DIVE BACK INTO GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

For the last few years our normal family routine has been spending Sunday afternoons at Goldfish Swim School as my kids have gone through lessons and participating in the swim team there. In mid-March as the coronavirus began spreading into Michigan little did we know that visit to Goldfish Swim School may have been our final chance to dive into their pool. As things began to get crazy with the pandemic impacting the State that Sunday in March was one of our last moments of normalcy as the next week my son and daughter's school shutdown while my wife and I's work places went into lockdown. As we all know now life has changed quite a bit over the last five months.

Originally, it was thought the virus would burn out and life would resume back to normal in a few weeks. Yet it is August and my wife and I are still working from home. It looks like the kids' school year will start off with online learning from home. And that Goldfish Swim School we enjoyed spending our Sundays at has been shuttered since our last visit in March. We were one of the last families in the pool before the pandemic closed the place down.

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Light turn out for swimming practice tonight but the pool is open at @goldfishswimschool --> chlorine in the water kills virus germs and outside their pool the facility is taking extra efforts to sanitize the rest of the place. #GoldfishPartner *********************************************** #goldfishswimschool #goldfish #swimschool #swimforce #coronavirus #corona #virus #pandemic #dadlife #swimdad #swimclass #swimpractice #competitiveswimming #swimlessons #swimmingclass #swimminglessons #swimming #pooltime #pool

A post shared by @ geekdad248 on Mar 15, 2020 at 2:38pm PDT

Fortunately for families some sense of normalcy may be returning as our local Goldfish Swim School just opened again. Kids can dive back into the water and resume swimming lessons starting today! The Swim Force has been cancelled so we may not be back but my kids have had a golden experience at this swimming school that we will always appreciate. Now during these tough times it is nice to know that Goldfish Swim School can brighten the days with swimming lessons for kids who have been sticking close to home for a very long time and are probably very stir crazy to get out and about.

During our time at Goldfish Swim School, the staff not only focused on building the kids swimming skills but also emphasized water safety. So you know Goldfish Swim School is going to be taking the safety of their re-opening during this coronavirus pandemic very seriously! Here are some of the ways that they'll be letting children dive back into the pool being conscientious of the ongoing public health crisis:

Screening Swimmers & Caregivers

• No one will be allowed in the building before being pre-screened for exposure to the virus and having their temperature checked.
• Only one caregiver per family allowed in with swimmers. No non-sibling swimmers allowed inside.
• The parent will have a designated socially distanced seat in the observation gallery corresponding to the lane their child will be swimming in.
• Wearing masks by everyone is required. Children can remove masks when in the water.

Building Adjustments

• Screening barriers have been added alongside the edge of the pool to separate children in their lanes when out of the water.
• Showers and some changing rooms will be unavailable. Please come having your child wearing their swimsuit. Please don't linger and leave immediately after classes.
• Shared amenities such as hair dryers have been removed.
• Decals promoting social distancing and circulation of traffic flow through the building have been added.
• The facility will be a cashless operation with all purchases being charged to your account.
• Will not have googles on the pool deck to borrow.
• Specially designated cleaning staff will be continuously sanitizing the facility throughout the day.

Swim Class Sizes

• Group lesson ratios will be 3:1 instead of the usual 4:1.
• Mini 3 lesson ratios will be 2:1 instead of the usual 3:1.
• Mini 1 and 2 lesson ratios will be 4:1 instead of the usual 6:1.
• Swim Force team training sessions and competitions are cancelled.
• No Family Swim or Birthday Parties at this time.

Staff Precautions

• All staff will be temperature checked and will complete a self-assessment upon arrival. Anyone experiencing a fever or any symptoms will be sent home. 
• All dry side staff members will be wearing masks and all wet side staff will be wearing face shields. 
• Staff will go through a number of trainings to help keep themselves and swimmers as safe as possible.

Dive back in! The pool is back open! Go to goldfishswimschool.com for more information.

OUR GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL EXPERIENCE

For the last few years swimming at Goldfish Swim School has been part of my family's regular weekly routine. After struggling to learn to swim through programs offered by our local parks and recreations department, my daughter excelled at Goldfish Swim School. It has been a golden experience!

