The popular parenting site, BabyCenter, turned to our own Coach Ruthie when it need expert advice to help parents learn about important life-saving water-safety tips. Her has already reached parents worldwide as well as caught the attention of national swimming associations. Read the full article at: baby center blog
If You Have a Backyard Pool….PROTECT YOURSELF
Stephé McCormick, owner of Backyard Lifeguards explains why you need professional/insured lifeguards (and community pools should not offer the service). From Aquatics International Magazine…
Stephé McCormick is the co-founder (with Coach Ruthie) of Safer When Wet, a water safety education program for pre-school children. She has worked with the YMCA, American Red Cross, Missouri Parks & Recs, St. Louis Aquatic Professionals, and serves as an expert witness on water related tragedies.
In an effort to is to reduce the dramatic rate of drowning at what have historically been under-supervised locations and events, Stephé started Backyard Lifeguards, a fully equipped and insured portable professional lifeguard service that also offers site-specific water safety training which also serves residential pools.
A Note from Coach Ruthie: Little Fishes Swim School Pool Goes Greener
At Little Fishes Swim School our top priority has always been creating a safe and healthy environment where a child’s love of the water can flourish. And we are excited to announce that we have taken our efforts one step further by installing a new system in our salt-water pool that uses ultraviolet light for filtration in place of harsh chemicals that can be damaging to little skin and lungs.
Our new UV system is a chemical-free way to eliminate more than 99.9% of the microbiological bacteria and parasites that are traditionally treated in pools by loading the water with a chemical cocktail that is not only potentially harmful for swimmers and the environment, but is not effective in killing all bacteria. There are at least two strains of bacteria that are known to be chlorine resistant, including the Crypto virus, but these can be eliminated with the use of UV filtration.
The new UV technology has been added to the filtration system we already have in place, and adds extra reinforcements to the naturally hygienic practices we use to clean our water. With the new system, water leaves the pool and flows through a sand filter, then enters an enclosed tube where the light hits the water and cleans it, moves into the salt cell, to the heater, and back into pool. Swimmers and coaches at Little Fishes are not exposed to UV light or harsh chemicals, but enjoy a cleaner, safer, and more environmentally friendly swimming experience.
We installed the UV system because it is known to destroy the genetic code of virtually all harmful, water-borne viruses on contact, disinfects the water until it is nearly pure, and leaves behind no chloramines-the by products of chlorine responsible for eye irritation and the bleach smell in many private and public pools. Since opening the school in 2008 I have always ensured that the school is on the forefront of safety and technology and made this upgrade because I believe the safety and health of our Little Fishes is important, and I want to make sure we are always doing the absolute most we can to support that.
Our new UV system is a natural extension of the many other efforts we have in place to keep our school happy, healthy, and safe. We feel it compliments our decision to have an indoor instruction space to protect our students and coaches from inclement weather and the sun’s rays, why we use salt water in the pool which is healthier for young lungs, gentler on little skin, and better for the environment, and our request that all non-toilet trained swimmers wear reusable swim diapers with elasticized legs to to keep the water cleaner than disposables.
Dry Land Games to Boost Your Baby’s Swimming Skills
Each week we love hearing parents’ stories about how excited their little fishes are to come to class, and we love seeing their faces light up when they master a new skill, like swimming under water or standing on the island unassisted. Learning to swim it is an exciting time for both parent and child! And there are many activities parents can do with their children at home, and on dry land, that can help them as they work towards water independence.
Here are a few activities to help your little fish that you can do while watching TV, eating dinner or even waiting in line at the grocery store that will help them build on the four essential skills we teach in class.
- Developing Kicking Coordination: Being able to kick their feet helps a child propel themselves underwater, and eventually paddle to keep their head above water. While sitting on the couch hold your child on your knees and encourage them to “kick, kick, kick!” their feet. You can also practice this skill with balls and while swinging. By saying the words and assisting them with the action, it won’t take long before they understand how to move those legs in the water.
- Developing Arm Movement: While in class we teach our children the proper way to move your arms while swimming by “stirring the stew”, or move the water in front of them by placing their hands in front and pushing the water behind them in a circular motion. In the beginning many children will start the movement backwards, by holding their hands straight out to their sides and bringing them together as if they were reaching for a hug. You can help develop proper arm movement by helping them to stir the stew any time, anywhere by holding their hands straight in front of them and guiding their arms open and towards the back.
- Developing Jumping Skills: Some new parents are surprised to find that their children are hesitant, or unable to jump into the water. Jumping is a skill that requires some coordination and practice, and one we practice each week with our swimmers who are able to walk. Then when they get on dry land they are being told not to jump-this can be very confusing for our enthusiastic fishes. We recommend parents closely monitor their child and allow them to jump off of low surfaces to start becoming more comfortable with the feeling that accompanies jumping into the water. You could assist them with jumping off the couch, or bed or even a low stool.
