Learn to Swim Week highlights the importance of swimming skills – Espoo seeks to improve children's and young people's swimming skills together with partners
During the Learn to Swim Week, Espoo highlights the importance of learning to swim as an important safety skill and provides information about ongoing development work aiming to improve children's, young people's and families' swimming skills.
Every year in May, the Finnish Swimming Teaching and Lifesaving Federation organises a Learn to Swim Week to highlight the importance of swimming skills and to encourage people to improve their skills. This year, the Learn to Swim Week takes place on 11–17 May 2026. During the Learn to Swim Week, Espoo highlights the importance of learning to swim as an important safety skill and provides information about ongoing development work aiming to improve children's, young people's and families' swimming skills.
Swimming is a key skill that increases safety and confidence when spending time in water. A person who is able to swim continuously at least 200 metres, some of this time on their back, and who can cope with different situations in water is defined as knowing how to swim. In Espoo, swimming skills can be learned in swimming instruction provided at schools or organised at pools and in guided early childhood education and leisure activities.
Swimming is a versatile form of exercise that strengthens the whole body. In particular, it improves stamina, muscular fitness and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Taking exercise in water is gentle on the joints, which makes it a suitable form of rehabilitation for many. Swimming can also reduce stress and improve your mood, and it is an important safety skill when spending time on water.
Water competence refers to the ability to operate safely in and near water. In addition to knowing how to swim, it also means recognising hazards and safety conscious behaviour. For example, a person with water competence is able to stay afloat, assess risks and avoid hazardous situations. They also know what to do if something unexpected happens in the water.
During the Learn to Swim Week, Espoo highlights improving swimming skills as a joint task which is developed over the long term together with schools, early childhood education, families and partners.
Programme of the Learn to Swim Week:
- Swimming skills for everyone - Test your swimming skills!(external link, opens in a new window) (in Finnish)
- Information, guidance and fun swimming tasks for children with their families. Introductions to partners. Monday 11 May 26, Lippulaiva library, 9:00–13:00. Read more.
- Video instruction for families with young children who cannot swim in the teaching pool. A swimming instructor will be present to provide guidance. Friday 15 May 26 Espoonlahti swimming pool, 14:15–18:00. Read more.
Read more about how Espoo seeks to improve children's and young people's swimming skills.