Learn to Swim Week highlights the importance of swimming skills – Espoo develops children's and young people's swimming skills in collaboration with partners

Every year in May, the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation (FSL) and Aquatics Finland organize the Learn to Swim Week to highlight the importance of swimming skills and inspire people to develop their swimming skills. This year, Learn to Swim Week will be held from 11 to 17 May 2026. During Learn to Swim Week, Espoo will highlight the importance of swimming skills as an important safety skill and will inform about the ongoing development work to strengthen the swimming skills of children, young people and families.

Swimming skills are a key skill that increases safety and confidence in moving around in the water. A person who is able to swim continuously for at least 200 meters, some of which is on their back, and who can operate in the water in various situations. In Espoo, swimming skills can be learned in school swimming lessons, swimming schools in swimming pools, and in supervised activities in early childhood education and leisure.

Swimming is a versatile form of exercise that develops the entire body. It especially improves endurance, muscle fitness and the function of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Moving in water is gentle on the joints, so it is also suitable for rehabilitation for many. Swimming can also reduce stress and improve mood. It is also an important skill for safety when moving in water.

Water competence means the ability to act safely in and around water. It does not only mean swimming, but also recognizing dangers and behaving safely around water. A water competent person knows, for example, how to stay afloat, assess risks and avoid dangerous situations. It also includes the ability to act correctly if something unexpected happens in the water.

During Learn to Swim Week, Espoo emphasizes that strengthening swimming skills is a shared task that is developed in the long term together with schools, early childhood education, families and partners.