Swim Lessons University is dedicated not only to providing swim instructor training so that swim teachers will teach more effectively, but we are also dedicated to raising  awareness of the inherent risks of the water so that we can help prevent children from drowning.   Because of our vision, I thought it was only appropriate that we add the Safety Turtle to our line of Water Safety tools.

I believe Swim Lessons University Instructors and all Water Safety Professionals have a responsibility to educate parents on how they can make their children safer.  As my friend and colleague Johnny Johnson teaches in the Safer 3, the “r” in safer stands for risk.  Where there is water, there is risk, and we need to help parents understand the best ways to reduce that risk.

The Safer 3 concept is a layered approach.   Never depend on any one form of drowning prevention, rather incorporate as many safety measures as possible.  The Safer 3 stands for Safer Kids, Safer Water, Safer Response.  The Safety Turtle is falls in the category of “Safer Water.”

In order to have safer water, parents and pool owners should make sure they have proper fencing, self-closing gates and latches, safety equipment around the pool, and alarms.  The Safety Turtle is an excellent alarm system in which I use first hand, and that is why I am so confident in the product and why I chose to make the Safety Turtle available through the Swim Lessons University website.

The child wears a Safety Turtle wristband, which provides continuous protection to the child wearing it. This continuous protection compares to water disturbance pool alarms which are deactivated (and reactivated) by whoever uses or cleans the pool or spa. This distinction is vital because toddler accidents often occur when a pool or spa area is left unsecured or when adults are in attendance.

Another neat benefit is that the  Safety Turtle personal alarm can also accompany your child or children when you are on vacation or on visits to a boat, cottage or another pool, where unfamiliar surroundings and less security add risk.  In other words, it’s so portable–you can take the Safety Turtle with you!

A standard child immersion alarm system consists of one or more Turtle Wristbands  locking wristband, key and  Base Station. (Base Station Receiver sold separately).

The Safety Turtle wireless gate alarm enhances the security of a safety fence. A gate alarm reinforces the weakest link of a pool or property fence, the gate latch, which is subject to mechanical deterioration and occupant and visitor interaction.  It can be used  on all wood or metal frame doors, pool fences and property fences.

So swim teachers–make sure your parents Follow the Safer 3.  We can teach children how to swim and be safer in the water,  but we should never give parents a false sense of security.   NO CHILD IS DROWN PROOF!  Remind parents that the more measures of swim safety they have in place, the safer their child.   Recommend the Safety Turtle too, because like learning to swim, the Safety Turtle saves lives!

Want to see how it works?  Check out this YouTube video clip for a very informative video OR WATCH the Safety Turtle featured on SUPER NANNY!

Hello Swim Professor!   I am a new instructor. I have a friend up North in CT who has an almost 3 year old who is TERRIFIED of the pool. She clings to mom’s neck. She has had a couple of scary incidents with inhaling water (falling into a kiddie pool and not being able to turn herself over on her own and accidently being submerged in a big pool) I am in FLorida, so I can’t work with her directly. I suggested she just get her little one back in – clinging and all – and try to just have fun and not worry about “swimming” until her fear subsides.

Dear Instructor Jenna:

I think your advice is sound advice, and it is so unfortunate that the child has had these experiences.   But she can and will overcome her fear if the parents and teachers take the right approach.

Here are a few strategies I would suggest for a child who is terrified of the pool:

1.  The parents and instructor should acknowledge her fears.  Let her know it’s “okay” to be scared.  Everyone, even grown-ups, have things that they are scared of . . .

2.  Don’t Force It!  I would recommend visiting the pool that she will take lessons in (if possible) and assure her that she is just going to the pool to watch and keep that promise!   After several visits of simply watching child-centered, child friendly, and fun swimming lessons or even just water play, her fears will begin to subside.

3.  Get Back in for the first time.   After several visits, as recommended above, talk to her about getting in the pool with mommy, daddy, or the swim teacher (basically positive visualization like an athlete would practice before a game).  Reassure her that you will hold her and protect her.  Use a hug hold and take your time.   As Instructor Jenna mentions, bring a favorite toy or two.  After some time goes by, redirect her attention to different toys, squirts, pour water and make bubbles.  Simply make this visit one of unstructured play and stress-free fun.

4.  After this visit, talk at home about the fun she had at the pool.  Remember and recall things that were silly, funny, and neat!  As her excitement builds, tell her (don’t ask) that the next time she will be a “big girl” and start kicking her legs, and maybe even blowing bubbles, and meet a very cool water pal named “Danny the Dolphin” or “Sammy the Seal” who will give her kisses.  (You can see real examples of this activity in the Swim 101 DVD).