- Developing Breathing Skills: Blowing bubbles is an important water safety skill that focuses on helping a child learn to control their breath-a key to swimming. We ask our students to blow bubbles every chance they get, and we must say they love it. To develop their bubbles and breath control, give your children the opportunity to practice at home using a straw and milk, which creates big visible bubbles that stick around. Another great technique is letting them have fun blowing bubbles with solution and wands.
These extension activities are great ways to develop some of the most important skills needed to teach children to swim-no water needed!
From Little Fishes to the Fast Lane
Ryan at Little Fishes (2.5 yrs)
How do you turn a hesitant toddler, reluctant to even put his head in the water, into a bonafide swimming champ?
When Ryan, a Little Fishes Swim School graduate, came to class for the first time he was like many new students. His mom, Monica, recalls that he was comfortable playing in the water, but like many parents, she and her husband Steven wanted Ryan to learn how to swim. “My parents have a pool, and I wanted Ryan to be safe and confident in the water. I researched several different programs, but was immediately drawn to the small classes and salt-water pool at Little Fishes,” she says.
Ryan at 5 yrs
Monica’s research paid off, because within six months of starting Little Fishes at age 2 ½, Ryan was thriving as a swimmer. He had progressed through all of our class levels, and in just over a year he had graduated our program at age four.
Ryan’s love for swimming started at Little Fishes and grew beyond playing safely in his grandparents pool. “Ryan started swimming competitively at age five with the South City Storm swim team,” says Monica. “He absolutely loves it. He competes in all four strokes, but back stroke and freestyle are his favorites.”
Ryan often competes against older children because his skills are beyond those in his age group. “Ryan wouldn’t be the swimmer he is today if it weren’t for Little Fishes, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision. Watching Ryan swim so fast in the last 25 yards of a race is a thrill, and we owe his enthusiasm and excitement in large part to his lessons at Little Fishes,” says Monica.
And Ryan’s sister is following in his footsteps. Jenny, 1 ½, is currently enrolled in a toddler class.
We hear so many exciting stories like Ryan’s from parents whose children arrive at Little Fishes hesitant, reluctant and even frightened of the water, but with our professional, personalized instruction leave comfortable, confident and excited about swimming—a trait they’ll carry with them for life!
The Benefits of Being Active with Your Children
Stacks of books, puzzles and developmental toys are great for learning tools, but children learn the most through observing-as evidenced by the fact that they are also master imitators. Each day, as children watch their parents and caregivers, they are building social skills and lifestyle choices that will last their entire lifetime. Watch as they stack their shoes in the same spot you do, or how the way they interact with their toys and cars are spot on echos of your habits.
We have all read that healthy weight maintenance, improved mood, increased brain function are major benefits when adults exercise, and children who are regularly active are no different. But have you ever wondered why certain people just can’t seem to make exercise a part of their regular routine? Just as we learn to like certain foods as children, we also are developing a preconceived notion about how physical activity fits into our everyday lives.
Making activity part of daily life fosters a positive attitude for life.
When we take time out of our family’s day to be active together we are teaching our littlest family members that being active is a normal and enjoyable part of daily life. When children grow up in a home that makes family activity around just as important as a family meal we are teaching our children how important a priority exercise is, and that being active is something to be enjoyed rather than a chore. Instilling a healthy attitude towards exercise early will help foster a healthy lifestyle as they grow into adulthood.
Being active together is a great bonding experience.
Chores and work take a lot of us mentally, and when it comes to family we all want to be mentally present enough to enjoy time with them and bond. Physical activity clears the mind, and planning activities the family can enjoy together like swim classes or even a simple walk keeps our bodies engaged, and clears our mind to allow us to really focus on our children. These bonding experiences are important to us and our children, and our children associate this positive experience with being active.
As parents we all want the best for our children as they grow and reach adulthood, and being healthy and fit is important part of this. So while getting in shape is a great personal resolution, the benefits of making it part of a family resolution can be even larger.
Child Swimming Skill Building – Ideas You Can Teach At Home
Your baby’s swimming skill building doesn’t end when you leave the pool at Little Fishes Swim School. There are many opportunities to expand on the water skills your child is developing that you can do at home to help them acclimate to the water and further their learning.
Here are a couple of water activities that we recommend parents try at home to help your little fish get more excited about their time in the water!
Blowing Bubbles – Blowing bubbles is an essential beginning swimming skill that helps your child learn breath control so they can comfortably and safely submerge their face in the water. At home you can work on bubble skills by bringing a straw to bath time and letting them blow bubbles, gradually reducing the length of the straw until they are blowing bubbles directly into the water. You can also bring bubble solution and a wand into the bathtub where clean up is easy. Show your child how to blow through the wand to create a bubble.
Underwater Sightseeing – After your child has mastered bubbles bring a pair of goggles into the tub and place interesting toys, trinkets or even a diving stick at the bottom of the tub. Let your child use the goggles to do a little underwater treasure hunt while lying on their stomach. Keep raising the water level to encourage them to put their face under the water and blow bubbles.
