Did you know that 70% of all childhood drowning occurs when the child was in the care of one or both parents?   Or that 75% of the time the child was missing for 5 minutes or less?  Watch this live news segment for some Tips on How to Stop Drowning:

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).

How often have you heard a parent say, “oh my child can swim like a fish!”  When in fact, they may only have some basic skills, or a lacking skill set.  Combine the lack of understanding of what real swimming really is and the weak skill set, you have a serious problem.  One that could quite possibly get them into trouble due both the child and parent being overconfident of their swimming abilities.

A study by the American Red Cross backs my above statement up.  In that study, 80% of those interviewed said they could swim, but when tested, ONLY 56% were accurate.

Here is an interview I did with a Columbia NBC news broadcast.   I hope you enjoy the rest of the interview (BTW, the pool isn’t really green, LOL!  That is just our camera recording the clip off the TV).

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).

WLTX News Anchor Darci Strickland interviews Swim Lessons University’s Jim Reiser.   Reiser shares Water Safety Tips for parents with children of all ages, highlighting strategies by the “Safer 3” as well as by Aquatic Safety Group.

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).

Whether you are a swimming instructor or parent, when it comes to teaching infants and toddlers to swim–PLEASE choose your approach carefully.   It is absolutely imperative that you really research the pros and cons of the teaching method before enrolling in an infant swimming program, especially one that may promise drown-proofing or mastering survival skills.  These approaches can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.  Simply put, your baby’s (or student’s) life and emotional well-being is in YOUR hands.

Teaching an infant or toddler to swim can be done successfully in a naturally progressive, child-centered learning environment.   One that is gentle and kind.  It is my professional opinion that this is the ONLY method any responsible person should consider for a baby.   We certainly want children to learn to swim for safety, but there is no iron-clad, guaranteed defense against drowning.  There is no such thing as drown-proofing.

In fact, the Broward County Drowning Prevention Task Force in Florida published a program called Water Smart Babies.  They created the program to help educate parents on how to best protect their children and keep them safer around the water.  Water Smart Babies stresses that the parent is the most important factor  and encourages parents to Follow the Safer 3, a layered approach to drowning prevention.

To keep infants and toddlers safer, parents should be taught to take every precaution when the child is in or around the water.  Never let your guard down no matter how many lessons a toddler has taken or how many times they have shown the ability to swim.  To keep children safer, we must combine learn-to-swim with as many layers of protection as possible, from touch supervision, to lifejackets, to fences, to self-closing gates, and pool alarms.

But you ask:  What about those infant-survival skills that  I’ve seen on YouTube?  I believe former NDPA Executive Director Kim Burgess hit the nail on the head in the position statement for the Broward County Drowning Prevention Task Force, “The water-survival skills program make compelling videos for the internet, but no scientific study has yet demonstrated these classes are effective.”

The report also concludes that these types of programs place inexperienced swimmers in what he perceives as life or death situations.”  If practiced repeatedly this places a child in a chronic stressful situation of “saving his life” every time he swims, which could detrimental to the child’s emotional and cognitive development.

Karen King, also referenced in the report, states:  “Putting babies in life or death scenarios is not an acceptable teaching practice in swimming or any learning situation. It’s like showing a child a busy street, putting him IN the road, and watching to see if he makes it to the curb.”  Do you see the cruelty and absurdity in this?

The bottom line is that the ultimate goal of teaching infant, toddlers and young children to swim is so that they love their swimming experience and learn to be safer in the water in the process.   Like any other worthwhile skills, skill mastery is a process–not an event.  Don’t be fooled!

Here is a short video example of what the Swim Lessons University “Parent & Tot” learn to swim program looks like.

Give a child a lifetime gift–teach a child to swim using a gentle, loving approach.   An approach that has proven effective for not only my own three boys, but for the thousands and thousands of students who have safely learned to swim with a Swim Lessons University certified instructor.

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).

Here is a recent message I shared with our swim school parents:

Dear Families & Friends:

Would you consider dedicating 30-minutes of your child’s week to swimming instruction if you knew it could determine life or death?  Of course you would!

