What do Googles for Guppies and Make a Splash have in common?

Two twelve year old boys started a nonprofit organization called Goggles for Guppies.  They are making a big difference, one child at a time.  Here is the Goggles for Guppies facebook page

When you watch the video, watch especially the first and last parts. 

This is from the Goggles for Guppies website:

Goggles for Guppies, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, was founded in 2011 by southern California twin swimmers Chris and Matt Hales. We are a volunteer organization that distributes donated swim equipment to underprivileged children while providing community service opportunities for athletes as well as for intermediate and high school students who need to fulfill their community service requirements for graduation.

Since our beginning, we have distributed well over $250,000 worth of swim suits, caps and goggles to encourage underprivileged children to learn to swim. We solicit and accept all sizes of donations of unsold inventory from sporting goods manufacturers, distributors and retailers for distribution to learn-to-swim programs throughout America that provide basic, life-saving swimming skills to disadvantaged kids. Today, we are proud to be the exclusive distributor of donated swim equipment  for the USA Swimming Foundation's Make-A-Splash initiative.

Goggles for Guppies, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, was founded in 2011 by southern California twin swimmers Chris and Matt Hales. We are a volunteer organization that distributes donated swim equipment to underprivileged children while providing community service opportunities for athletes as well as for intermediate and high school students who need to fulfill their community service requirements for graduation. 

Since our beginning, we have distributed well over $250,000 worth of swim suits, caps and goggles to encourage underprivileged children to learn to swim. We solicit and accept all sizes of donations of unsold inventory from sporting goods manufacturers, distributors and retailers for distribution to learn-to-swim programs throughout America that provide basic, life-saving swimming skills to disadvantaged kids. Today, we are proud to be the exclusive distributor of donated swim equipment  for the USA Swimming Foundation's Make-A-Splash initiative. 

"The Make-A-Splash initiative has experienced exponential growth since its inception in 2007 and has granted $2.5 million to provide free or reduced cost swimming lessons to children who might not otherwise have the chance. To date, more than 1.5 million kids have received the life-saving gift of swim lessons through the Make-A-Splash Local Partner network, comprised of more than 550 qualified lesson providers across the nation".

Here is their facebook page and video that highlights their efforts.  Be a part of it!


TAKE STEPS TO BE SAFER AROUND THE WATER
 - Learn to Swim!
 - Follow pool rules.
 - Never swim alone. Use the buddy system and choose locations with certified lifeguards whenever possible.
 - If someone in the water is in trouble, reach, throw, but don’t go!

WHY MAKE A SPLASH?
 - Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of childhood accidental death
 - Ten people drown each day in the U.S.
 - Seven out of ten African-American children cannot swim
 - Six out of ten Hispanic children cannot swim
 - 40% of Caucasian children have low or no swimming ability
 - Children from non-swimming households are eight times more likely to be
   at-risk of drowning
 - Participation in formal swim lessons can reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%.

How to teach kids to kick effectively when swimming

The Kick:

BABIES UNDER 6 MONTHS: The swimming reflex makes babies look like they are swimming. Babies will naturally move their arms and legs underwater. You won't need to teach your baby any underwater motions. That is why you want to start your baby swimming very young!

FOR CHILDREN 6 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS OLD:

• If your baby doesn't naturally kick, get low in the water and have him lean on your shoulder.
• Move your baby's legs up and down at the knees while you walk backwards.
• Have another adult move your baby's legs up and down.
• Hold your baby securely. As your baby kicks, you walk backwards towards a toy or another person.

FOR OLDER CHILDREN NEEDING HELP: Use a floatie

• Place your child's hands on the float.
• Use your arms to move your child's legs up and down, bending the knees, flopping the feet, while moving to a toy.
• Try to achieve a happy medium of bending and splashing.
• You can also place your arm just above your child's knees to prevent his legs from going too deep.
• You child will continue to kick until he reaches the toy. This is the beginning of swimming! 

FOR OLDER CHILDREN A BETTER KICK:

• Hold the child facing you. Have the child kick really hard, while you pretend to crash the wall.
• Hold the child under the arms and tell him to kick to the toy while you walk toward the toy.
• Have the child push off the steps and kick to you getting in a horizontal position.
• Do The Bumper Fish
• Have the child jump in and kick to you, making sure that he splasheswith his feet.
• To strengthen the kick, try "the rocket" in the Swim Solo lesson.