Floating – Floating is another important skill we teach our students at Little Fishes. The goal is for a
child to be comfortable on their back with water in their ears. You can help your child develop their floating skills by filling the bathtub just high enough so that your child can lay on the bottom of the tub and the water covers their ears while leaving their face above the water line. Once comfortable, you can raise the water level and support their head so they can feel the buoyancy of the water as it lifts their legs and body.
For more suggestions on how to nurture your child’s love of the water, check out our blog post with tips on how to provide a comfortable atmosphere and how to develop your child’s comfort levels in the water.
There are many activities you can do at home to develop your child’s love of the water, but even if your child is acing their swimming classes, an adult who is comfortable working with the child in the water should closely supervise all activities.
Give A Skill for Life this Holiday Season
This holiday season you can give a skill for life with a Little Fishes gift certificate. Tim Ezell of Fox 2 news shows the benefits of starting swimming programs as early at 6 months old in our salt water pool.
Click to see our babies and toddlers swimming with Tim Ezell.
Young children who are comfortable underwater swim earlier than children who are fearful or resistant to putting their head under. In addition they learn to hold their breath and are less likely to panic in the event of an unplanned submersion.
Life-saving Truths About Learning to Swim
Spend time near the pool and you’ll likely hear parents comment with relief on their children’s summer swimming progress. But are these children really swimming? Understanding the difference between real swimming and beginner skills can be harder than it seems—and a dangerous misconception. Here we dispel some common water myths:
Myth: My child swims like a fish with her floaties on!
Fact: Swimming with floaties is not swimming.
inflatable arm bands "floaties"
Swimming is the ability to self-propel in the water without assistance. In fact, the American Red Cross defines independent swimming as the ability to travel 500 yards (the length of five football fields!) using any combination of strokes, and to tread water without a flotation device. New swimmers will gradually build up to these milestones, but they can’t even begin to practice the skills in floaties, some of the most commonly used swim aids. At Little Fishes, we help young children get comfortable in water without floatation, put their faces in the water without fear, float face-down on top of the water, and move their arms and legs for forward locomotion—the steps needed for swimming.
Myth: It’s not pretty, but dog-paddling gets my child where he needs to go.
Fact: Dog-paddling is not swimming.
When children swim with their head out of the water, their feet drop down, creating drag and slowing their progress. Hands and feet remain in constant motion to prevent sinking. Dog-paddlers tire easily, and can become panicked by fatigue, splashing, and accidental submersion if they stop moving. In addition, lifeguards expect parents in close proximity when children are dog-paddling. When a child demonstrates real swimming, such as freestyle or breast stroke, the stroke mechanics provide time for exertion and recovery, allowing the swimmer to move easily and with endurance.
Myth: My child loves the water—just don’t get her face wet!
Fact: Children who are not comfortable putting their faces in the water do not love water.
Reluctance to put the face in the water indicates fear or hesitation. Flotation devices perpetuate this fear by making it easier to keep their head above the surface. Not until children are comfortable becoming fully submerged will they ever be truly comfortable—and confident—in the water. Studies show that children who know how to submerge are safer in and around water. They stay calmer under water, and find more recovery strategies should they fall in. Good swim lessons teach submersion techniques to children as young as six months old. The younger a child is exposed, the faster and easier it is for going underwater to become second nature! Older children can overcome their fear and discomfort for submersion with patience and the proper coaching.
Myth: She’s safe in the pool, as long as she has her swim ring!
Fact: Most flotation devices are considered toys and not lifesaving devices.
US Coast Guard Approved Life Jacket
Just read the packaging of any swim aid, and you’ll find the words NOT A LIFESAVING DEVICE. Only Coast Guard approved flotation devices prevent drowning, as they are specifically designed to prevent submersion. Unfortunately, this positioning does not help children test their mobility and breath control, and many exploring children can remove them. Adults must be vigilant watchers of children wearing flotation devices. They should be used as a supplement to swim lessons or supervised water exploration, so children do not develop a dependence on them or the gain the false notion that they know how to swim.
Myth: Just give her a few summers and she’ll get the hang of it!
Fact: Year-round swim lessons promote water safety and lifetime swim skills.
It’s not just for summer anymore. Numerous indoor pools and water parks make swimming a year-round option for recreation, birthday parties, field trips, and more. Unstructured seasonal exposure to water can look like progress at first, but often reinforce bad habits. Regression is common among young children that swim only seasonally, so the idea that a child will pick up where they left off is not realistic. Children need regular guided practice to learn swimming, and skill milestones are achieved along with physical and cognitive growth.
St Louis Park Closing: Families Need Parks
Jessica Pupillo writes about the importance of parks for families.
http://www.stlsprout.com/news/editor-s-note-families-need-parks
“Swimming is such an important life skill,” said Zarren, who owns Little Fishes Swim School in Brentwood. “Swimming lessons have shown to have a protective benefit against drowning.”
But, she notes, “every exposure to water is beneficial.” Water experience — even in a shallow area where kids aren’t expected to swim — gives kids more familiarity with water and a greater chance of helping themselves if they get into trouble in the water, she said.
