**I am pleased to be partnering with Goldfish Swim School to bring you this post. While they are providing lessons free of cost to me, all thoughts and comments are my own.**
So I know it’s March (and 30 degrees), but summer will be here before you know it. When I think about summer one of the activities that comes to mind is swimming. When it comes to swimming, water safety is so important. There are so many skills that children can learn to help keep them safe around the water, which is why we love taking lessons at Goldfish Swim School.
If there is one thing I have learned in my past job as a classroom teacher it is giving students ample opportunities to perfect skills. At Goldfish Swim school, every child, no matter if they are 6 months or 6 years practice water safety skills at every lesson. I love knowing that my girls are gaining the skills they need to stay safe around water. While kids always need supervision around water, I know that accidents can happen. I love that my girls are learning skills to help them should something happen.
So what are some of the safety skills that my girls work on?
1. Elbow, Elbow, Tummy, Knee, Knee: This is how the kids are taught to get out of the pool. Not only have we practiced climbing out on the wall, but also onto floating mats in the pool. When we first started Autumn needed some help in doing this, now she can almost climb out all on her own. Annabelle can use this technique to climb out of the pool as well.
2. Sea Otter Float: This teaches kids how to float on their back. With Autumn we help flip them onto their backs so that they can start getting used to it. Annabelle is learning how to flip from tummy to back all on her own.
3. Click Clack on the wall to a ladder: Also known as the “crab walk” students learn how to pinch their hands on the side of the pool.
4. Turn around and swim back: This reminds kids that if they fall into the water, they should turn around and swim back to where they fell from.
5. Go underwater: Going underwater can be scary, but at Goldfish it’s part of every lesson.
So, while it may seem early to think about lessons, giving your kids time to practice safety skills now will help them when summer comes. Check here to see if there is a Goldfish Swim School around you!