She has consistently been in the pool at Goldfish Swim School every week for the last four years. Moving up from basic swimming lessons to participating in the Swim Force team my daughter loves swimming at Goldfish Swim School. So with the coronavirus pandemic closing our local Goldfish Swim School and reversing our summer travel plans turning this time into a staycation we decided to invest in putting a pool in our own backyard.

In addition to providing instruction on swimming skills, Goldfish Swim School always put an emphasis on kids learning about water safety too. As a parent that makes it nice to know that in addition to being able to swim, my daughter is also smart about being safe in the water. It provided us with confidence in getting our own pool for the family to enjoy at home.

Having graduated through all the programs at Goldfish Swim School, we didn't want my daughter to just stop swimming. As Dory says in Finding Nemo, "When life gets you down, you know what you gotta do? Just keep swimming." That seems like a good mantra during these tough coronavirus times!

So we've been having her recreate Swim Force practices, competing against her brother in races plus been having lots of fun family time swimming in our new pool. After a few months break from diving into the pool at Goldfish Swim School, jumping back into the water has brought a lot of joy to our family. Swimming is wonderful for adding exercise and entertainment into your day. Also a great way to destress from tension that may be in your life. So true with all the troubles caused by this virus that is impacting us all!

Thank you Goldfish Swim School for making swimming a cherished part of my daughter's life. We are keeping her enthusiasm for swimming alive! Hoping these tough times will pass quickly and kids will soon be back in the pool at Goldfish Swim School. We are putting our Goldfish experience to good use this summer!

A MUCH NEEDED EVENING AT GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

Beyond going to work and school, my family had been staying around the house playing it safe this week as concerns about the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) began spreading throughout the country and here in Michigan. Then things really hit close to home on Thursday when the kids' school district began cancelling classes. Looks like they won't be returning to school until mid-April at the earliest now! As Sunday rolled around we were all getting a bit stir crazy being home.

So it was nice to find out Goldfish Swim School was still open! Sunday nights are Swim Nights at Goldfish Swim School for my twins. Both of them are on the Swim Force competitive swimming team. They have an hour long practice once per week and quarterly competitive meets. My son and daughter were really excited to get out of the house for some pool time.

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Light turn out for swimming practice tonight but the pool is open at @goldfishswimschool --> chlorine in the water kills virus germs and outside their pool the facility is taking extra efforts to sanitize the rest of the place. #GoldfishPartner *********************************************** #goldfishswimschool #goldfish #swimschool #swimforce #coronavirus #corona #virus #pandemic #dadlife #swimdad #swimclass #swimpractice #competitiveswimming #swimlessons #swimmingclass #swimminglessons #swimming #pooltime #pool

A post shared by @ geekdad248 on Mar 15, 2020 at 2:38pm PDT

My son and daughter enjoyed having fun in the water and getting some exercise in during their Swim Force practice. Both of them put the stress of the coronavirus out of their minds for an hour as they focused on swimming. I wasn't too worried about them getting sick while being in the pool because the chlorine kills germs like coronaviruses and had peace of mind about the rest of the facility as I watched staff constantly taking actions to sanitize the place as we were there. Chairs, countertops, door handles, the pool deck and more were being doused with antiseptic in an effort to hold the virus at bay. No one showed signs of being sick and everyone kept a distance from each other to respecting one another's space.

From what I witnessed Goldfish Swim School understands our society is facing a serious health emergency but also realizes that people need to maintain some normalcy to their lives. They are striving to provide a safe space where families can get away from the stress of current events for a moment. We really appreciated that!

For more information about their swimming programs go to goldfishswimschool.com. A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador for Goldfish Swim School receiving complimentary goods and services for sharing my family's experiences participating in their swimming programs. All opinions shared by this dad blogger are honest and my own.

UPDATE [3/16/20]: Because of a county state of emergency being enacted that restricts occupancy within public venues, including pools, to help reduce the spread to the COVID-19 contagion our local Goldfish Swim School is closing from March 16 to tentatively April 6, 2020. Check with your local Goldfish Swim School franchise to find out how they are being impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

NOT KNOWING HOW TO SWIM IS SCARY

It is scary how many people, especially kids, in the United States don't know how to swim! According to the Red Cross, 54% of Americans either can't swim or lack basic water safety skills. Even if you aren't a proficient swimmer, the Red Cross recommends knowing the following basic skills to promote safety in and around the water. These are the ability to (1) step or jump into the water over your head; (2) return to the surface and float or tread water for one minute; (3) turn around in a full circle and find an exit; (3) swim 25 yards to an exit; and (5) pull yourself from the water.