5.  Follow the Swim 101 Lesson Plan and use the “From Tears to Cheers” audio CD techniques to help turn her fears into Cheers.

Before you know it, this little girl will be learning to swim, having fun in the water, and it will be one of the most rewarding experiences a swim instructor or parent could every experience with a young child.

Make sure to keep the process of learning to swim a child-centered one, and by all means don’t allow her to get into a situation that would make her scared again.

The American Sport Effectiveness Coaching Program’s slogan is “Athletes First–Winning Second.”  It should be similar for swim instructors:  Child First–Swimming Skills/Goals Second!  When the  swimming skills and goals occur because the child is ready–the learn to swim process is always a happy one!

Best of luck!

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his curriculum and approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim.  Jim was the first American to win the award in 10 years.

If you would like to learn more about the Swim Lessons University certification program and curriculum, make sure to visit us at www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com 

We have training and certification programs designed for both private instructors as well as organizations like YMCAs, Recreation Departments, Athletic Clubs, and more.

Swim Lessons University is currently being utilized by recreation departments, YMCAs, America Camp Association swim lessons programs, as well as by private swimming instructors in 45 states and over 30 countries!

You can also call us toll free at 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).

Teaching the Pop-up Breath:  A Child Centered Swimming Lessons Approach

I have been teaching swimming since 1983.   This is hard to admit, but I have been teaching longer than most of my instructors have been alive!  And of course over the past 34 years, my methods and approaches have changed.  One technique I continue to change and evolve is developing the best techniques for teaching a young child how to do the pop-up breath.

As many of you know, I am a huge fan of  progressive flotation devices.  I love the fact that you can remove buoyancy as the swimmer becomes more competent in the water.  But most recently, I have witnessed a few of my instructors become overeager to remove the buoyancy pads, which has prompted me to write today’s blog.

I have one philosophy I believe in like the bible and I will teach it to my grave.  Learning to swim should be enjoyable.  Learning to swim should NOT be scary or stressful to a child BECAUSE of an overeager instructor or parent.   I want to RE-EMPHASIZE that our methods can be progressive, but they MUST be child-friendly and child-focused.   We CAN NOT put our goals or the child’s parent’s goals in front of the child’s skill readiness.  Take your time, and enjoy the process.

Let me ask you this:

1. If your student is swimming and yelling, “I’m scared!” Is this a child-centered approach?
2. If your student has the fear of God written all over his/her face, is this taking a child-centered approach?
3. If your approach is making your student is exceptionally nervous and scared, is this a child-centered approach?

NO, NO, and NO!!!  AND NO EXCUSES!  As a professional swimming instructor, you need to eliminate the fears your students are experiencing.  And more than likely, it will be very easy to do, because it is your approach that is creating the fearful environment. Your approach should be causing young children to develop a life long love of the water.

So a few NEW GUIDELINES for teaching a young child the Pop-up Breath:

1. Do not remove ANY FLOTATION from the vest UNTIL the child is competently swimming and doing a pop-up breath without a struggle.  If there is a struggle, teachers should NOT increase the difficulty, rather find a way to reduce it, i.e., assist the learner with a little support during the breath (just enough so he/she is successful).

*Understand this fact:  The less flotation a child has, the more he/she will tilt the head back and chin up because he is trying to keep the mouth out of the water so he can breathe, creating a diagonal for vertical position in the water. The more flotation the student has, the more confidence he/she will also have to attempt swimming with the face in the water and getting quick breaths as needed.   Once the skill becomes instinctive, then you can start removing flotation.

1. NEVER force the face into the water.   If you allow the learner to have the maximum amount of buoyancy, he/she will put his face in the water upon your command WHEN he/she is ready.  If you force the face in the water, the child will likely panic and breathe, causing him/her to choke on the water.  This will only prolong learning the skill that you are trying to help the child master.  ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE!  Don’t threaten or pressure.

* Side note:  Last summer my son Nolan, who was not even 2 years old at the time, started doing the pop-breath while playing in the neighborhood pool and while wearing a Type 3 lifejacket.  Why?  He had nothing to fear.  He knew he could easily get his next breath without a struggle for his life.

