DECATUR - Logan Schwab took his dad's hand and waded through the pool as his feet kicked around the water.

Logan, 22 months old, was not alone, as other toddlers filled the Fairview Family Aquatic Center, for the first day of "Toddler Time" on Friday.

"We have a little pool in our back yard and he always wants to get in and splash around," said Logan's father, Charles Schwab. "So we brought him down here to the pool before he takes swim lessons."

Sixteen-month old Spencer also liked the feel of the water, as he toddled back and forth from the cool shallow water to the outer concrete edge of the pool.

His mother, Sarah Boesdorfer, said, "I want him to learn how to swim as quickly as he can and feel safe in the water."

Last year, there were quite a few babies and toddlers with their parents at the pool, said Alyssa Vieth, assistant manager at the Fairview Family Aquatic Center.

She said swim lessons for all ages already began this summer with the next session starting Monday.

But Toddler Time will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Friday through Aug. 14.

Swim lessons range from the starfish class where toddlers get more comfortable with the water; the Gus & Goldie class allows toddlers to learn how to float in the water; and a beginning class teaches the toddlers how to doggy paddle. A more advanced class teaches toddlers how to breathe in the water and arm stroke techniques.

"It's good for them to get used to the water as early as possible," Vieth said. "And it's fun for them."

Jen Penn said her daughter, Mallory, 3, was taking swim lessons at six months.

"I was never a swimmer and I didn't want her to miss out and not be safe," Penn said while at the Fairview Park pool and her daughter continued to get more familiar with the water

Don Pambianco tried his best to keep up with his grandson, Quin Cuttill, 3, who was splattering about, running in and out of the water at pool.

"He likes the water, and always wants to go to my house to take a bath in grandpa's bathtub. He hasn't taken any swim lessons yet but I'm going to sign him up," Pambianco said.

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