KidSwim - News

Lifeguarding tips for parents

kidswim — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:50:34 +0000

These days it is standard to hire a lifeguard for your child’s swimming party. Here are some things to know, to help you get the most for the money you are spending on what has become a necessity for safety and peace of mind.

1) make sure the lifegaurds are not sitting down on the job - literally. They should be standing and in fact, if there is only one guard, they should be circling the pool for better head counts and to take in all areas of the pool. The guard should talk to the children, explain the rules clearly and firmly and remind if necessary. Two or more guards should rotate positions throughout the party.

2) For drop off swim parties, lifeguards should conduct a swim test of some kind (usually having the children swim on lap of freestyle and treading water for 30 seconds or a minute) to determine who can and cannot go in the deep end. Even though parents should give accurate information as to each child’s swim level, it is up to the lifeguard to decide who does not seem safe in the deep end.

3) It is great if lifeguards interact with the kids although playing games with them prohibits the guards from being fully able to watch everyone. If you want some organized games and swim lessons to go on, please do hire at least two guards (unless we are talking about less than 8 children above the age of 7).

4) BE AWARE of pools with alcoves and areas obscured by rocks, plants or ledges. Either position one lifeguard in sight of these areas AT ALL TIMES or determine that spot off limits. Additionally your pool must be clearly visible to the bottom of the drain. If your pool is cloudy DO NOT allow children to swim. Lastly, be very careful with large floating rafts and toys. While they can be fun, it is not uncommon for a child to get trapped underneath one or for a large toy to obscure the vision of a lifeguard. Better to stick with noodles and smaller floatation toys.

Below are our recommendations for ratio of guard to child(ren). Please know that this is what KidSwim recommends from our years of experience, however, it is not the set rule. If you are considering having a party and want some feedback, don’t hesitate to give us a call!

1 lifeguard:

children ages 3-5/12 children OR LESS with one parent of each child suited up and ready to get in

children ages 6-up/12 children OR LESS

2 lifeguards:

children ages 3-5/12-20 children with one parent of each child suited up and ready to get in

children ages 6-up/12-20 children

3 lifeguards:

children ages 3-5/20+ children with one parent of each child suited up and ready to get in

children ages 6-up/20+

My Gym Special - KidSwim families receive $25 off lifetime membership fee

kidswim — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:13:45 +0000

My Gym in Santa Monica

My Gym offers unique classes designed to enhance
strength and coordination as well as build social skills,
confidence and self-esteem. Our noncompetitive
programs are jam-packed with exciting games, relays,
gymnastics, music, dance and most of all, FUN

KidSwim families receive $25 off lifetime membership fee when they join. Current members receive 10% their next session.

Please contact:

Scott Myers

My Gym
(310) 569-1173
mygymscott@aol.com

Shop & Save on all your Kids’s Swimsuits, Accessories and Safety Devices

kidswim — Fri, 14 May 2010 20:21:19 +0000

SHOP NOW and get FREE SHIPPING >

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Off-Season Rate of $36.00 for All lessons Taken Up Until May 27th

kidswim — Mon, 03 May 2010 18:48:50 +0000

KidSwim now offers an off-season rate of $36.00 for all lessons taken between Jan 1st - May 27th. During the summer season rates are our regular $40 per 30 min and after Labor Day, rates drop back down to $36.00 per lesson.

Other ways to save on lessons:

If you are a family who graciously hosts others at your pool for lessons, now KidSwim would like to say thank you by offering you a discount on your lessons. If you host TWO OR MORE children at your pool (not including your own) KidSwim will offer you a reduced rate on your lessons for the summer.

Meet your instructor

kidswim — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 17:04:54 +0000

Last summer I had the chance to teach a 10 year old boy with Aspergers. I’ve never worked with anyone who had Aspergers so I was a little nervous. His grandmother told me that he really wanted to learn how to swim in the deep end with everyone else. So I was determined to get him swimming before the end of the summer.

We got off to a great start. He was really comfortable in the water and eager to learn. We started off slowly, swimming in the shallow end and just getting comfortable with one another.

I knew that I could push him a little bit, so the next week we made our way to the deep end. We both hung onto to wall and “monkey walked” to the deep end. I instructed him to swim a short distance, and he did it. We were both really excited, so he did it a few more times.

Before our lesson the next week, his grandmother told me that he was really looking forward to the lessons and would talk about them all week. So this time we stayed in the deep end the whole time. He wanted to try to swim across the whole pool, from the deep end to the shallow end. I was a bit nervous and hesitant but said he could do it. His grandmother, and cousins were watching. It was awesome. We were thrilled. By our last lesson he was swimming across the whole pool and confident as ever, as was I.

It was such a great four weeks. We were both determined to get him swimming and we did it. And we both learned a lot from each other. It was amazing!

Spring Break Special

kidswim — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:14:21 +0000

Get a head start on summer! Sign up for four swim lessons during your child’s spring break and receive a fifth one free!

Valid from March 29 - April 11.

Water Safety Seminars

kidswim — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:36:40 +0000

Lisa Cook, founder of KidSwim, will come to your child’s school, mom’s group or kid’s activity center to speak about water safety at home and on vacation. These talks offer invaluable information and an opportunity to have all your water safety questions answered. Additionally, anyone who attends the seminar is entitled to one free lesson, provided they sign up for a minimum of six lessons. A $40 value. See what other participants gained from Lisa’s seminars. Read them here

Sibs Swim Free (ongoing special offer)

kidswim — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:30:54 +0000

Is your little one determined to do whatever the older one does? When it comes to swimming, sometimes the younger ones are ready to go, other times, its just a curiosity. Why not test it out at not cost to you? Receive up to four free fifteen minute lessons for your little one. If they love it and want to continue, you will be charged starting with the fifth lesson.

Restrictions: younger child must be between the ages of 18 mo. and 2.4 yrs. She/he must have an older sibling currently in lessons. Lessons cannot exceed 15 min. during the trial period, otherwise they will be counted as a regular lesson and you will be charged.

Momlogic.com interviewed KidSwim founder Lisa Cook

kidswim — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:35:44 +0000

Momlogic.com interviewed KidSwim founder Lisa Cook for their “Everybody in the Pool” article featured Friday, May 22, 2009.

Vivian Manning-Schaffel: Bust out the bug spray and the slather on the SPF: Memorial Day weekend is FINALLY upon us! And most likely, the impending summer heat will inspire us to seek out bodies of water to splash in. Momlogic consulted Lisa Cook, founder of L.A.-area swim school KidSwim, for tips on keeping your small swimmers safe. Read article >

Lisa Cook is quoted on Momlogic.com

kidswim — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:42:21 +0000

Water survival safety is important but how young is too young to start your child in swim school?! Should kids swim before they can speak? Full article