Start your own Swimming Business?

I had my own swimming lesson business in my back yard for over 30 summers!  If you have a pool you might be able to have your own swimming lesson business.  I can help you!

In this article by Aquatics International  swimmers are encouraged to "Jump in!
The industry has lucrative careers for young people passionate about swimming."

If you want to make it a full time career, I agree with the article that it is complicated and can be expensive to start.  But, you can do this for the summers only and don't have to invest a lot of money.

"Once you’ve decided you can handle the high-octane environment that is a swimming business, you’ll need to thoroughly explore all the options. Opportunities in this industry aren’t often exposed, resulting in a highly unrecognized career path. However, there are multiple arenas out there, and you must be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone to scrutinize each one individually and determine what is right for you."

From my own experience, I had very little overhead and lots of profit.  I can teach you how to keep it simple and fun! I am retired and not in the pool teaching swimming myself any more.  I want to help others now.  I have my dvd with the swimming lesson steps, for the instructors and parents and time.  I would also love to have excuses to travel and would come to your town for free advertising when you start.

Why?
"The most common reason people give for their love affair with swimming instruction is the instant gratification factor. You can teach a child to read, play music and dance ballet, which are all great things, but they also are long-term processes that can take years to acquire. With swimming, however, one day the child is frightened; the next day, they can do it. It’s the best feeling in the world, which is perhaps why it draws people back year after year."

Email me or call me!

Baby's First Bath

When it’s time for baby’s first bath we get nervous because the baby is slippery, she might get cold, we have to be careful about her belly button.   When we google "baby’s first bath” we find all kinds of suggestions and rituals.  But I know that my baby was in a liquid environment for 9 months, why shouldn’t he love his bath?  I would get all prepared and go for it!

So, how best to approach the baby’s first bath?
This is Julie's story:

My baby was born in January and it was cold so I put a space heater in the bathroom until the bathroom was toasty warm.  Then I filled the baby tub about 5 inches with water that felt warm to my elbow (because I read that somewhere).  Then I laid my baby into the baby tub that holds her in a reclined position and covered her with the “babyluve towel” (a great gift from my aunt).  

I promise you that she seemed to give me the most peaceful look.  She just laid there!! I sang to her and talked to her as I poured more warm water over her chest to keep the towel warm.  When I washed her gently, I was confident as she kept her eyes on mine.  Good thing Daddy was around to help me get her out of the tub with her hooded towel.  Then we wrapped her up in several warm blankets.  Until I felt that she was dry and her body “normal”.  I’m glad that she didn’t pee on me.  Next time I will put a diaper under her bottom with the blankets just in case.

In later baths I started to gently pour water on her face with a washcloth and wipe her nose so she would get used to water on her eyes and face.  Then with a small cup, I would count to three and pour about one ounce of water over her face.  Then, gently wipe her nose.

Now are we ready for the pool?

 

Not forgetting to love the water during the winter months!

This week was the first chance I've had to take Caroline swimming.  It's been about 8 weeks since we last went to the indoor pool. I was so worried that she had forgotten and would not want to get in the water with me.  She knew just where we were and to enter the water where it's like a beach.  

Oh no! she did not want to go under the water nor swim to me like she was willingly doing the last time we were there.  But I did not give up!

I had to swim to her under the water lots of times, get the toy from the bottom and watch her walk all over the shallow end.  Finally I just carried her to the deeper water and let her push my head under the water.  Well, she did that over and over and over.  Finally she started to have fun herself and soon she was jumping in the water just like before.

We were in the pool for about an hour and she cried when it was time to go get out.  She wanted to jump in to the part that I couldn't reach.  I think that she was remembering jumping off the diving board at her other grandma's house.    Watch the video of her jumping and swimming to the side at 2 years old.

I can't wait until Summer when we can go swimming more often and she can develop her swimming skills.  
Right now I just want her to be able to start at the same place we left off last summer.  I can't take her swimming more often because the indoor pool is pretty far away.  

But I know that is is worth all the effort we are taking this winter so that she doesn't forget and will be ready for more when it warms up outside.

Go Swimming, Don't let your child forget!

The sunrise on St. Simon's Island this winter reminds me that there is a Spring coming!  Just like the tide, the seasons change and soon it will be Spring and Summer again.  Time to think about swimming lessons.   

Hopefully you have been "swimming" in the bathtub.