Based upon information gathered by the Red Cross, just four in ten parents of children ages 4-17 report that their child can perform all five of these basic skills; yet more than nine in 10 (92 percent) say that their child is likely to participate in water activities. Every day, an average of 10 people die in the U.S. from unintentional drowning based upon stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death for children.  Beyond that for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. These statistics are frightening!

Don't be tricked into believing knowing swimming and water safety skills isn't important! Parents who ensure their children are capable of these skills will be treating themselves to peace of mind when their families are at a beach or in a pool. You don't want a child in your life to become one of these negative statistics.

Bubbles the Goldfish Swim School mascot

This dad blogger has partnered with Goldfish Swim School to make sure his kids have the skills to be safe in the water and to promote the value of water safety with other parents. We will be sharing that message with trick or treaters this year on Halloween by giving out passes at our house for free admission to a Goldfish Swim School family fun night in the pool as part of the Teal Pumpkin Project. Plus ageekdaddy.com promotes swimming tips and water safety messages on this blog throughout the year as a Goldfish Swim School partner.

Goldfish Swim School's focus is on providing swimming lessons and fun water activities for children 4 months up to 12 years old in age. My son and daughter have been attending Goldfish Swim School for a few year now and it is amazing how they evolved from struggling beginners to kids who get complements from people whenever we go on vacation about how great of swimmers they are now. There are three key factors that have really stood out from our Goldfish Swim School experience.

First, is the emphasis instructors place on water safety. They really focus on teaching kids how to be proactive about being safe in and around water and what to do in an emergency. They want every child who takes classes there to have those basic skills the Red Cross emphasizes everyone should have to help them avoid becoming a drowning statistic.

Second, Goldfish Swim School provides kids with a lot of attention and personalized instruction. They have small class sizes with instructors that provide students with plenty of one on one attention. Parents also receive quarterly report cards plus an update on their child's progress following after every lesson.

Third, Goldfish Swim School strives to provide exceptional customer service with an instructional format designed to fit into the lifestyles of today's busy families. They cater to having classes fit into your schedule rather than you having to worry about having to work around theirs. Reschedules are no big deal so if scheduling conflicts arise arranging a make-up class is no sweat! They understand that if fitting swimming lessons into a family's schedule is too difficult people will just drop out which only hurts the children who aren't getting time in the pool to develop basic skills. Getting kids to learn to swim is their number one priority!

That is why Goldfish Swim School is a sponsor of the USA Swimming Foundation Make a Splash initiative which is helping kids obtain lessons whose families cannot afford paying for them. In this effort to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn how to swim, Goldfish Swim School asks the families of children enrolled in their swimming lessons to "Float it Forward" by making a donation to the Make a Splash endeavor. These donations are funneled to non-profit programs in inner cities and other low income communities to give lessons to kids who might not otherwise have to chance to learn basis swimming skills.

It has been shown that swimming lessons can reduce the likeliness of accidental drowning by 88 percent. Investing in Goldfish Swim School lessons is a great way to ensure that your families experiences and memories being in the water involve smiles rather than frowns. To find a location near you go to goldfishswimschool.com

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST VISITS GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

My daughter's favorite event in her Goldfish Swim Force swimming meets is the backstroke. So she was thrilled when Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Murphy stopped in to Goldfish Swim School for a visit. Ryan won a gold medal for the backstroke in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and is a current world record holder in the event (100-meter backstroke). She was able to get some swimming tips from him and he let her wear one of his gold medals.

Ryan was in town to thank Goldfish Swim School for its partnership with USA Swimming Foundation's Make A Splash initiative. The objectives of Make a Splash are to raise awareness about the importance of learning to swim and providing free or low cost swimming lessons in low-income communities. Children in families with household incomes of less than $50,000 often have very minimal – if any – swimming ability. Because it has been shown that swimming lessons can reduce the likeliness of accidental drowning by 88 percent, the USA Swimming Foundation is trying to Make a Splash by helping kids obtain lessons who might not otherwise be able to get them.