As fall approaches, I urge parents to consider continuing the pursuit of helping your child be the safest and strongest swimmer he/she can be!   Sure, we are all busy with school, other sports activities, etc., but the last thing we should do is substitute other activities for swimming instruction when our child is not yet a strong swimmer.

As a physical educator and coach, I am a HUGE advocate of children participating in multiple sports and activities.  My three boys play baseball, basketball, soccer, and have done karate.   But I would never substitute one of the sports at the cost of my child’s safety.   So just because the fall sports season is approaching, please continue your commitment to your child’s swimming safety and skills.

Learning to swim is a process, not an event.  Just like those who believe in karate for self-defense, stick with it, and pursue a black belt–EVERY PARENT should have their child pursue a “black belt in swimming” for their child’s safety.

SwimmingSafercerely!

Jim Reiser, Founder & President

Learn-to-Swim Professional

M.S. of Physical Education & Motor Skill Acquisition

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has named Jim Reiser the recipient of the 2015 Virginia Hunt Newman Award for his approach in teaching infants, toddlers, and children to swim. Jim is the first American to win the award in 20 years!

Jim has also been honored by:

USA Swimming as the Adolph Kiefer Water Safety Person of the Year

National Drowning & Prevention Alliance Lifesaver of the Year

World Aquatic Babies & Children Congress as the President’s Award Recipient for world-wide contributions to learn-to-swim.

It was the summer of 1982. I was just 13 years old when I got my first job as a Swim Instructor Aide teaching under my father at his swim school in Johnstown, PA. Between 1982 and 1990, I not only continued teaching, but I played about every sport I could play.   As a youth and teen, it was swimming, baseball, soccer, football, and basketball.   In high school, it was football, basketball, track, and swimming.   Oh yes, and I fiddled with karate after breaking my hand in 1985, and later pursued and earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do.

In college, after playing football my freshman year at California University of Pennsylvania, I started my own lean-to-swim program as a sophomore. While I wanted to keep playing football, a back injury during spring ball cut that career (going nowhere) short! While rehabilitating my back in the university pool, I got this idea to propose a Swim Lessons Program and lease the University pool.   After a lot of perseverance, it was finally approved.  In no time at all I knew I found my calling. I ended up in Columbia, SC  after accepting a graduate assistantship to teach aquatics for the University of South Carolina’s Physical Education Department while pursuing my master’s degree in Physical Education and Motor Skill Development.

I will be 46 years young next month, and coaching sports has been a huge part of my life. Coaching and teaching is my life. To me, nothing is more rewarding than utilizing sport to teach life skills to kids.   And sports are a wonderful medium to do that.  From 1993-2005, I coached year-round competitive swimmers from novice to elite, producing 20 National Top 16 Qualifiers.   For the past year and a half, I have been having the time of my life coaching my son’s AAU Basketball Team!

But while there are so many benefits our youth can learn from participating in most all youth sports with the right coach–there is one thing that cannot be denied about swimming:   “Swimming is the only skill that can save a child’s life.”   The problem is, I don’t believe this statement is taken anywhere seriously enough by parents across the United States.

Why do I say this?  Because when I am not writing curriculum for Swim Lessons University or working on The Swim Lessons Company, I spend the majority of my life in the gym and on the local ball fields.  What do I see?   I SEE THOUSANDS of YOUNG KIDS playing t-ball, soccer, and basketball… And I know there are thousands of others also doing dance and gymnastics.   I WOULD LIKE TO APPLAUD EVERY SINGLE PARENT for giving their child these wonderful opportunities … BUT I CAN’T!

Why? Because my educated guess is that the majority of them can’t swim or they are WEAK swimmers!  And rather than making sure these children are learning a skill that could also save their life, parents are turning a blind eye to this fact.  Instead, parents are enrolling their children earlier and earlier in these other sports are hoping their son or daughter becomes the next Michael Jordan, LaBron James, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Tom Brady, Walter Payton, Pele, Lionel Messi, Roger Federer, Venus Williams, or Nadia Comaneci.

