There needs to be a community prayers grp formed. Our children/teens need our prayers. Too many accidents happening involving children. Ill host prayers meetings, anyone with me on this??

more child staff ratio i suppose..

Thats why I would NEVER leave my children at Kids Connection. Their supervision is horrible. Get real people

to "Loving Mother" This child was too young to be in Kids Connection so how dare you, think of this childs parents who may have been present, just like the child who they rescued when I was at the pool on Memorial Day weekend, who's parent was there at the pool with them. I take offense to that. I too am a Loving mother and my 12 year old participated in Kids Connection since he was in Kindergarten and they were wonderful, he had a great time without any major injuries at any of the sites he was at. It is a wonderful program that the Park District puts on and MANY working Parents are able to provide for their families knowing that they ahve caring dedicated individuals looking after their children. NO WHERE in this story is Kids Connection mentioned so why try to slander their name.

Kids Connection must have lowered the minimum age for their summer program. This article does state in the 4th paragraph that he was with KC summer camp.

"mom of teens" Thank you for seeing what I was seeing. I didn't think they took children that young but its pretty clear they do.

No idea if this child was enrolled or not, but there is a Junior Kids Connection program for children as young as 4.

http://www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/Programs/kcs-about.htm

I was at the civic center when this happened. It was scary, i think our children need prayer and support but I don't think we need to find anyone to blame, accidents happen even when they are with us; but be thankful all turned out well. Both the lifeguards and park district staff reacted quickly and appropriately and as a parent I was thankful to see how well trained the pool staff is.

Water is dangerous. Thats why there are lifeguards. To blame staff of the Kids Connection program is ridiculous. Many of the people that work for the program are mothers themselves, and I know for a fact that they bond with the kids and love them dearly. Ive seen it, and I am not affiliated with the program. Instead of trying to place blame, praise the ultimate outcome that the boy didnt die.

Very well said swimgymmom & cf...the Kid's Connection staff are great with the kids they care for. It only takes a second for something like this to happen and it can happen to anyone!!!!!

thank you to the lifeguard who was doing their job! and prayers to the family of the little boy for him being safe!

I really think we should focus on the quick and skilled response by the well trained life guards at the pool! If not for their actions, this story would have been written very different....Great job Oswegoland Park district in training your lifeguards so well and a big KUDOS to those directly involved with these life saving stories!

This is tragically what can happen when you rely upon the government to raise your kids. A 4-year old child at a swimming pool without parents? Really? Where are the parents?

I'm glad these kids are OK but these incidents raise the larger question of should the park district (de facto citizens of Oswego) be taking responsibility for the safety of 4 and five year olds? Apparently not given the near death of two children in as many weeks. Parents, you have no one to blame when you are too busy to watch you own children, of course Mike Ellison is right, don't rely on the government to raise your children.

For crying out loud folks !! You sound like this could not have happened if the parent(s) were in attendance. All it takes is a split second for a child to get in trouble in the water. The article reported that the child was in the '0' depth section of the pool. If the parent was there, unless they were in the water, they couldn't have been much more effective than the trained staff. For the critics, don't ever allow your child to be involved in any activity outside your own home, then you can only blame yourself when something happens, and it can at any time. I've been associated with the KC (not an employee) for 11 years and the staff works very hard in keeping the children safe and secure.

To 'Loving Mother': YOU need to get real! Bad things happen, it takes seconds for something like this to happen, parents there, or via Kids Connection. My daughter attends Kids Connection, and they do a fantastic job. You sound like a stay at home mom who may feel some angst towards those parents that have to work for a living. Get off the couch, honey, and put the Bon-bons away....

I find it amusing some of the comments that people make when they have no idea what they are talking about. Do any of you know how many hours a year of college child learning and child care classes are required of the park district employees? Do any of you know the extra training that they are required to attend to be in that program? My guess is that many children are safer and getting more loving attention in that program than they would with their parents.

