The Swim Professor

Jim Reiser, M.S.

How to Teach Breath Control to Infants and Toddlers

The goal of today’s blog is to give you insight on teaching breath control to infants and toddlers, including how and when to teach it and why and when you should leave the activity and come back to it on another day.

First of all, at Swim Lessons University, we strongly recommend that instructors wear goggles while teaching breath control to infants and toddlers.   NEVER do consecutive dips if the child is not happy and getting his or her breath between dips.   You can see earlier breath control videos where we only did one or two dips with Rex because that is what he was ready for, and he wasn’t ready for three or more.  Each dip should be  an individual attempt to successfully get the air exchange.  The bottom line is to stay child-focused, and avoid “one more dip” for the sake of doing it.  So how do you know if you should do another one dip?   Your young students facial expressions, body language, and obvious level of comfort will answer that question every time.

Whatever you do–DON’T FORCE a dip when infant or toddler is communicating “no,” or you find the task to be upsetting him, even if he has done it before!  This is precisely what causes “regression.”   Make no mistake about it, it is not uncommon for a child who has performed a skill in previous classes or even earlier in the same class to get upset.  If the infant or toddler is not up for the task at that point in time, let your experience do the talking and leave it alone until the next class.  Parents and instructor need to accept that and understand that it is no uncommon and okay.   When an instructor or parent pushes a skill on a young child “just because the child has done it before, you are setting the child up for more of the same or worse the next time you meet because you would be reinforcing a negative experience.  The result of pushing an activity on a child that is upsetting him for whatever reason, is he will often start to associate negative, unhappy feelings with the task at hand or even the pool all together.   That is a path that you don’t want to take.

As Mr. Roger’s used to sing:  ” I like to take my time, I mean, when I want to do a thing, I like to take my time to do it right.  I mean I just might make mistakes if I should have to hurry up, I like to take my time to do it right.”   Take Mr. Roger’s advice.  Take your time and do it right!

Here is a video of example of doing it right:)

For step-by-step information on how to teach infants and toddlers to swim, check out Swim Lesson University’s “Parent and Tot” Video Course.  This 90-minute video is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to teaching infants and toddlers to swim in a progressive, but child-centered environment.

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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October 23, 2012 at 2:11 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)

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)

Social Media for Swim Lesson Parents

Your ability or willingness to take the time to communicate with your customers, your swim lesson parents, can make or break your swim school.  Keep in touch with them via email, and use social media like facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn.  Here’s an example of a recent message I posted on our Swim Lessons Company Facebook page:

“Does  your child suddenly seem to not like swim lessons? Does he refuse to try a certain skill? I CAN’T EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH: Evaluate your feedback.  Experts agree that young children are motivated to learn through what they perceive as to be fun or play. Our Parent & Me and Swim 101 course reflect this philosophy. It is critical that teachers and parents are sensitive to this developmental perspective.  Try not to ever force an adult work ethic upon young children. Preschool swim lessons should be fun, playful experiences.”

Short social media messages like that are invaluable.  You can communicate your philosophy, observations, and share tips in an informal manner.  You eliminate personal confrontation and give the parents a chance to digest what you’re saying.  Last but not least, you keep their attention because you aren’t writing an essay.  Let’s face it.  Attention spans are not very long these days, even with adults!

One more tip: Try to pretty regularly open with a question to engage your reader.  This can make or break whether they even take a look!

Hope this helps! you.  Anytime you have a question for me feel free to email me at swimprofessor@sc.rr.com

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January 16, 2012 at 3:34 pm Comments (0)

Swim Lesson Songs

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 into my Parent & Me and Swim 101 classes, which you can get a free sneak preview of on my Parent & Me YouTube Video.   Singing songs the children know can also help alleviate anxiety and redirect a young, potentially fearful child’s focus to something other than what he/she is worrying about.

Here a few of the songs we like and use in our Parent & Me and Swim 101 classes:

  • “If You’re Happy & You Know It”
  • “Rain, Rain Go Away”
  • “It’s Raining, It’s Pouring”
  • “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
  • “The Wheels on the Bus” (our version “The Babies in the Pool”)

As I noted, when we sing “The Wheels on the Bus,” we substitute the words “The Babies in the Pool.”  When I sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” to my Swim 101 students and I feel I need to encourage them to kick more, I sometimes substitute the actual words of the song with “Kick, kick, kick, kick, kick your feet,  splashing in the swimming pool” so they are getting specific feedback/instructions while singing the melody of the song.

One way or the other, when you teach baby swim lessons, swim lesson for toddlers or preschoolers, you want to make swim lesson songs a part of your daily swim lesson plan.