I understand that some families can’t afford swimming lessons.  Here in Columbia, SC, I have done two things to help create solutions for those families: First, we partnered with the USA Swimming “Make a Splash” program and discount all of our lessons at our downtown location by 40%!   Number two, Ebony Bowers and I co-founded The Swim Lessons Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) that affords children with FREE LESSONS to families who can’t afford them.   (I do feel we are underachieving in securing donations so if you can help by donating please go to www.SwimLessonsFoundation.Org )

But the fact is…DROWNING TAKES MORE LIVES THAN ANY OTHER ACCIDENT for children under the age of six, and ranks 2^nd only to AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS for ages 6-14.

The point of my writing today is to ask you to consider re-prioritizing your child’s activities, especially if they can’t swim or swim well enough to save themselves.   Take a look at this blog, “SWIM LESSON OBJECTIVES,” which outlines what your child should be able to do at a variety of ages.  Would your child pass the test?  You can watch video samples of what I believe is a reasonable objective at a variety of ages.  You can find all those videos and blogs on this site!  For example, here is a link to the blog of  what every 3 & 4 year old are capable of learning if taught by a qualified instructor.

PLEASE REMEMBER THIS:  Learning to swim is a process, not an event!  Don’t wait until summer to enroll your child in swim lessons.   Find a child-centered, progressive swim program near you today!

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).

One of the BIGGEST mistakes parents make from a water safety perspective is not giving their child the opportunity to continue learning how to REALLY SWIM! By the time a child is 5 years of age, he is capable of swimming the length of most any residential pool using formal strokes such as freestyle (front crawl) and backstroke. As a physical educator, I strongly encourage parents to have their children participate in a variety of sports and activities–BUT NEVER as a substitute to becoming a competent swimmer. If your child is five years old and can’t swim freestyle with side breathing (as seen in this video), please twice about re-prioritizing his or her activities.

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).

How quickly can a child learn to swim? This is a complex question, and quite frankly, the wrong question. It is so important that we, as parents, allow learning to swim to be a natural, enjoyable process. One that is fun, rewarding, and stress-free! Children naturally start setting goals on their own, especially if they are learning in a class with their peers or if the instructor is encouraging the child in a positive, motivational manner.

It is critical that parents do not compare their child to the next, nor should any adults impose their goals on a child. Embrace the process, and let the child enjoy it. Learning to swim is a process, not an event. I understand that there is a financial motive to graduate a child from lessons as quickly as possible in some cases. But never forget that you are investing in a lifelong skill for your child. Look at the money, time, and commitment level we as parents will put into travel baseball, soccer, gymnastics, karate, etc. Look at the time and money dad puts into improving his golf game. When investing in swimming instruction, at the very least you are investing in a skill that your child will have his entire life for fun, safety, and fitness. At best, you are investing in the only sports skill that could save his life!

Like learning to read, your expectations should change based on your child’s age. What you get excited about your child reading in 1st grade would not be the same when he reaches 3rd grade. On the other hand, he may not be capable of 3rd grading reading in 1st grade. Learning to swim is no different. There are numerous considerations that affect not only a child’s progress and skill development, but determine whether it is even realistic to expect your child to master a certain skill or stroke:
1. Chronological Age
2. Motor Skill Development
3. Emotional Development
4. Cognitive Development
5. Physical Development
6. Practice time with a well-trained instructor (How many months a year? How many days per week?)
7. Unstructured swim time in the pool.

At Swim Lessons University, we want parents and instructors to understand what their children are capable of doing at a variety of ages for two reasons:
• To help keep the parents expectations realistic.
• To help the parents understand what their child is capable of learning.

The following Learn to Swim Objectives or Swimming Benchmarks can be generally achieved at the following ages,that the child is receiving professional instruction six to eight months out of the year (about 50 classes per year):

By 12 months old, infants/toddlers participating in Parent & Tot classes not only build comfort in the water, but they can begin learning the basic kicking skills, breath holding, breath control, and prerequisite skills to what will be instrumental to their progress over the next couple years.

