The Swim Professor

Jim Reiser, M.S.

WIS-NBC Features Water Smart 101 Safety Program

After Michael Morris of The Samual Morris Foundation flew into Columbia, South Carolina to visit with Jim Reiser and learn more about the Water Smart 101 program, WIS-TV in Columbia’s Judi Gatson and Meaghan Norman were excited to spread the word about this potentially life saving program.

The Water Smart 101 program, inspired by SC State Representative Wendell Gilliard, has enormous potential in the fight against drowning, which could not only prevent drownings in children in South Carolina, but around the nation, and even around the globe which was evident by Michael Morris’s visit to South Carolina.   There is currently at least one school in Texas planing to implement the Water Smart 101 program this school year, every school in Charleston County, SC has implemented it in 2012.  Representative Gilliard is also encouraging all public schools in SC to implement this one-hour water safety course in 2013 and beyond.

Richland School District One students in Columbia, SC was the first school district to reap the benefits of the program.  Jim Reiser’s local swim school, The Swim Lessons Company, has been teaching swimming lessons and the water safety program to it’s second graders since 2006.  Reiser, the Water Smart 101 course author, has developed the course over the past 6 years into what now features an interactive video, a lesson plan, a water safety promise that involves the parent and child, a review, and a Water Smart exam the next day.

Here is the latest news coverage on the Water Smart 101 program featuring interviews from both Jim Reiser and Michael Morris of Australia:

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 is 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).

 

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September 26, 2012 at 4:40 pm Comments (0)

Learn to Swim Progession for Infants and Toddlers, Stage Two

As the young toddler demonstrates his confidence is increasing, he is becoming more relaxed in the swim, and his kick is beginning to provide some propulsion, it is time then to move to Stage Two of the Surface Swim progression.  This stage will help take his level of competence to another level.  This doesn’t happen overnight, and be prepared to give plenty of child-focused practice opportunities in all stages of learning, always putting the child’s happiness and willingness to perform the skills FIRST.

“CHILD HAPPINESS FIRST–TASK MASTERY SECOND!”  All Swim Lessons University Instructors are trained using this philosophy as the cornerstone of success for the child first, and the program second.  At SLU, we believe toddlers and young children can learn to swim and be safer in the water without a forceful, negative approach.  The approach can be progressive, but children should progress at their pace so they not only learn to swim, but that they learn to both respect and love the water.  Now back to Stage Two…

During Stage Two as seen in the video below, you can see that the INSTRUCTOR GOES UNDERWATER HIMSELF wearing goggles so he can  OBSERVE THE TODDLER EVER SO CLOSELY.   The moment the toddler appears that he is ready to come up for a breath (in this case the 24 month old lifts his head on his own), the instructor calmly and gently assists him so that he can easily get his breath, avoiding the chance of him taking in any water.   This is Stage Two and plenty of time should be spent on it before moving to Stage Three where we introduce the “Pop up Breath.”  Since this child demonstrated he is capable of lifting the head for a breath after swimming with the face down for several seconds, this is a great indicator he is ready to move to Stage Three and learn the Pop-up Breath.   If the instructor needs to assist the child from the face down position, it may be better to continue with stage two since he simply may not be physically strong enough or skilled enough to start on stage three.

I sure hope this video and blog help you and or your staff!  But please know these are just glimpses of the footage and instruction you will see in the 2nd Edition of the new Parent & Tot Instructor Training DVD

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 is 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).

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September 26, 2012 at 3:25 pm Comments (0)

Water Safety Interview with Michael Morris of Australia in Columbia, SC

We were honored and humbled to have Michael Morris of The Samuel Morris Foundation visit us here in Columbia, SC all the way from Australia.   Michael and his wife Jo-Ann are on a mission to reduce drownings and near drownings in Australia and around the globe.  As Michael mentions in the interview, one of the reasons he visited us was to discuss the Swim Lessons University Water Smart 101 program.   A program that was recently introduced to 46,000 children in Charleston County schools.  A program in which S.C. State Representative Wendell Gilliard wants to see in all S.C. public schools, and a program we would love to share with the rest of the world.