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September 16, 2010 at 2:34 pm Comments (0)

Swim Lessons University Super Conference: Swim Lesson Ideas & Infant-Toddler Swimming

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

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August 15, 2010 at 3:26 pm Comments (0)

Can Social Networking Help YOU? Facebook, Twitter, etc.

So can YOU or YOUR business benefit from Social Networking? Are you resisting the idea of Facebook, Twitter, blogging, etc.? Technology changes are always hard for me and I was resistant at first too.   In fact, I have been only using twitter for a few weeks but I have been trained in it now and I am confident of the benefits.

The best news about it is that . . . it’s FREE!   MOST IMPORTANTLY, in my mind, it’s the BEST REFERRAL PROGRAM ever invented.   I expect our enrollment to increase because of the way we are using it.

For my local business, I focus on getting local news coverage which is free, and I advertise and pay about $400 per month to be in a Parent magazine.  In addition,  I have a small listing in the yellow pages (which is almost a dinosaur),  and do several children exhibits, water safety talks at schools and libraries, etc..  But over the years I have drastically reduced my advertising budget (I have done radio, TV, billboards, other magazines, newspaper, etc.)  and have eliminated most of them.   I really depend on customer referrals which has improved from our in-house “customer loyalty” training program which leads me back to social networking.

There’s no better advertising than a referral from one friend to another.  The “trust” barrier is almost eliminated from the start and presto: you have a new student!     The hard part about referrals is while your swim parents may love you, they are not going to walk around with a “sign on their chest” promoting you.  With facebook, it is easier and more comfortable to tell all their friends about you!  It’s actually quite exciting and amazing when you see how your “friends” or “followers” begin to multiply.

Sounding tempting yet?  Get this, as of 2009, Facebook had over 250 million users and that number is growing rapidly!   If you haven’t used facebook before, it is very user-friendly and it won’t take you long for you to see and understand the benefits.

What I have learned to be most important about twitter is that what I “tweet” is informative and worthwhile.  This way your customers will “want” to stay in touch with you.   For Swim Lessons University, I am tweeting to swim teachers, both my local teachers here at The Swim Lessons Company in SC and Swim Lessons University teachers from all over the world in over 20 different countries who are using my teacher training DVD’s, lesson plans, online testing program, etc.   Now with Twitter and Facebook, I can give back by “tweeting” a TEACHING TIP A DAY from Twitter or Facebook or both!  So when my followers get my tweet (which is simultanously posted of facebook), all those signed up can receive a useful teaching tip every day that will help them with their teaching.   Because the information is useful, valuable, and even personable, it is an invaluable training resource to my staff and yours, and it takes just 5 seconds a day to read!   I have listed below some of my recent tweets I have done via facebook with my blackberry that go directly to twitter.  Here you can see what I’m talking about in terms of tweeting info. swim teachers want:

swimprofessor
  1. When demonstrating a skill to beginners, demonstrate your swim toward them so you can be sure your students are safe throughout your demo.. about 4 hours ago via Facebook
  2. Demonstrate not only when a skill is new, but also demonstrate to help the learner better understand and refine the skill. 8:14 AM Jul 21st via Facebook
  3. As per Parent and Me, 101, and 201 DVDs–hold the legs just below the knees and keep legs just under surface with fast up + down action. 3:14 PM Jul 20th via Facebook
  4. Just witnessed a good SLU teacher manipulating the legs incorrectly for the freestyle kick. 3:12 PM Jul 20th via Facebook
  5. #1 When you demonstrate, focus your students on one aspect of the skill at a time to avoid information overload. 11:45 AM Jul 20th via Facebook
  6. To “Teach Like a Pro,” demonstate skills to your students often! Specific tips on demonstrations coming all week! 11:43 AM Jul 20th via Facebook
  7. I posted a new photo to Facebook http://fb.me/De8qe3UA 12:44 PM Jul 19th via Facebook
  8. How WARM and GENUINE will your “welcomes and goodbyes” be today? Goes a long way in developing “customer loyalty.” 12:18 PM Jul 19th via Facebook
  9. Don’t forget to use “Choral Responding” when you teach cues: i.e., “Repeat after me: Breathe (breathe) stroke… http://fb.me/vwoosxcR 11:37 AM Jul 17th via Facebook
  10. It’s a boy! Rex Douglas Reiser. 7 lbs 4 oz. 5:42 AM Jul 16th via Facebook
  11. I just wrote and posted a blog on “Developmental Characteristics of a 2 year old at www.swimprofessor.com 2:28 PM Jul 15th via Facebook
  12. According to the ARC, one in every four people will be in a situation where someone needs CPR. Make sure you know it! 8:54 AM Jul 15th via Facebook
  13. Baby Reiser #3 should be born around 7:30AM Friday! Thank you for your prayers for a healthy baby and safe delivery:) 3:06 PM Jul 14th via Facebook
  14. Normal Mental Development for a 7 year old: wants to be “first,” “best,” “perfect,” “correct” in everything! 11:02 AM Jul 14th via Facebook
  15. BBC Kids 9:05 AM Jul 14th via Facebook
  16. A great show for toddlers and preschoolers is called “Rosie and Jim”. The older episodes with Niel (vs. John)are… http://fb.me/D3jN8u1v 9:05 AM Jul 14th via Facebook
  17. Also latest SLU newsletter has been just emailed. Not signed up? go to www.swimlessonsuniversity.com to get your free ezine! 1:15 PM Jul 13th via Facebook
  18. Just posted several hundred new classes for The Swim Lessons Co. “Indian Summer session” via our fantastic registration program! 1:13 PM Jul 13th via Facebook
  19. Routine in your lessons eases the anxiety just the same and makes it easier everyday! 4:46 PM Jul 12th via Facebook
  20. After we go to everyone in the families bed my wife heather reads him a book and says “night, night’ 4:45 PM Jul 12th via Facebook
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July 22, 2010 at 3:14 pm Comments (0)

