We just returned from Spring Break last night, and while we didn’t visit a tropical place (Smoky Mountains), the kids still enjoyed their time in the hot tub. I had no fears of them (with the exception of Adam) being in the hot tub with the older kids we were with because they have learned to swim at Goldfish Swim School.

March and April are popular months for families to travel and The American Academy of Pediatrics announced its updated recommendations to prevent drowning in children.

I’m so happy that Goldfish teaches water safety tips at every class level, and they offer free water safety presentations for schools, daycares and community groups. In case you aren’t familiar, here are some super helpful tips from Lisa Armitage, owner of Goldfish Swim Schools in Columbus, Ohio:

      W– Wear Your Life Jacket: This is one of the easiest ways to increase safety in the water. There are plenty of different types of life jackets to fit all sizes – pay attention to proper fit.

·      A– Act. Throw! Don’t go:Do your kids know what to do in a swimming emergency? They should ACT! Their first instinct may be to go towards the person having trouble in the water. Instead, they should throw a life preserver – and don’t go! That way, they aren’t putting themselves in jeopardy as well and are truly able to help.

·      T– Take Swim Lessons: You can start your child in swim lessons as early as four months old where they can begin learning swim and safety skills while building character through guided play.

·      E– Educate. Learn Swim Safety Skills: Key water safety skills can go a long way – such as the crab walk, properly getting in and out of the pool, going under water, rolling on their back, treading water, learning different strokes.

·      R– Respect. Play it Cool and Follow the Rules: Rules are there for a reason, especially when it comes to rules for the pool. Walk, don’t run; make sure an adult is watching; no horseplay. Review rules together as a family before setting your kids loose to enjoy the water. 

Did you know, drowning can be silent and quick, and it kills nearly 1,000 children every year?! To refocus the attention of parents and physicians on one of the leading causes of death among children, the American Academy of Pediatrics is publishing updated recommendations on water safety.

“Drowning is the single leading cause of injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4,” said Sarah Denny, MD, FAAP, lead author of the policy statement, “Prevention of Drowning. Many of these deaths occur when children are not expected to be swimming or when they have unanticipated access to water. Toddlers are naturally curious; that’s why we must implement other strategies, such as pool fencing and door locks.”

The second age group at highest risk of drowning deaths is teens, said Dr. Denny. Every year, about 370 children ages 10 to 19 drown. “Adolescents can be overconfident in their swimming abilities, and are more likely to combine alcohol use with swimming – compounding their risk significantly. Children of color, especially African American teens are especially at risk.”

In the policy statement, the AAP lays out strategies to protect children at each stage of their life. New parents are advised to be vigilant at bath time and to empty all buckets and wading pools immediately.

All children should learn to swim, and children and teens should wear life jackets while near open bodies of water. Teens can learn CPR and other water safety skills.

Injury prevention has long been a priority of pediatricians, and public health initiatives over the past 50 years have led to dramatic reductions in deaths from injuries related to motor vehicle crashes, sudden infant death syndrome, drowning, and other unintentional injuries. In the past few years, however, the rate of decline in these deaths has slowed.
Drowning remains the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 5-19 years. In 2017, nearly 1,000 children died from drowning and 8,700 visited a hospital emergency room because of a drowning event – with toddlers and teens at the highest risk.

If you’re interested in learning more or enrolling your child at Goldfish Swim School click HERE.

*this post is sponsored by Goldfish Swim School, all opinions are my own.*

Sure, in the winter you probably aren’t frequenting the local swimming pool. Especially if you live in the Midwest like we do. Brrrrrr. But there is no doubt it’s still super important to practice winter water safety, if for no other reason… to keep the safety fresh in little swimmer’s minds.

Here are some common myths when it comes to winter water safety, and the facts behind them:

MYTH: It’s cold outside, so we won’t be swimming.

FACT: Just because you won’t be trekking to the outdoor community pool doesn’t mean you won’t encounter the chance to go swimming elsewhere, including:

  • An indoor water park resort. These family-friendly resorts are based on having everyone swim and play in large, heated indoor pools with waterslides, which are very enticing for kids of all ages (regardless of swim ability).
  • Holiday break, winter break, spring break, or visiting family and friends in a tropical locale could definitely mean an opportunity for heading into a pool or the ocean. We’re going to Gatlinburg for Spring Break and there will be access to a pool and hot tub.

MYTH: I don’t let my child go swimming without me, so we’re OK.

FACT: Accidents can happen near ANY body of water, whether or not you are nearby.

MYTH: My baby isn’t even walking yet, so I don’t need to worry about water safety.

FACT: Babies are masters at moving around whether they are walking or not, and they’re also very curious and inquisitive little beings who want to learn and investigate everything they see. Sometimes, that includes bodies of water. By teaching your little one how to swim at a very young age (yes, your baby can start taking swimming lessons before age 1!),  you’ll be giving her the tools she needs should an accident happen in water…because seconds count. Adam will be starting lessons soon!

Goldfish Swim School focuses on water safety

One of the reasons Goldfish Swim School is amazing is because of the emphasis they place during each lesson on water safety, all year long.

*This post is sponsored by Goldfish Swim School, all opinions are my own.*

We are are stuck in snowy, cold Ohio this winter. Ugh. The forecast this week will be in the single digits… brrrr! Our weekly “tropical” escape is always Goldfish Swim School.

