SWIMMING TIPS FOR FAMILY TRIPS

Playing in and around water is often a big part of many family vacations. While swimming is a really fun activity it can also be very dangerous. Did you know drowning is a leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States?! To get some tips to help ensure you return home from vacation with memorable moments rather than a tragedy, I chatted with Chris McCuiston, co-founder of Goldfish Swim Schools where my own kids are enrolled in swimming lessons, about water safety tips for family trips.

McCuiston is passionate about water safety not just because he is in the business of providing swimming lessons to children, but also because he himself is the father of four young boys. He believes it is important before you even leave on a family trip for parents to review for themselves safety tips and have a conversation with their little swimmers about dos and don’ts before going into the water at a hotel pool or ocean beach. Once at a location, look for posted rules and warnings to help avoid getting into troublesome situations.

Here are some water safety tips for a variety of places that are often visited when families are traveling:

Staying Safe at Hotel Pools

We all know a pool can be a huge difference maker when it comes to choosing a hotel you’ll be staying at. Swimming in a hotel pool could even be the highlight of a trip for some kids. It is important for parents to keep in mind that a hotel pool can be a bit different than swimming at local community pool when there are tons of other kids and families in the pool — and lifeguards on duty.

No worries, though…staying safe at an indoor pool just means following a few tips. Since hotel pools generally don’t have lifeguards, it’s important kids always swim with a buddy and have an adult present. If your little one needs a lifejacket, be sure to ask the hotel concierge before you travel to see if the hotel has any for guests to use. If not be sure to bring your own.

Swimming in the Ocean

Even if lifeguards are present on the beach, the ocean can be tricky, even for seasoned swimmers. Never swim alone (this goes for adults too!) and make sure little ones understand to stick close to an adult when near the water.

Oceans will have a rip current from time to time. Talk to a certified lifeguard at the beach to understand how to swim out of a rip current. And remember that drowning doesn’t always look as dramatic as it does in the movies, so learn the signs of drowning and what to do to stay safe.

Think Before You Jump in the Lake

Before blindly jumping off a dock or boat into a lake, take some time to scope out your surroundings. A lot of people break their necks, and other body parts, by diving into shallow water or hitting an object hidden under the water. Never take a running leap into the water before checking for depth & debris.

Lakes, ponds and rivers will often times have rocks and plants on the bottom. Make sure you keep your feet and hands away from them to avoid slipping or getting stuck. Sticking to designated swimming areas is always a smart move when it comes to having fun in natural bodies of water.

Waterparks, Safety and Fun

If your family trip involves a waterpark, yay! Sounds like a great time! For parents, it’s important to keep a constant eye on the kids at a waterpark. Make sure you designate a meeting place if you get separated, and go over the park rules before letting the kids loose to play. Little kids and kids who are not strong swimmers should wear lifejackets if they are allowed.

Boats and Cruise Ships

If your getaway involves a boat or a cruise ship, it’s a good idea to talk to your children about boating safety as well before going aboard. On a cruise ship make sure everyone pays attention to the safety instructions during the vessel’s orientation. While it is easy to not pay attention wanting to get the fun of your cruise underway this information is very important to know in case of an emergency. So don’t skip out and make sure the kids pay attention too!

On a smaller boat, make sure children have proper lifejackets and make sure they understand keeping hands and feet inside the boat at all times, as well as no standing when the boat is underway, and no running on the boat ever.

Learning to Swim

No matter if you are at an Atlantic Ocean beach or Universal’s Volcano Bay Waterpark, the best way to be safe in the water is having basic swimming skills. Our instructors at Goldfish Swim School use integrity, compassion and trust to teach families lifesaving swim skills — skills that can be used to stay safe while traveling on a trip. We promote year-round lessons at Goldfish Swim School allowing children to continue practicing new swim skills, work on getting stronger at the skills they’ve already learned, and reinforce how to stay safer in and around the water.

In addition to teaching swimming skills and strokes, we also talk to our students about how to get to safety and how to act in a potential emergency situation. No matter the time of year, with our indoor pools Goldfish Swim School is ALWAYS teaching kids ages 4 months to twelve years old safety skills during each and every swim lesson. For more water safety tips, information about our classes, or to find a location near you, please visit us at goldfishswimschool.com

A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School Brand Ambassador. I receive free products and services in exchange for sharing my family's experiences at the swim school. Opinions expresses are honest and my own.