Goldfish Swim School has partnered in this effort to provide the opportunity for every child in America to learn how to swim by asking the families of children enrolled in their swimming lessons to "Float it Forward" by making a donation to the Make a Splash endeavor. Ryan was in to town representing the USA Swimming Foundation to announce that so far in 2019 Goldfish Swim Schools have raised nearly $164,000 (including more than $24,000 at my kids' location alone) through Float if Forward donations supporting the Make a Splash initiative. He provided a very heart-felt thank you to the Goldfish Swim School community during his appearance on behalf of the USA Swimming Foundation, which is the philanthropical arm of the national governing body of the sport of swimming in the United States.

During his visit, Ryan was very personable and outgoing with everyone who had a chance to meet with him while he was at the Goldfish Swim School that my kids swim at. Not only is he an impressive athlete but Ryan also presents himself as an incredible ambassador for the sport of swimming. My kids were so geeked to be able to touch and wear an actual Olympic gold medal from the 2016 Rio Games.

Ryan expressed a generous interest in asking my kids about their swimming skills and interests. My son and daughter really had a nice time chatting with Ryan. They also had some fun showing off their swimming muscles with him.

I spent some time talking with Ryan too. This dad blogger appreciated getting a close up look at his gold medal. Wow … not only is it shiny but these medals have some weight to them. You have to appreciate all the effort that athletes like Ryan put into training and competing to earn one of these.

We've had some wonderful times spent at Goldfish Swim School and this was another great experience to remember. If you are looking for a swimming school for your kids, Goldfish is #1! For more information or to find a location near you, head over to goldfishswimschool.com

SCIENCE OF SWIMPLAY

From our holiday weekend getaway visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan to a summer vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina it seems whenever spending some time having fun in a pool during family trips we always get compliments on my children's swimming skills. I have to give some credit for that to Goldfish Swim School and their SCIENCE OF SWIMPLAY approach to teaching kids. My son and daughter have been going to Goldfish Swim School for a few years now and the results have been truly transformational. They went from being timid in the water to being confident swimmers thanks to the Science of Swimplay instructional approach at Goldfish Swim School.

Goldfish Swim School's Science of Swimplay consists of:

• Proven, confidence-building curriculum developed by a 17-time Collegiate All-American swimmer with a degree in Early Childhood Development;
• Small class sizes to ensure children get the attention they deserve during lessons;
• Professional, trained and certified swim instructors who complete a 40-hour training program;
• Students receive weekly feedback, quarterly progress reports and constant monitoring of their development;
• Year-round classes which help children learn to swim and be safer in the water at a much faster pace as well as avoids regression associated with session-based lessons;
• Free make up classes so kids don't lose progress when they can't make a class. We all know stuff comes up! 

The Science of SwimPlay is a research-based philosophy that promotes kids having fun while they learn.  While instructors are focused on serious stuff, lessons are designed so children's attention is on having an entertaining time. Looking forward to their weekly lessons, kids embrace learning safety skills and swimming strokes through ongoing individualized coaching and repetition. My wife and I have been very pleased with the results we've seen in our own son and daughter through our family's Goldfish Swim School experience.

Ready to dive in?! For more information on locations and enrollment, go to goldfishwimschool.com. Experience the difference at Goldfish Swim School!

As a brand ambassador, my kids receive free services and products from Goldfish Swim School for this dad blogger to share our experiences on ageekdaddy.com. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. 

DAD TIME AT GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

An aspect I've appreciated about Goldfish Swim School is that it is a very dad-friendly environment. Compared to taking my kids to other activities like dance class and soccer practice where it tends to be mostly moms that stick around, fathers seem to be very involved whenever we go swimming. From jumping in the pool with toddlers for parent-tot programs to cheering on tweens in Swim Force competitions there is a lot of dad involvement at Goldfish Swim School.

Here are some ways dads create golden experiences with their kids at Goldfish Swim School:

TODDLER SWIM

Getting kids comfortable in water at an early age is a great way to teach them some water safety skills, interest them in swimming, obtain some exercise, and have some fun. Goldfish Swim School has a Mini Class which has parents get in the pool with their children that are between the ages of 4 and 35 months. Instructors lead classes that include entertaining activities and games plus instill safety tips meant to provide children with the wherewithal to assist themselves in avoiding drowning accidents.