By 18 months old, toddlers participating in Parent & Tot classes will continue to refine their skills. The skills they should continue to develop include the basic flutter kick, breath control, a Stage Two short surface swim with a progressive flotation vest (3-5 ft.), and the beginning progressions of the safety skills.

By 24 months old, toddlers can learn how to get back to the pool edge after entering the water from a seated position. IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience, and has already mastered the 18-month old benchmark.

By 30 months old, toddlers can also learn to swim short distances (up to 10 feet) with their face in the water. IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience, and has already mastered the 24-month old benchmark.

By 36 months old, young children can learn how to consistently get back to the edge of the pool from a jump. Young children at this age can also begin to learn the Surface Swim with a Pop-up Breath. IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience, and has already mastered the 30-month old benchmark.

By four years old, young children are capable of swimming across most any residential pool, face in the water, while using the pop-up breath to get their air. IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience.

By five year old, children are capable of swimming the length of most any residential pool using formal swim strokes like freestyle (front crawl) and backstroke. IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience.

By six years old, children are capable of learning advanced strokes such as butterfly, breaststroke, sidestroke, elementary backstroke, and even the skill of treading water. IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience.

By seven or eight years old, children are capable of swimming 100 meters (4 lengths of a Jr. Olympic-sized pool), using any variety of strokes to increase their safety in open water situations (i.e., rivers, lakes, ocean). IMPORTANT NOTE: This objective is possible IF the child has had the previous recommended instruction and experience.

ONE LAST TIP! Encourage your child. Avoid comparing him to his classmates. Celebrate each accomplishment. Most importantly, provide positive reinforcement for “trying his best.” Teach him not to use the word “can’t,” and replace it with “I’ll try!”

According to the American Institute of Preventative Medicine, DROWNING is the leading cause of accidental death of children age 5 & under, and 2^nd only to automobile accidents to children age 6-14.  The number of children we lose every year to drowning is very troubling.  Especially when we know that in most cases–drowning is preventable.  One problem is that too many parents have the mindset that it can’t happen to them.

There are TWO REASONS for that:

• Parents naturally OVERESTIMATE their child’s swimming ability.
• Parents UNDERESTIMATE how quickly and quietly a child drowns.

While most people think that there would be water thrashing and a real struggle before someone drowns, that’s not how drowning looks or sounds at all.  It’s not like in the movies, children drown without a sound.  If a child can’t swim and doesn’t grab the wall, what would happen?  Like any other drowning victim, would have one goal:  Try to breathe.  What would he breathe if his face was submerged?  Water.  So you would hear nothing.  And in far too many cases, the toddler breathes in water, slips underwater, and within as little as 90 seconds he is unconscious.   In as little as 2 minutes, even with the best resuscitation efforts, the outcome is not good, i.e., a parents worst nightmare, brain damage, even death.

For more information on drowning prevention, water safety, and learning to swim, contact Jim Reiser at Swim Lessons University.

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).

Some state and local health codes specify that a certain number of lifeguards must be on duty for a given number of patrons. Other codes may have guidelines based on ratios of pool surface area to the number of lifeguards. In other cases the state and health codes do not specify the number of lifeguards required to be on duty per number of patrons, or may not require lifeguards at all.

Whatever the case may be in your state, Swim Lessons University (SLU) believes it is of utmost importance that learn-to-swim programs educate swim lessons parents on what it means to have close and effective supervision. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 70% of all preschoolers who drown were in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning. It is imperative that SLU Professionals educate parents that drowning occurs not due to a lack of supervision, but rather a lapse in supervision. Based on this information, SLU recommends the following guidelines in addition to your local health codes:

In addition to the required supervision in place, a specified adult Water Watcher should be designated for each class. The Water Watcher accepts the following responsibilities as listed on the back of the card:
1. Avoid socializing, using the phone, texting, and all other potential distractions.
2. Continuously scan the water surface and the bottom of the pool.
3. Remain on duty until relieved by another Water Watcher.

*SLU makes a Water Watcher tag and lanyard available for just $2.00, or for $3.00 you can get a whistle too!

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).
.