Just finished final preparations for my first talk in at the Swim Lessons University Super Conference in Indianapolis and Las Vegas.   Take a sneak preview of what will be addressed and swim lesson ideas in the talk titled:  Infant-Toddler Swimming:  Practical Benchmarks and Progressions

• Brand new benchmarks for Infants & Toddlers
• 3 Types of Infant-Toddler Swimming Lessons
• How your product will determine your success
• Should your lessons involve crying?
• VIDEO FOOTAGE of my Parent & Me classes including some that NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN BEFORE!
• What parents KNOW (and what they DON’T KNOW!)
• A waste of time?
• Is the next Michael Phelps in your class?
• What parents need to know
• Educating your Swim Lesson parents
• A personal email to Jim Reiser

I hope you will join me to hear “the rest of the story” at the Swim Lessons University Super Conference in Indianapolis or Las Vegas.  Register now for just $75 and receive 5 FREE Online Tests & Certificate programs ($50 value) PLUS MUCH MORE!

Trust me, I am making this conference worth your while!  Register today at www.swimlessonsuniversity.com

Jim Reiser’s article,  How to Choose a Swim Instructor, was selected as a “Rising Star” and featured on the WikiHow home page under “new articles.”

By the way, Swim Lessons University’s feature of the week is “Bathtub Baby 101,” How to Make Bath Time Your Baby’s First Swimming Lesson, and it is discounted this week only by 20%!  So you can have it now for just $15.00!

This DVD is especially helpful for parents with babies between the ages 4 weeks and 6 months, helping parents get their baby more prepared for their first swimming lesson.  Because most swim schools don’t start formal instruction until at least 6 months of age, this is the perfect starter DVD for every parent of a newborn baby!

To learn more about it, view the sample video now!

Dunking Infants and Babies is always a big topic of discussion when it comes to learn-to-swim and swimming lessons for infants and toddlers.    Should baby swimmers or toddler swimmers be dunked or not?

View my recent article on About.com and the five rules I train swim instructors to follow when it comes to Infant-toddler swim classes.

Did you know that over half of all drownings for babies occur in bath tubs?  According to Safe Kids world wide, that is a fact.   View my FREE YouTube video on Drowning Prevention & Water Safety for infants, toddlers, and young children.

Because we KNOW that infants and toddlers are drowning  in the winter too (because they drown in bath tubs)–PLEASE SHARE THIS VIDEO WITH A FRIEND who has a little one.  You could save a life simply by  “sharing” this information.

You could also go a step further and invest $19.00 in a Christmas gift for a relative or friend, and give them a gift to show you really care– the Bathtub Baby 101 DVD, A Baby’s First Swimming Lesson.  View a free video sample of Bathtub Baby 101 and see all the wonderful tips every mother and father could put to use with for their baby’s baths.

Bathtub Baby 101 also covers

• How to prepare your bathroom
• How to prepare your baby
• How to hold your baby
• How and what skills to teach your baby
• How to comfort your baby if he/she cries
• How to ensure a happy experience

Every parent wants to do everything possible  to protect their baby, which is one of the primary objectives of this DVD.  You want to prepare your baby for a lifelong love affair with the water, and Bathtub Baby 101 is the beginning of that journey.

Lastly, make sure to take advantage of the FREE RESOURCES on our website on the Safer 3, that teaches drowning prevention through education.

Take a few minutes to check out some free video footage from my brand new Bathtub Baby 101 DVD!  Just click Bathtub Baby 101 and you’ll get to watch my wife Heather and I get our 4-month old baby Nolan, ready for his first swimming lesson by using the bathtub.

If you have a newborn baby, I really believe that you will find the information in this DVD to be priceless–just like your baby’s happiness!

Infant Swimming starts in the bath.  Your baby can begin a lifelong love of the water as young as four weeks old.  In addition, babies who learn to love the water in the bathtub will be happier in the swimming pool when they are ready. And most importantly–babies can learn to be safer (NEVER SAFE) in the water!

Never leave your baby unattended in the bathtub. Never leave your baby or child unattended in the swimming pool.   Even if your child can swim.  There’s no substitute for constant supervision.  This DVD is also loaded with Safety Tips for you and there is some free water safety information from the SAFER 3 on my website.

How to Teach Children About Water Safety

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Did you know that in the United States, drowning takes more lives than any other accident for children 5 & under? For children ages 6 – 14, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death ONLY to automobile accidents! This article will show you how to teach your children water safety.