There are a lot of fathers who participate in these Mini Class sessions with their sons and daughters. In fact, some of these parent - tot classes are made up of just dads. This is a great opportunity for getting the skin-to-skin contact with young children that pediatricians recommend that fathers normally don't provide as much as mothers do. It is also a nice opportunity to spend some dad time bonding with a child.

SWIM LESSONS

For older children who are diving into the pool on their own for swimming lessons without dad or mom getting into the water with them, there is still an opportunity for spending parenting time at Goldfish Swim School. There is a viewing area for parents to observe swimming lessons and children appreciate knowing someone is paying attention to their efforts. Plus after every lesson each parents gets an individualized update on a child's progress from an instructor. After class, kids often need help washing up, changing clothes and getting ready to go home. There are plenty of ways for dads to be involved without getting into the water themselves.

FAMILY SWIM TIME

Goldfish Swim School offers open swim hours where members can enjoy some family time together in the pool. You will often see dads in the pool working with kids on practicing their swim stokes or just having playing with their children. These are a nice way for dads to spend some quality time with their families.

SWIM FORCE MEETS

The Goldfish Swim Force promotes swimming as an athletic endeavor and hosts quarterly competitive meets for participants. Swim Force members are children who tend to be over 8 years old and have passed all of the swimming lesson levels but still want to be involved with Goldfish Swim School. These are great events for dads to cheer on children to show support and encouragement.

Goldfish Swim School really is a great place to spend some dad time with kids. I've had a great experience myself and encourage other dads to dive on in and get involved with swimming as an activity for your family to get involved with. Goldfish Swim School is great at having scheduling that works around busy schedules and a liberal class cancellation and make up policy. They make a great effort to fit into your personal and professional obligations rather than you having to make your time available to fit into your schedule. Their customer service is really outstanding with a focus on catering to families with children between the ages of 4 months and 12 years old.

For more information about programs and locations, head on over to goldfishswimschool.com 

A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School Brand Ambassador. I receive complimentary services and products in exchange for sharing my experiences with my ageekdaddy.com audience. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. We've been partnering with Goldfish Swim School for several years and I wouldn't have continued this arrangement for so long if my kids weren't getting value and enjoyment out of it. Goldfish Swim School has absolutely earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval for the golden experience my family has had with them.

RIP CURRENT SAFETY TIPS

When heading to the beach are you nervous about shark attacks? For many people a fear of these predators is their primary fear about swimming during a beach vacation. Did you know though that there is something much more dangerous to be aware of when swimming in the sea that many people don't even think about before diving into the water? 

Last year four shark-related fatalities occurred worldwide, while 25 people died in Florida alone as the result of being caught in rip currents while swimming in the ocean. Rip currents are a strong flow of water that pushes outward from a beach into deeper water away from the shore.  Even the best of swimmers can have difficulty escaping the current while less experienced ones often become overwhelmed by fear or fatigue putting them at great risk of drowning. With more than 80% of beach rescues involving people being caught in rip currents this is a topic everyone should be aware of before going in the water on a beach vacation.

So how do you protect yourself from becoming a rip current statistic? The number one recommendation from the United States Lifesaving Association, a non-profit membership organization for beach lifeguards, is learn to swim. A competent swimmer is more likely to navigate a rip current to get to safety or be able to tread water until rescue arrives compared to someone who lacks basic skills.

During a South Carolina beach vacation, I noticed rip tide warning signs posted in a number of spots during our stay in Myrtle Beach.  It made me feel a lot more comfortable letting my kids go in the water knowing they've developed swimming skills from attending Goldfish Swim School.

Water safety lessons have prepared them not to panic when unforeseen circumstances occur and to look for help they can call out to for assistance. Plus they have developed into decent swimmers that have the strength to ride out a rip current and make their way back to shore when its grip on them has lessened. They probably can swim better than I can now after a few years of their being coached at Goldfish Swim School.

HOW TO ESCAPE A RIP CURRENT

Rip currents can push people hundreds of yards away from shore with water flowing as fast as 8 feet per second. That is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint! So rip currents can overwhelm even the strongest swimmers. Which is why it is important to be smart about escaping the current rather than just trying your hardest to swim straight back to shore.

So don’t try to fight the current. First try to swim out of the current horizontally in a direction following the shoreline instead of going vertically back to the beach. Then when out of the current make your way towards shore.

