Fredericksburg Parent

16 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • March 2021 Brings Personalized Swim Instruction to Central Park This spring, a home-grown business is taking root in Fredericksburg's Central Park. Little Fish Swimming started in 2007 when sisters Keri Rayford and Rochelle Preut started sharing their individual- ized approach to swim instructions with young swimmers in a Spotsylvania backyard pool. The family- owned business is now enroll- ing classes at its third location at 1666 Central Park Blvd. in Fredericksburg. Keri and her husband, Aaron Rayford, say they feel like this is the latest chapter in the growth of a Fredericksburg-based family business whose mission is simple: give families "the best lessons experience." They achieve this by con- tinually promoting progress in the pool while having fun. Little Fish instructors use proven teaching techniques that lay a solid foundation for a lifetime of safe swimming. A NEW APPROACH TO SWIM LESSONS When Little Fish got its start, Keri and Rochelle could only offer summer lessons because they were using an outdoor pool. But they saw such a demand for their unique approach, which limits class size to four students, and allows students to level up at any time so that they are constantly making progress in their swimming skills, that they knew all along they'd need to offer lessons year- round. That happened first in 2008, when Little Fish opened its teaching location inside St. Michael's High School off State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. In 2016, Little Fish expanded to its second location, at the Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center in Stafford County. In spring 2021, the school adds its third loca- tion, in a convenient Central Park storefront that includes a pool. Keri and Aaron Rayford emphasize that part of what has made Little Fish so suc- cessful—and popular with parents—over the years is that swimming instruction isn't an add-on—it's all they do. "Our entire goal is based on making sure kids know how to swim," says Keri Rayford. "It's not an extra thing we do." Little Fish instructors receive more than a month of training in the school's approach, which Aaron Rayford calls "the Montessori of swim lessons." Instructors understand the importance of positivity and making sure kids enjoy their time at the pool. The school pays close attention to parent surveys to con- stantly respond to parents' and children's needs. New! Fredericksburg Location 1666 Central Park Blvd. Fredericksburg VA 22401 Spotsylvania Location 6301 Campus Drive Fredericksburg VA 22401 Stafford Location 1600 Mine Road Stafford VA 22554 LITTLE FISH SWIMMING • 540-785-2222 When Little Fish got its start, Keri and Rochelle could only offer summer lessons because they were using an outdoor pool. But they saw such a demand for their unique approach, which limits class size to four students, and allows students is taking root in Fredericksburg's owned business is now enroll- Sport Center in Stafford County. In spring 2021, the school adds its third loca- tion, in a convenient Central Park storefront that includes a pool. New Fredericksburg Location WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING

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