DAD TO DAD CHAT: GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

** A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School brand ambassador **

I spent some time chatting with fellow dad, Chris McCuiston, the co-founder of the swim school my kids take lessons at in this edition of A Geek Daddy's DAD TO DAD CHAT segment.  Chris started Goldfish Swim School with his wife as a single location in Birmingham, Michigan eleven years ago and over the last decade has franchised more than 40 locations across the United States.  He shares some thoughts with us about entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and swimming lessons.

Since starting Goldfish Swim School not only has your business grown but so has your family.  Tell us about your kids?

I'm the proud dad of four boys ranging in age from 2 to 8 -- Charlie, Jack, Brody & Reid.

As a dad yourself what do you really want to instill with the kids who attend Goldfish Swim School?  

We want to help children build a respect and love for the water while building safer and more confident swimmers.

How does Goldfish stand out from other swimming instructional programs?  

When my wife, Jenny, first came to me with the idea of opening a swim school, it was because she knew there was a better way and better place to teach swim lessons. We’ve fulfilled that need with Goldfish – not only do we build our facilities with kids and families in mind (warm water, inviting environment, private changing rooms, hair drying stations, bright colors, etc.), we also offer a safe place for kids to learn about water safety, while also having fun. Our members become a part of our Goldfish family and we love hearing how much their families love Goldfish.

How can dads utilize the Goldfish Swim School experience as a way to bond with their kids?

In our Mini classes, dads can get in the water with their babies and spend an uninterrupted 30 minutes bonding with their child. That time is so important and beneficial not only to each child’s individual growth, but also to their relationship with their parent. As your kids get older, the entire family can come and enjoy Family Swim – having fun in the water, working on new skills and playing with our water toys. We have monthly Family Night Out events as a time for families to come together, enjoy each other’s company and have fun!

What is the most important thing every parent should know when it comes to water safety and their kids?  

The most important thing is to always make sure that an adult is supervising your kids while they are in and around the water. Swim lessons are the number one way to help keep your kids safer around the water, but it is still so important that someone is watching. Accidents can happen in an instant.

Goldfish has gone from a single mom and pop operated location in Birmingham, MI to becoming a successful corporation franchising numerous locations in multiple states -- what is your continuing vision and expectations for the brand?  

We never imagined that Jenny’s vision would turn into what it is today, it’s amazing how far we’ve come in 11 years. Our goals for the future are to continue to grow into new markets – the more locations we open, the more kids and families we have the ability to teach. We are committed to continuing to provide the best service, teachers and curriculum to remain the premier learn-to-swim destination for families. We want to continue to have a positive impact on the community and help more and more kids learn how to be safer in and around the water.

How do you balance work life and family life ensuring you spend quality time with your kids? What is your favorite way to bond with your kids?  

We balance work and life by making sure we set clear expectations around work and play. Clear communication is important along with accountability. We also have the benefit of working together so that helps us find time to be together both in and out of work. Jenny and I were both former athletes so we enjoy spending time with our kids on the baseball field, football field and in the pool.  

You played collegiate baseball at Michigan State University -- has that experience impacted how you handle your professional and personal life?  

Playing college baseball taught me a lot about teamwork, how to handle responsibility and how to handle winning and losing. There are so many situations that you encounter playing a college sport and I think those situations prepared me for the challenges of running a business and having a family.  

You obviously were involved with sports as a kid -- how important do you believe it is for today's children to be involved with organized athletic activities whether that be playing on a school sports team, joining a rec soccer league or participating in a swimming program at Goldfish? 

 I think being involved in sports and activities is so important for a child’s development. It teaches kids to be a part of something that is bigger than them, how to work with others and to set goals and work to achieve them. They will carry and use those skills for the rest of their lives.

Does your family have any traditions when it comes to celebrating Fathers Day with you?  

The only tradition is to allow Dad to sleep in.  With a family of 4 boys, there is not a lot of quiet time or down time. In all honesty, we tend to spend the day together and cook out with family at night. I enjoy entertaining and being with people so it’s fun to get the family together for special events.