“Developmental characteristics of a 2 year old” and applications

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 with considerable realism
  • may have an imaginary playmate
  • enjoys playing among, not with, other children
  • does not share
  • claims everything is “mine”
  • may scratch, hit, bite and push other children

Emotionally, the “terrible twos” get upset and are not very patient.  Especially when they are frustrated or not understood.  Often the two year old will strike out or show anger by crying.    They want their own way, they assert themselves by saying “no!”   It’s important, from a practical standpoint as we teach and or parent, that we understand what is going on developmentally at this age.   One thing we know we can do as a “preventative” is to keep a routine.   When the routine changes, that is often a trigger for the sharp mood change.

Physically, two year olds, especially boys, like to be in constant motion.  By implementing strategies to keep them active, we are much more successful.    The most challenging part as a teacher or parent is that mentally two year olds are in the “do-it-by-myself” stage.   This can be dangerous, of course, because they will attempt to do things they may not be ready for, i.e., jumping in the pool without your spot, going down the steps without holding on to the banister, or jumping off furniture!

You can’t do much “reasoning” most of the time, so you have to determine what your little one can and can’t do from a safety standpoint, let alone from a behavior standpoint.  You do have to teach them boundaries and there place in society, in the family, etc.   They have to learn it one way or the other.  As my two year old’s pediatrician said, if your two year old doesn’t throw a tantrum now and then–you are way to easy on him!

For more on teaching and parenting the “terrible two’s,” check out  my recent podcast.

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July 15, 2010 at 5:37 pm Comments (0)

Follow Swim Lessons University on Facebook and/or SwimProfessor on Twitter

Follow Swim Lessons University on Facebook and/or swimprofessor on twitter!

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July 11, 2010 at 12:59 pm Comments (0)

Swim Lessons University Conference will feature Practical Benchmarks & Progressions for Infants & Toddlers

Infant-toddler Swimming will be the emphasis in my first presentation at the Swim Lessons University Super Conference this fall (both in Indianapolis and in Las Vegas).  We have come so far in this area, but some go “too far” and others “don’t go far enough.”   I will be address this and share video as well so you know exactly what you are looking to accomplish on various skills and exercises.

As you probably know first hand, you are teaching the parents as much as the babies or toddlers in this class, and how you approach that is instrumental in your success.  In addition, my personal experience is that some parents often have unrealistic expectations, while others don’t realize what their little one can accomplish if they just “stick with it.”  Because of this, I came up with a set of practical benchmarks for infants, toddlers, and children of all ages and what children, on average, are capable of accomplishing at different ages.   I have found that by sharing this with parents that it helps incredibly in terms of their expectations and keeping them involved for the long term.

Teaching Babies Better is my goal.  Making learning a child-focused, enjoyable experience, though, has to be the backbone of our philosophy.   If you attend the Swim Lessons University conference this fall, I know that it is yours too!

Please feel free to email me at jreiser@swimprofessor.com any topics or problems that you would like me to address in my Infant-Toddler Presentation. I will be happy to try and work them in, and at the very least, address them in the Questions and Answers part of the talk.

Look forward to seeing you.   You are going to love the power point presentation which will include plenty of video of our precious little baby swimmers!

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July 9, 2010 at 2:06 pm Comments (0)

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