If you haven't taken your child swimming all winter - do it soon!  Your child may have already forgotten much of what he learned.  You need to treat the time at the pool as a new adventure!  Don't have expectations.  Your child will look at the water with more mature eyes.  His attitude of joy and excitement will depend on you!  Show him how you like the water.  Go under the water first and swim to him.  Laugh and enjoy it.

Turn on my Learn to Swim with Miss Bea dvd, and watch it again and again and your child will see himself in one of the kids that are having fun and learning how to swim.

Practice kicking and floating in the bathtub in the cold months

It is important that your young child not forget to swim during the cold months.  There are lots of things you can do in the bathtub.  Look at my dvd for ideas.

Teach your babies to go under the water.  Have your child put the babies under the water counting to three...

 


Put all her favorite baby dolls (or action figures) in the tub and teach them to float.  Then, have your child float too!

She doesn't like to float but will soon like it more!

You can teach your child the meaning of kicking in the water.  If your child gets used to kicking in the tub, he will kick on his belly in the water so much faster.

 

how to teach your baby to swim (under 7 months)

Here are the proven instructions to teach babies to go under water if under 7 months using the air in the face reflex:

Blow like a gentle gust of wind onto the baby’s face.  You can see your baby take in a gulp of air and/or make a funny face – do this several times before you go in the pool to see if your baby still has this reflex. (This reflex is usually lost between 4 and 9 months)

Follow these steps in the pool:

• After the baby is comfortable and playful in the water, hold the baby under the arms facing you, and make eye contact with your baby. 
• Count to three to set the signal,
• blow quickly on your baby’s face
• watch your baby make the funny face
• smoothly and gently lower the baby’s head completely under the water for one second
• When you raise your baby, wipe your baby’s nose so that not even a tiny water bubble will go into the nose. 
• Give your baby a hug to your chest so that the baby will blow out and not swallow any air.  Skipping this step may cause the baby to develop a hard tummy.  This may become a big burp, and may even lead to throwing up.  
• Immediately distract your baby with a toy.
• Do this about 5-10 times a session if the baby doesn’t show any discomfort.
• Extend the time under the water to up to 5 seconds pulling your baby toward you for a short glide as you step back.
• Place your hand gently behind your baby’s head gliding your baby to another person.
• Scatter underwater practice with practice on the other skills as instructed on the dvd, and playing with your baby.
• Enjoy your time together!

The Family Review Center gave the Seal of Approval to my Learn to Swim dvd!

Offering Honest Reviews on Awesome Products Another GREAT Product !!! Learn to Swim with Miss Bea - A Nadar con Maestra Beatriz -dvd REVIEW ID: 1002466 SRP: $24.95 AGES: 4 mo+ COMPANY: SwimBea Productions WEBSITE: www.swimbea.com DESCRIPTION: Hundreds of parents have used Miss Bea's unique activities  and games to teach their children how to swim. You want the best for your child and you want to start from the baby's first bath! You want to do all you can to make your child not only water safe, but to love the water. Teach your child the basic swimming techniques with this swim lesson DVD for infants and children... You have a brand new baby and want to have your child love the water! You also want to make your baby water safe. Or, maybe your child has not had many water experiences and you want to prepare your child for swimming lessons. Miss Bea's Learn to Swim DVD will help you and your child prepare to get in the water with confidence. Visit Miss Bea's Blog Here REVIEWER NOTES: By following Miss Bea's easy instructions you as a parent or teacher can teach children how to swim, effectively and confidently. She is so easy to follow, which allows you to be in command of the situation from the moment you step in to the pool. Using simple little games and water activities that show them how to hold their breath, have fun and maneuver their body in water, children quickly lose their apprehensions (if they have any) and learn to get around in the water and swim. Watch the video and allow your child to watch it as well. This will enhance your lessons with them as they view other children what you will be encouraging them to do. Whether your child has never stepped in to a pool before, or they have had lessons but still need to improve, this DVD is for you! DVD is about 35 minutes long and teaches in both english and spanish. I fully recommend this one and encourage you to get them in to the pool early in life, before fear steps up to the plate. Water safety is so important, as we hear of so many children drowning each year. Please be sure your child knows water safety rules and learns how to swim at a very early age. You can do this! You need to do this. They need you to do this. They need to do this.

Miss Bea says: "Thank you Family Review Center!"