Dear Swim Professor, I am teaching a class in my hometown with kids 15 months to 2 years.  I am having some difficulty with the back float.  Lots of squirming and crying.  I did the resting head on shoulder and singing songs.  Do you have any other suggestions, if you do please let me know.  [...]

Today’s blog is to announce a podcast that I just recorded and published with one purpose: To reach as many parents as possible and potentially save the life of a child. The purpose of the podcast is not only to prevent unnecessary drowning and teach water safety, but to prevent and recognize how devastating nonfatal, [...]

Should you start your baby (under the age of 2) in swimming lessons? Swim lessons for infants? Swim lessons for toddlers? In my opinion, that really just depends on two things: 1. It depends on whether or not the experience will be a positive one. 2. It depends on whether or not you have reasonable [...]

As the late and legendary TV host Fred Roger’s from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood wrote, “When you help a child enjoy music, you’re also helping a child develop learning skills, like listening, coordination, imagination, and memory.” Swimming lessons too, are a great place to help a child enjoy music.  I have always incorporated songs and music [...]

TOO MANY PARENTS THINK THAT WHEN THEIR CHILD CAN SWIM UNDERWATER THAT THEY DON’T NEED ANY MORE LESSONS! Does your swim school experience this problem?   Of course it’s not only a problem for swim school business, it’s a very serious problem for the child’s safety.  I would like to share with you today a couple [...]

Each child is certainly unique,  and according to the McKesson Clinical Reference Systems, it is difficult to describe exactly what to expect at each stage of the child’s development.  However,  I thought you would enjoy me sharing some of the common trends in development for two year olds.  Socially, these are some common characteristics: Imitates [...]

Dear Teachers & Parents: I received an email today with a VERY COMMON QUESTION from a parent who has a young two year old in our Parent & Me class who is doing wonderfully.  However, and I think this happens often, there was a misunderstanding that because of the progress the little one was making, [...]

I just got off the phone with my dentist, who called for some advice about her two year old’s swimming lessons.  She said, “Coach Jim, we just had our first lesson and it was awful!  Am I wasting my time?” I put together a list of 5 Strategies and an analogy that will help make [...]

Pediatric Drowning Prevention Guidelines Updated By Chris Emery, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Published: May 24, 2010 Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner Action Points  

Have you ever tried a wetsuit for teaching? Have you ever thought about a wetsuit for your “learn-to-swim” students? While I started wearing a wetsuit back when I taught in “unheated  pools,” now even when I teach in heated, warm water pools (87 plus degrees)–I won’t teach in anything else! Why? I’m a better teacher [...]