each school year, around 1200 children residing in the municipality, organized into a total of 61 classes from public schools, benefit from lessons provided by teachers from the Rio Maior Swimming School. Each child, aged between 3 and 10 years old, participates in five sessions per school year.
For attending each lesson during school hours, transportation is provided by the municipality services, with the children being accompanied permanently by the class teacher.
The importance of learning to swim during childhood is increasingly emphasized, resulting in aquatic competence as a vital aspect for survival in aquatic contexts. Each lesson promotes a pedagogical approach scientifically supported, following the latest recommendations for reducing the risk of aquatic accidents.
After completing the 1st Cycle, parents can choose to continue providing children with swimming practice through the wide range of services offered by the Rio Maior Swimming School, which may include selecting a more demanding swimming environment in terms of learning and sports training.