When that doesn't work, float and tread water allowing yourself to be carried by the current. Rip currents don't drag people under the water but rather push them away from the shore. Drowning occur when people become too fatigued to stay afloat. Once you get to a point where the water flow weakens then swim diagonally towards the shore trying to skirt away from the path of the rip current.

If it becomes apparent that you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself.  Face yourself in the direction of shore, start waving your arms, and yell for help. Spot someone in need of assistance? Get a lifeguard or call 911. Don't try to be a hero because many people trying to lend a hand often become drowning victims themselves. Leave rescues to people who are trained for handling emergency situations.

SPOTTING A RIP CURRENT

Unfortunately, if spotting a rip current was easy they wouldn't be so dangerous. That being said there are some signs to keep an eye out for.  Rip currents typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars and near structures like piers. In these types of areas look for these warning signs:

• a path of churning, choppy water
• an area having a notable difference in water color
•  a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily away from shore
• a break in the incoming pattern of waves

DON'T BE SCARED -- BE PREPARED

Don't be afraid to go swimming at the beach because of rip tides. Just ensure sure your family is aware of the danger and prepared for it. Make sure everyone knows what to do if caught in a rip current and has the confidence in their swimming ability not to panic.

Knowing everyone has swimming skills by taking lessons at someplace like Goldfish Swim School can make a big difference in providing peace of mind when your family is in and around water. The swimming and water safety skills that my kids have developed from the programs they've participated in at Goldfish Swim School have been invaluable to our family. Don't be scared of the water but rather give your children the skills to enjoy a lifetime of swimming.

GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

Goldfish Swim School is dedicated to helping kids develop life skills in a fun, safe, play-based swim environment. Starting off at a single location in Metro Detroit, the swim school has expanded beyond Michigan with franchises across the United States. Goldfish Swim School has earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval for truly providing my children with a golden experience. Visit goldfishswimschool.com to learn more.

A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador for Goldfish Swim School. My family receives complimentary products and services in exchange for sharing our experiences with the swim school. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.

WATER SAFETY DAY 2019

Saturday, May 18, 2019 is WATER SAFETY DAY at Goldfish Swim School locations across the country. This annual event educates children about being safe in and around water through an entertaining festival atmosphere. Stop by to participate in presentations with Bubbles, the Goldfish Swim School mascot, and take in safety demonstrations and drills with staff lifeguards. Plus there are fun activities, crafts and games to enjoy as well.

Water Safety Day is open to all families with children living in communities where the swim schools are located. Your family doesn't have to be enrolled in Goldfish Swim School and it is FREE to participate in this golden experience. This Water Safety Day experience is a great way to reinforce the danger of drowning with kids, provide them with water safety tips, meet the staff at Goldfish Swim School and check out the pool facilities.

Contact your local Goldfish Swim School for specific details about what specific locations have planned for this year's WATER SAFETY DAY as well as the hours when their activities will take place. Find a location near you by visiting goldfishswimschool.com. There are Goldfish Swim Schools across the USA in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin; as well as in Ontario Canada.

A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador for Goldfish Swim School. In exchange for sharing my family's experiences at Goldfish Swim School, ageekdaddy.com receives complimentary products and services. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. We have been going to this swim school for a number of years and wouldn't have continued this partnership for so long if they hadn't earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval.

FUN TIMES AT GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

Of course, swimming lessons can be a lot of fun!  But there are also lots of other good times to be had beyond just participating in classes at Goldfish Swim School. Here are four of my family's favorite things that make this swimming school extra fun to go to:

Water Safety Day

Once a year Goldfish Swim School opens its doors to anyone in the community to stop in for a day of activities that make learning about water safety fun.  This FREE event includes lifeguard demonstrations in the pool, a presentation by Bubbles ( the Goldfish Swim School mascot), and swim class instructors providing tips about water safety. Taking place just before summer break from school for most kids begins, this is a great time to think about rules and skills that are important to ensure that everyone in your family is safe during a season that is often full of spending time in and around water.

Going to Water Safety Day is always a good time because in addition to the water safety focus of the event it also has a festive carnival atmosphere to it.  The school provides lots of entertaining activities and games plus food to enjoy. All at no cost to anyone who attends!

Our local Goldfish Swim School parks bounce houses and food trucks in their parking lot for Water Safety Day. Their staff plays games with children who stop by to participate in the event and there is a balloon artist who makes wonderful creations for the kids. Families can even take a dip in the pool while they are at Goldfish Swim School for Water Safety Day.

