Is your child addicted to using goggles?

Children may develop a dependency on goggles because they are used to closing their eyes the tub or shower.  If one day they go to a pool and forget their goggles, they won't go in the pool without them.  Or, they might jump in the pool and their goggles fall off, so they panic and may not be able to swim to safety.  

When a baby starts swimming at under 2 years old, they don't need goggles to swim but as they get older they become more sensitive.

If we really want our children to be water safe we need to have them practice swimming with their eyes open without goggles.  The child needs to know that what they see will be blurry but they CAN SEE under the water.  Play the game that i call The Dolphin with a parent.  Here is D with his dad.

Or you can put a toy or a prize, on the step or in your hand for the child to get. Do it several times and make it a game!  It doesn't take a lot of time and it will help your child be more comfortable and secure in the water.  Practice several times a year especially if you see your child is depending on goggles to go in the water all the time.

Swim with your child during the cooler months!

Kids forget how to swim when they learn under 5 years old.  It is imperative to take your baby swimming to an indoor pool during the cooler months. Learning to swim is not like learning to ride a bike.  Children often develop a fear of the pool from year to year.  Parents get so busy with the holidays, and the cold weather does not make it appealing to go swimming!

The last time I took Caroline swimming at my neighbor's pool, she was so cold that I couldn't coax her to jump in!  She put her feet in the water and wanted out, but I had to pull her in the water (making it fun by laughing and tickling her.)  After I let her dunk me a few times she warmed up a little and swam to the bottom to get the hat - her new game.  

This winter, I have been making phone calls to find a public pool that offers family swim.  Locally, I found the Cumming Aquatic Center, Cumming Georgia.  It is a little far but the hours are great and I heard that the pool is warm!

Here we are.  The water is warm but it's cold in the showers!

Where do you go for family swim during the cold months?

Please leave me your comment, Miss Bea

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!"

What is the best age to learn to swim?

What is the best age to learn to swim?  I think the better question is, when is the best time to learn to swim?

Many people wait for the Summer months to learn to swim.  What about the rest of the year?  If you don't take your child to swim during the rest of the year, your child will forget what they have learned!

Parents say, "My child was swimming last year!"  Learn to swim and keep on practicing during the year.  Go to a pool at least one a month and you be your child's teacher!  There is always more to learn.

I think that swimming starts from the baby's first bath!  I bought my baby grandson a swim neck ring and he loved it.  I still held him a little but he had so much more freedom of movement than when you are holding him.  Here we are in a Jacuzzi, perfect for babies learning to swim!  Have you ever heard of the swim neck ring?  It is not very popular in the USA.

This article and video from the BBC describe that any age is a good time to learn to swim and that there are so many benefits to learning how to swim!  20% of adults don't know how to swim.  The article shows babies learning to swim and some seniors learning to swim and be safe in the water.  The best time to learn to swim is as young as possible!!

Your child forgot what she learned last year!

Spring is here and you have not had time to go to the pool all winter!  Your child thinks that she has forgotten everything he learned but he really hasn't.  Just like in school, everything has to be retaught over and over.  Start from the beginning.  Don't give your child a feeling of inadequacy or let her get scared because she has lost the confidence she had last year. 

Each child will learn at her own pace, gently lead her to overcome fears while understanding her feelings.  Keep eye contact with the child when you give directions and use a soothing voice.  

And don’t let the child forget during the year again.  Practice in the tub or try to go to an indoor pool or a Jacuzzi once a month.  Then your child will look forward to swimming all year long!

My child loves her bath but is scared at the pool!

Playing and floating in the bathtub

My child is scared of the pool but loves the bath…

Something may have set your child to being scared.  

As a child gets to be 3 years old, it does make sense that the child will see that there is danger in "big water."  It is a healthy fear; one that saves young children from jumping into a pool unattended.  However, you want your child to feel safe when you are there.  

Here are some ideas:

• Bring some of his favorite bath-tub toys and play near the pool.  Then, sit your child at the edge of the pool and you get in and play with the toys, inviting your child to get in with you. 
• If the pool has long steps, sit on the steps and see if your child wil sit there with you.  
• If you are impatient or your child still doesn’t want to get in the pool, You may have to just hold him and carry him into the water.  Sing, jump around, talk softly and ignore any crying while sounding like you are having fun.  
• Go to the pool every day but just for short periods.  
• Don’t tell him ahead of time where you are going and let him see you have fun.  
• Take a relative or little friend who likes the water and can help your child forget his fears. 

Soon your little one will be playing and splashing and ready for going under the water!!

Any child can learn to swim, and you can teach them! If your child doesn't like water in his eyes...

James 3 months going under water

 

My child doesn’t like water in his eyes…

From the baby’s first bath, you need to pour water over his face.  This will help prepare him to go under water.

But if you haven’t been doing this, try this as a game in the bath. Have the child pour water on a bath-tub toy’s head, then wipe it’s face. Have the child pour water on your face and then wipe your eyes.  It will be worth it believe me.  You can make sputtering noises to make it fun!

When it’s your child’s turn, tell him what you are going to do, count to 3 and put water over his head so that some of the water goes on his face.  Do this before you use any shampoo or soap. You may give the child a towel to wipe his face right way but let him ask for it. 

The best time to prepare your child for swimming is from his first bath.  Then before he is 6 months he can  be taught to hold his breath by blowing in his face. This is the link from Swimbea.com

Blow in his face

He takes a breath, automatically

Ready to go under water

Holding breath

What do you think?  Write me a comment or question.
Miss Bea 

Why do young children drown in shallow water?

How can a 2 year old who loves the water drown in shallow water?  

Have you heard of a baby who drowned in the bathtub?  How can that happen? 
The parent only left the child alone for  "a minute"! 

onto his belly and he doesn't know how to push himself up.  

We have to teach our baby to push up.  It is not an easy task for a baby or a toddler, even when they can do it on land!  

I believe that there is a valuable skill that very few parents and swim instructors address.  Even if a child can hold his breath and even swim a little, they can become a drowning statistic.  

Can your child go to a stand up position in shallow water from a prone swimming position?  

Let’s say your child is playing on the steps of the pool or in a shallow “baby pool”.  I have taught children who can swim from me to the side of the pool, but when they slipped on the steps they could not get up; did not think to reach for the step and push their faces up.  Parents and swim instructors, practice this with your child!  Teach how to stand up in shallow water.  It is a necessary survival skill.