Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 1 parent parent ••••••••••••••••• parent & family parent parent fredericksburg parent parent ™ Ask the Expert Compass Counseling Services • • FredericksburgParent.NET • • Volume 27, No. 4 • April 2026 Measles on the Rise Talking Body-Safety With Your Kids Aaron said, "Every single me someone graduates [to a new level], they'll get a gradua on card that tells them what they're working next, and we celebrate it big." For some families, the goal may simply be helping a child feel comfortable in the water. For others, it's preparing for swim teams or compe ve swimming. The program is designed to support every kind of swimmer. "The celebra ons are all rela ve to what a parent's goal is," Aaron plained. Whether the goal is learning to be safe in the water, improv- ing their diving, or making their school's swim team, Aaron said, get behind the goal and celebrate big." Li le Fish Swimming also emphasizes consistent quality across grams. Instructors go through extensive training and receive ongoing mentorship from deck managers, who supervise lessons and ensure the curriculum is delivered effec vely. In fact, some former Li le Swimming students have even gone on to become instructors. "We want the best lessons experience for our swimmers and families," Aaron said. The organiza on also ac vely seeks feedback from families to con ue improving. "We solicit feedback from parents every single month," Aaron said. "And many of the adjustments we've made have been based off of listening to families' feedback." Over the years, that dedica on has led to countless cess stories. Aaron recalled one swimmer who began lessons as a young beginner before eventually compe ng at a high "He came back, and he was covered in medals and ribbons," he said. Another story involved a swimmer who ini ally feared the water a difficult experience at the beach. "They were fearful of the water, and through consistency and staying in lessons and not shying away from that, they were able to replace that fear with the confidence they needed," said Aaron. That swimmer later became one of the strongest compe tors on her swim team. In addi on to year-round swim lessons, Li le Fish Swimming offers swim camps, stroke and fitness training for swimmers transi oning toward compe ve teams, and even par es for families looking celebrate in the pool. Li le Fish Swimming's growth is reflected in their newest facility New Post, which marks their fourth official loca on, and which is a space the Rayfords dreamed of crea ng for years. A er opera ng out of shared pools and partner loca ons, the opportunity to design a dedicated swim school from the ground up marked a major mile- stone for the business. The Rayfords were inten onal about keeping the project local, part- nering with area crea ves and businesses to bring the space to "We grew up here, so we really take pride in the fact that we're local," WRITTEN BY CAMILLE TURNER Whether it's pool days, beach trips, or a ernoons spent at the Rappahannock River, for many families, me around water is one of the staples of childhood. But along with the fun comes an important life skill: knowing how to swim. At Li le Fish Swimming, that skill is at the heart of everything they do. Founded nearly two decades ago in a backyard pool and now serving families throughout the Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford areas in four pools, Li le Fish Swimming offers structured swim lessons designed to build both safety and confidence in the water. The program welcomes swimmers as young as six months old and con nues through advanced levels for older children and even adults. They offer both private classes and group classes, which are inten onally small, typically no more than four swimmers in a group, to ensure each par cipant receives focused instruc on and steady progress. For CEO Keri Rayford and COO Aaron Rayford, swimming instruc on is about much more than learning strokes. It's about equipping people with a skill that can quite literally save lives. "It's why we've jumped into using the term waterproofed. We really want to waterproof our whole region," Aaron said. While safety is the founda on, progress is also at the core of the Li le Fish Swimming philosophy. Students progress through a structured series of levels that build skills step by step. Younger swimmers may begin in parent-and-tot classes before advancing through levels such as minnows, fish, and, eventually, sharks. Each milestone is celebrated along the way. From Backyard Pool to Community Cornerstone: 19 Years of Teaching Fredericksburg How to Swim Little Fish Swimming has grown from humble beginnings into a regional leader in swim instruction, helping families build confidence, safety, and lifelong skills in the water. Teaching Fredericksburg How to Swim

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