1. Use the cues “Breathe and Swim,” “and Face-in,” or “1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, Breathe.”   Did you know that one technique that hinders many young swimmers’ ability to get horizontal in the water is the paddling they are doing with the hands?   Teach young learners to put the arms more to their sides, and to use some minimal sculling movements during the breath, but the hands should not be out in front like a dog paddle.  This typically causes the swimmer to struggle to stay in a horizontal position.
2. ALWAYS be in a position where you can see your student’s mouth, eyes, and facial expressions.   Fear hinders learning.  Security and confidence produce it.
3. Give just enough support so that your student is successful, and gradually give less and less support when your student has proven to themselves that he/she is capable, and your student BELIEVES he/she can do it!

The best teachers foster this belief through the use of positive, reinforcing, and encouraging feedback.  You can’t fool them, but you can help them develop both the physical and psychological tools to be successful, and you can help them develop a lifelong love of the water.  Be patient.  If you teach yourself to put the “child happiness” first, and task mastery second, the pieces will fall into place.

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his curriculum and approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim.  Jim was the first American to win the award in 10 years.

If you would like to learn more about the Swim Lessons University certification program and curriculum, make sure to visit us at www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com 

We have training and certification programs designed for both private instructors as well as organizations like YMCAs, Recreation Departments, Athletic Clubs, and more.

Swim Lessons University is currently being utilized by recreation departments, YMCAs, America Camp Association swim lessons programs, as well as by private swimming instructors in 45 states and over 30 countries!

You can also call us toll free at 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).

One of the most difficult things for a swim instructor is developing the confidence that YOU CAN turn most any fearful swim lesson student into a happy swimmer.  No matter how scared the child may appear, you can do it!

Here are a few strategies that work:

1. Take control. Don’t allow the parent to take over how you are going to “tackle” the situation.  You are the expert.  If you take control and do it right, these Fearful Swimmer Techniques WILL WORK!

2. Acknowledge their Fears. Ask the child, “are you scared?”  When they respond “yes,” tell them “it’s okay to be scared.”  Tell the fearful swimmer that even grown-ups get scared sometimes.

3.  Don’t force the child in the water right away. Tell the child, “I want you to just sit here with mom/dad and watch.  That’s all I want you to do.  Tell the parent to avoid talking to them about getting in the water right now.  Just let the child calm down.  Whether the child “normally” loves the water and/or what the child does in their residential or neighborhood pool is irrelevant here.  This is a NEW situation and their fears are REAL.

4.  NEVER ask the child “do you want to get in the pool?” The answer will almost always will be “No!”

5.  INSTEAD–Redirect the child. If you are teaching the “Let’s Go Grocery Shopping” activity from the Swim 101 DVD, you might say:  “Do you like bananas or ice cream cones (assuming you have those props floating in the pool).  When they reply “ice cream cones,” you confidently and without hesitation use a secure hold bring them right into the water.  CONTINUE to redirect their attention, encourage them, and reassure the young swimmer.

These five simple techniques are EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE!  Yes, you may get  some resistance as you are bringing a scared swimmer into the water, but that should be expected.  Give it enough time (15-30 seconds) to go get the toy and bring it back before you give up.  And never, never,  give up!  But what I mean is, if the child is still very upset, go back to step #1 and REPEAT these five steps.

I would estimate this fearful child progression will turn tears into cheers 95% of the time.  If you don’t have success after the first class, invite mom or dad to join the class with you the next time just until the child gets comfortable with you.  Much of their fears can be attributed to stranger anxiety, a new place, etc.   Give them the security they need and keep it child focused–don’t take the security away.

For more tips, check out my From Tears to Cheers Audio CD. Swim school owners and program directors  like to share this with their staff in swim instructor training sessions.  Even share it with parents!

YOU CAN turn tears into cheers!  No skill is more important than learning to swim.   Whatever you do–don’t give up!  And the more you do it, the easier it will be…. Look at every fearful child as an experience that will help you grow into an even better swimming instructor.  Good luck!

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his curriculum and approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim.  Jim was the first American to win the award in 10 years.

If you would like to learn more about the Swim Lessons University certification program and curriculum, make sure to visit us at www.SwimLessonsUniversity.com 

We have training and certification programs designed for both private instructors as well as organizations like YMCAs, Recreation Departments, Athletic Clubs, and more.

Swim Lessons University is currently being utilized by recreation departments, YMCAs, America Camp Association swim lessons programs, as well as by private swimming instructors in 45 states and over 30 countries!

You can also call us toll free at 1-866-498-SWIM (7946).