If you’re taking a winter vacation this year, I’m jealous!! But seriously… it’s always a good idea to brush up on some water safety with your kids before taking the family to the beach or a hotel with a pool. Especially for families who live in colder climates.

Staying Safe at Hotel Pools

Swimming in a hotel pool can be a bit different than swimming at an outdoor community pool in the summer, when there are tons of other kids and families in the pool — and lifeguards on duty.

Staying safe at an indoor pool means following a few tips. Since hotel pools generally don’t have lifeguards, it’s important kids always swim with a buddy and have an adult present. If your child needs a life jacket, be sure to ask the hotel concierge before you travel to see if the hotel has any for guests to use … if not, be sure to bring your own.

Swimming in the Ocean

Even if lifeguards are present on the beach, the ocean can be tricky, even for seasoned swimmers. Never swim alone (this goes for adults too!) and make sure little ones understand to stick close to an adult when near the water.

The ocean can change in the blink of an eye, so have life jackets nearby. And remember that drowning doesn’t always look as dramatic as it does in the movies, so learn the signs of drowning and what to do to stay safe.

Instructors at Goldfish Swim School use integrity, compassion and trust to teach families lifesaving swim skills — skills that can be used to stay safe while on vacation at the ocean.

Keeping children enrolled in year-round swim lessons means you can have some peace of mind, because instructors talk about water safety during each and every lesson!

Luke and Eden are approaching their second full year of weekly lessons which allows them to continue practicing new swim skills, work on getting stronger at the skills they already know, and reinforce how to stay safer in and around the water. YAY.

To sign up, visit Goldfish Swim School today!

*This post is sponsored by Goldfish Swim School. All opinions are my own.*

Weekly swim lessons allows them to continue practicing new swim skills, work on getting stronger at the skills they already know, and reinforce how to stay safer in and around the water.
Going on a winter vacation? If you live in colder climates, it’s wise to brush up on some basic swim safety first!

Is there anything better than summer? I’ll wait……

…….

That’s what I thought! We are full-blown invested into summer this year as we make our way to the pool on a regular basis. The cool thing is, Luke and Eden can SWIM! I’m not even talking about doggie paddling, or floating, they are actually taking windmill strokes in the big pool.

Luke can swim the entire width of the pool without assistance. Yes, I still keep a very close eye on them…but I am truly amazed at their development. I credit 100% of it to Goldfish Swim School.

I had a meeting last Wednesday, so my husband took the kids to swim lessons. It was the first time he had seen them swim in about 6 months and he was blown away. He texted me:

“Did you know they can actually swim!?!”

Eye roll.

But it’s true, until you see them in action it’s kind of hard to believe.

Goldfish Swim School has a lot of incredible things happening July. If you’re on the fence on signing your child up for swim lessons this summer, hear me out. I know we are halfway through the summer and some of you may be thinking…okay, next year we learn how to swim…but it’s not too late!

Goldfish Swim School’s unique Jump Start Clinics are specially designed for families looking to get their kids water-ready in a hurry! They’re a great way to introduce kids to the fundamentals of water safety, take full advantage of school vacations, get peace-of-mind before a water-centric vacation.

Jump Start Clinics include four or five consecutive days of 30-minute swim lessons that focus on everything from teaching the fundamentals of water safety to fine-tuning stroke technique. These clinics are so effective, we guarantee you’ll see significant improvement in your child’s swimming skills in just four or five short days!

Call today to sign up!

*This post is sponsored. All of the opinions are my own.*

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My older two children have now been enrolled in Goldfish Swim School for a full year. We take weekly, 30 minute swim lessons. I can honestly admit that even after a full year, it is still something they look forward to every week.

But it’s not for every child, there are plenty of children who end swim lessons after a few weeks or right at the start of spring/summer.

Here are 4 fascinating reasons to KEEP your child enrolled in swim lessons:

 

1. Swimming lessons may save your child’s life.

Knowing how to swim can help prevent drowning. One of the reasons we love Goldfish so much is they are always enforcing safety. We will spend all summer at the pool or on a boat, and it helps me rest a little easier knowing they know how to float, tread water, and get to safety.

2. It takes a while for kids to adjust to swimming.

For some children, it takes quite a bit of time to adjust to having water splashed on their face, or going under the water. If you let your little swimmer quit swim lessons before they’re really comfortable in the water, he or she — and you — may miss out on seeing some extraordinary results. Give your children time to adjust to the water.

3. Swimming is great cardiovascular exercise — and helps burn energy.

AMEN! Did you know that swimming works every muscle group? It’s such a fantastic way to exercise — without even realizing that you’re exercising! It strengthens all the muscles, which is great prep for any other sport your little swimmer may decide to join. Plus, it wears my children out. WIN!

4. These aren’t just swim lessons; they’re LIFE lessons.

You probably know several adults who don’t know how to swim or who are afraid of the water. I know I do. As a parent, it’s just very important to me that all three of my children know how to swim, for life!

As the warmer weather finally heads our way, we won’t be slowing down anytime soon on the swim lessons. It truly amazes me to see how far my kids have come with their weekly swim lessons.

I’ll be enrolling Adam in to the school soon, as well!

Weekly lessons with Ms. Jordan are Luke's favorite.

4 reasons to keep your child enrolled in swim lessons.