Steps

1. Understand that to prevent drownings, you must use a “layered” approach. Here’s an example given to a group of 100 children yesterday in a safety presentation.” I said, “who is smarter, boys or girls?” You can imagine the response and the engagement I had in no time. I said, “let’s say there was a boy and a girl. The boy knew how to swim but the girl knew how to swim and had a grown-up watching her. Who would be safer?” “The girl,” they yelled. Now lets pretend the girl knew how to swim and had a grown up watching her, but the boy knew how to swim, had a grown up watching him, and was wearing a lifejacket. Who is safer?” “The boy,” they yelled. Now lets imaging the boy knew how to swim, had a grown up watching him, and wore a lifejacket BUT the girl knew how to swim, had a grown up watching her, wore a lifejacket AND her parents knew CPR.” Who’s safer now? “The girl>” they replied! I went on to ask, “does it really matter if you’re a boy or a girl?” “No,” they responded. “What matters is you play smart when you’re in or around the water.” Now this is a good approach for older children, say 6 and over.
2. Direct water safety education to the appropriate age group. I actually put together a CHILDREN’S BOOK called The SAFER KIDS WATER SAFETY BOOK. From the time my son was 2.5 or so, my wife read him this book often. It’s very child friendly and you can sing the words of the book to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” My son is six now and just last week he asked mom if she would read him that book. So not only can it make a difference for preschoolers, older children like it too. In fact, if you go to www.swimlessonsuniversity.com you can see my wife Heather and my son Jeb reading/singing the whole book right there on the website! FYI, all proceeds to the book are donated to Drowning Prevention and it costs just $9.00.
3. Use special precaution for babies. The layered approach is the key, however, but there are numerous precautions you can take which is a whole article in itself. I share those tips in my Bathtub Baby 101 that devotes an entire section to Baby Water Safety. The “Bathtub Baby 101” video is available on my website and I will post the entire water safety section anytime now so please look for that.
4. LEARN TO SWIM. Learning to swim is one of those “layers” of protection BUT you can not depend on it. Again, remember the “comparison example” from #1. Learning to swim is one of the most critical forms of drowning prevention, but it is not the only one. Use a layered approach.
5. FREE ACTIVITY SHEET. The Safer 3 offers a neat little activity sheet that children can color and learn more about drowning prevention. In fact, you can print a free copy of that right off my website at www.swimlessonsuniversity.com Just click the FREE RESOURCES button. There is also a free SAFER 3 pamphlet for you!
6. SAFETY DVD. In addition to the “Safer Kids Water Safety” Book, you may also be interested in Swim Lessons University’s “Water Smart 101″ video course which shows you how to teach this lesson in the

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Teach Our Children About Water Safety. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

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).

If you have already purchased your copy of the new “Teaching Babies Better” DVD, it will be shipped this week!

One of the 22 Success Strategies  in my brand video that I think you’ll really enjoy watching is how you can prevent your new infants and toddler swimmers from becoming  upset.  As you know, keeping your water babies happy is the key to a stress-free Parent & Me swimming lessons class!

In “Teaching Babies Better,” you learn how to take advantage of an often small window of opportunity to be successful.   Keep more of your young students happy . . . order your copy of  “Teaching Babies Better” today at www.swimlessonsuniversity.com

I just submitted my final edit on Teaching Babies Better to my editor.  If you already ordered your “Teaching Babies Better” DVD, I should be able to ship it out sometime late next week!  Of course the video is now available at Swim Lessons University, my online library of instructional swimming videos, www.swimlessonsuniversity.com

For those of you who have been asking about when my Learn to Swim Butterfly DVD would be produced, the answer is now!  I have already shot all the footage and have written most of the production.   Starting this weekend I will start piecing it together.  I see no reason that it shouldn’t be ready before the holidays!

If you don’t already get my Swim Lessons University newsletter, go to www.swimlessonsuniversity.com and sign up today!  I will be sending out a special early buy discount on the Butterfly 301 DVD to all my customers soon!

How to Use Bath Time As Your Baby’s First Swimming Lesson

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

How to Use Bath Time . . . Your Baby’s First Swimming Lesson! What Every Parent Should Know.

Steps

1. AS a new parent, you want to do everything you can to protect your baby, which is one of the primary objectives of Jim Reiser’s brand new “BATHTUB BABY 101” DVD. You want to prepare your baby for a lifelong love affair of the water, and it is time to start that journey. The water is also the perfect medium to enhance your baby’s physical, mental, emotional, and social development.
2. Take all necessary safety precautions when your baby is in or around the water, i.e., phone turned off, prepared seat to the side of the tub with towell, etc.
3. Prepare your bathroom, i.e., air temperature should be a minimum of 80 degrees, water temperature should be between 95 and 98 degrees, have favorite toys on hand, a pacifier if your baby takes one, a pouring cup, and have the water filled to appropriate depth.
4. Prepare your baby. Remove your baby’s clothes in “pre-warmed room.”
5. Start and end every bath the same way.
6. Hold your baby so that he/she is protected from harm, i.e., slips, accidental immersions, etc.
7. Bath-time stimulation and play. Use songs and games to make bath time enjoyable for your baby and you!

Tips

• You can also teach your baby real swimming skills to prepare your baby for his/her first swimming lesson in the pool. For example, conditioning, floating on the front, and floating on the back can be taught in the bathtub. However, it is strong recommended against without further training. If you would like to learn how, purchase “The Swim Professor’s” 30 minute DVD video course called “Bathtub Baby 101.” Here’s how:
• Visit www.swimlessonsuniversity.com and order your DVD for just $19.99. You wil also learn much more, including How to ensure a Happy Experience and How to Comfort your Baby if he/she Cries.
• PLUS it includes a tremendous section on baby water safety and has been endorsed by the president of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, Johnny Johnson!

Warnings

• Author is held harmless against all injury and liability that may result from the use of this content as a teaching aid. Any person using this article takes sole responsibility for the safety and health of the children involved. As with any physical activity exercise, or instructional program, the participant should seek the advice of a physician.

Sources and Citations

• Bathtub Baby 101 Your Baby’s First Swimming Lessons What Every Parent Should Know. Available at www.swimlessonsuniversity.com
• “Jim Reiser has done it again. His Bathtub Baby 101 is a wonderful gift for young parents looking for a way to introduce their infant to the water in a way that provides a foundation for later learn to swim lessons. Jim presents valuable ideas and most of all establishes the concept of safety right from the start of a child’s aquatic journey. My slogan is :Great Beginnings…Lead to Great Finishes” and Jim has certainly provided an opportunity for many more “Great Beginnings”.
• Johnny Johnson
• President, Swim for Life Foundation
• President, National Drowning Prevention Alliance
• Past President, U.S. Swim School Association
• President, Blue Buoy Swim School Inc.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Bath Time As Your Baby’s First Swimming Lesson. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.