I do think we need to give thanks that this child was ok, and as I stated when we were at the pool on Memorial day it took just a second for that child to be in trouble and the Civic Center Life Guards did an excelled job in reacting and saving that Child. That is what they are for and as a parent who has had a child in Kids Connection since he was in Kindergarten because my husband and I HAVE to work to help support our family, I am very grateful for the staff at the Park District and the Civic Center for the wonderful experiences my child had. Mike and Greg are very small minded in their comments, is working hard to provide for your family "too busy to raise your children" get real in this economy!!!

Oswegoanbychoice you say Mike and Greg are small minded people wht about Amy W??? Well im a stayhome mom raising 3 kids while my husband would work 3 jobs if needed so i can do my job and raise MY kids and sit home and eat bon bons! God bless the child was able to make it home that day safe to his hard working parents !

To Mandy, I stayed at home with my daughter until she was five, but due to the present state of our economy, I had to get back to work. By no means do I think a stay at home mom has less of a job. They have the hardest, most rewarding job ever. I was trying to prove a point to Loving Mother, that as a parent who has to work, I chose what I thought was a great program, Kids Connection, and was offended at her comment 'wake up people'. I commend you for your hard work and dedication, and wish I could also stay at home with my daughter, but unfortunately cannot. I know there are no bon bons involved, truly I do.

Amy W thank u, !

You are welcome, Mandy. And really, the only important thing, is that this child survived as a result of an awesome lifeguard, and that is all that matters.

When I was younger, I myself attended Kids Connection. I have had nothing but caring, amazing, and dedicated individuals care for us. Being 21 years old now, I work for Kids Connection. Just because I do not have a child myself, does not mean I am incapable of supervising the children. They take tests before they go and can only go in certain parts of the Civic Center (kiddy pool, main pool, slides, drop off slide) depending on how skilled that specific child is. The park gives them colored bracelets to mark the child and be sure they are in the right spots. They're at a park with many other people from the community there as well. It is impossible to watch every single child at every moment. Things will happen. I just thank god that boy is safe and the lifeguard took all the right steps to saving that boy's life.
On that note I am also a lifeguard at another water park. A middle aged man started drowning in the lazy river (keep in mind the lazy river is just over 2 feet). But sometimes people start to go under and forget that they can just put their feet down. Now, are you going to blame HIS parents for not being in the water with him? Crazy things can happen in the most unsuspected places, times, and people.

So, loving mother, do not blame the Kids Connection staff for not supervising the children. Things can and will happen. Quit pointing fingers at the staff, it was an accident. Just be grateful he was rescued.

Hmmm, Imagine that...it's always someone else's fault! When are people going to learn to man-up(or woman up) and take responsibility for actions or in this case, accidents. Good Lord, the life guard did a FANTASTIC job and yet we still want to blame others. Man, times SUUUURRE have changed. Oswego now the new Naperville?? I think so....

Come on everyone, Greg and Mike are huge Len Wass supporters and are using this story to slam the park district again. I'm sure if it rains this weekend at Prairiefest, my tax dollars are being wasted again by the park district.

First off this was a bad situation but had a happy ending to it. The program in general is a good one and kudos to all of those involved and those to that use the program

Tina the Pariefest is self funded.....So any profits made on the Fest are then used for the next year, and rely highly on Sponsorship and has for many past years. I think the city my only donate a low amount but I'm not to sure.

And your complaint is if it rains on this fest, it seems your tax dollars are wasted. Will you can't control the weather that is for sure. But I checked the forecast and it looks like your Tax dollars are safe this weekend, they are calling for little (20 percent or less) this weekend

Richard -- (I might be wrong, but) I think Tina was being sarcastic and saying that if it rains and ruins Prairiefest that Greg and Mike will be the first to say that our tax dollars are being wasted again by the PD. She made the connection between their comments on this page (about the great life-saving efforts of the lifeguards at Civic Center) and their numerous other Patch comments supporting Mr. Wass and their contempt for all things run by the the park district.

There is now a 4-6 year old preschool program, you are correct. I would hesitate to slander such a program though. In no way did it indicate that it was their fault. There is enough guilt parents who work, even par time put on themselves. There is no need to fault parents who find daycare options for their children. It is a necessity for most, not a choice. Stop judging one another, it is just plain ignorant and rude!