Michael and his wife Jo-Ann Morris have created the The Samual Morris Foundation.  The organization is in the name and inspired by their son Samual Morris.  Samual is an unfortunate victim of a near drowning tragedy.  As a result of this accident, Samuel experienced a severe Hypoxic Brain Injury and was left with a range of severe disabilities.

We hope this interview  (and we apologize the audio isn’t better) will help parents around the world understand better how to prevent unnecessary tragedies like this one.  We hope you will look at utilizing the Water Smart 101 program to teach your children how to be safer when in and around the water, and make the water a safer place for all our children.

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 is 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).

 

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September 25, 2012 at 4:31 pm Comments (0)

Learn to Swim Progression for Infants and Toddlers, Stage One

At Swim Lessons University, we take infants and toddlers through a child-focused, individual and naturally paced progression. Here is Stage One of the “Surface Swim,” where you can watch me help 21-month old, Saylor get comfortable with this first step in the learn to swim process.


There are two topics that are critical that I would like to point out:

First watch how I go under water, wearing my favorite Finis goggles, and keep my eyes on Saylor’s face to ensure she is happy throughout the process. I never let her go, nor do I take her under the water. Humans swim at the surface. Therefore, when you introduce swimming to young infant and toddlers, it is especially important that you avoid taking them under the surface or and avoid dunking them. You gently place the face in the water after giving a 1-2-3 start command.

Secondly, watch how I bring Saylor up for air as soon as I sense she is ready. Don’t overstay your welcome. Their facial expressions and their body language tells you everything you need to know in order to keep the task child-focused.

Once your student becomes comfortable enough with stage one, you take them to stage two where you actually let them go and let them propel themselves through the water. Nevertheless, you are underwater with your goggles on and ready to help them to the surface as soon as you see they are ready. All three stages can be found in Swim Lessons University’s  comprehensive video course for training and certifying swimming instructors, “Parent and Tot” – How To Teach Toddlers to Swim.

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 is 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).

 

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September 24, 2012 at 1:56 pm Comments (2)

How to Teach the Butterfly

Once your students have a hang of the “general idea” of the butterfly stroke, then it is time to start refining some of the details. In this video clip, you can see 6-year old McKinley is figuring out the opportune time to get the head beneath the surface. On her first two strokes, she drops her head prematurely which throws off the timing and interferes with the recovery. When the head goes down too early, so do the shoulders, which prevent an nice, smooth recovery of the arms (you recover after each pull). While she still has plenty to work on (what 6 year old doesn’t?), she does a fabulous job putting figuring out the necessary head position relative to the recovery and entry!

***Note McKinley is also wearing a pair of Finis Zoomers. I like the Zoomers because the blade is short, keeping the kick action more similar to their kick than would long blade flippers. At the same time, the short blade Zoomers still provide additional propulsion which helps young learners get higher in the water and gives them a better chance to make technique improvements. For more detailed video instruction on how to teach the butterfly, check out Swim Lessons University for Swim Instructor DVDs, as well as Online Swim Instructor Certification opportunities.

 

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 is 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).

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September 20, 2012 at 12:25 pm Comments (0)

Swim Equipment for Teaching Toddlers in Swim Lessons

Somewhere between 19 months and 2.5 years of age, toddlers can learn to kick independently (continue “touch supervision”).  At Swim Lessons University, we found that combining a flotation device like the Swim Ways Power Swimmer and a SUPER SIZED Noodle (the fat ones), toddlers and young children will have a better opportunity to be successful and start learning how their kick technique will not only balance them, but it will propel them around the pool.

If you are holding them all the time, they can’t learn this independence, which we feel is critical to taking that next step toward efficient swimming.  The flotation equipment also affords the young swimmers to kick properly.  In other words, without the flotation they are likely to start picking up some bad habits and as they resort to a bicycle type of kick.  This can be a hard habit to break.  Again, we strongly recommend once young children start kicking independently that you continue to provide “touch” or “arms length” supervision in the event they lost their balance or slipped off the noodle.  You want to be right there for both safety reasons and to ensure their experience is a good one!

I hope you enjoy this video on teaching infants and toddlers to swim:

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 is 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).

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September 11, 2012 at 3:47 pm Comments (0)