Water Safety Day activities and dates may vary from franchise to franchise so check with your local Goldfish Swim School to find out what they have planned.  CLICK HERE to find a Goldfish Swim School location near you.  If you aren't a member of Goldfish Swim School this is a great opportunity to check out the facility and meet staff. For those who already attend it is a nice opportunity to have fun with other Goldfish families and interact with your children's swimming instructors.

Family Swim Time

Goldfish Swim School opens up its pool at lunch time on week days throughout the year to its member families. This is a wonderful chance for kids to practice their swimming but also a nice opportunity for a family to have fun playing in the water together.  When the kids have days off during the school year or during summer break, we take advantage of this free perk all the time! We've had some great times and memorable moments during Family Swim Time at Goldfish Swim School.

Family Night Out

Once a month, Goldfish Swim School hosts a Friday evening where families can come out to enjoy activities, crafts and games as well as swim in the pool. This night of family fun also includes pizza and snacks. Family Night Outs often have a theme to them. One of our favorite Family Nights Out at Goldfish Swim School involved my kids participating in an Easter Egg hunt and meeting the Easter Bunny. 

Family Night Out at Goldfish Swim School is always a fun time! There is a nominal fee to participate which at our location is $5 per person or $15 per family. Check with your local Goldfish Swim School for date and details.

Balloons

Kids can always get a FREE balloon after their swimming class at Goldfish Swim School. My daughter LOVES balloons! A balloon will always put a smile on her face.

In addition to balloons, Goldfish Swim School also gives out a unique reward for completing swim classes to kids each week. For example for St. Patrick's Day this year they gave out Leprechaun hats that week. Other weeks prizes may range from a variety of items featuring Bubbles such as coloring pages, sticker sheets and temporary tattoos.  A favorite with kids though are the Bubbles bath toys. From pirate to scuba diver each month there is a new toy that Goldfish swimmers can get.

Goldfish Swim School provides swimming lessons and water safety instruction for toddlers to twelve year olds. My kids have been swimming at Goldfish for a number of years now. Our family has truly had a golden experience! The kids not only have had a lot of fun but their swimming and water safety skills have gotten to be very impressive. I hate to admit it but they may be better swimmers than me now.

Dive in to having your family swim there by heading over to goldfishswimschool.com Tell them ageekdaddy.com sent you!

A Geek Daddy receives free products and services from Goldfish Swim School as a brand ambassador. The opinions expressed are honest and my own. They have absolutely earned ageekdaddy.com nod of approval from my own kids experiences at Goldfish Swim School.

GIVE THE GIFT THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME

Like riding a bike, swimming is one of those skills that once someone gets a grasp on doing it normally you are able to continuously do it throughout your life. It is an ability that after being learned tends not to be forgone even if it is not used very often. Unfortunately, many people just never learn even the basics of swimming which has contributed to drowning being a leading cause of accidental deaths for both children and adults.

Give a special child in your life a gift that will last a lifetime by providing them swimming lessons. My friends at Goldfish Swim School have special holiday packages available now that provide both lessons and something to physically wrap up to give to a child. Goldfish Swim School caters to kids ranging in age from toddlers to tweens and assists children and lessons vary from teaching basic water safety skills to mastering competitive swimming strokes.

How many of their Christmas presents are most kids even going to remember just a few months after the holiday has passed by? a year has gone by? a decade? Not many!

With swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School you are providing an experience that will be remembered for a long time. My family has had a wonderful experience at Goldfish Swim School with my daughter evolving from being timid about going into the water to becoming a member of the Swim Force club that teaches kids about swimming as a competitive athletic endeavor. Provide a child with the skills and confidence to be safe and have fun around the water by enrolling him or her in Goldfish Swim School as a holiday gift.

For more information on holiday gift packages and to find a location near you, please visit goldfishswimschool.com. Plus check out the Top 5 reasons to give the gift of swimming lessons over at their blog.

A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador for Gold Fish Swim Schools receiving complimentary lessons and services for his children in exchange for promotional consideration. Opinions expressed are honest and my own.

SCI FI UNDER THE SEA

Each month at Goldfish Swim School they promote a different theme to add some extra excitement to kids' swimming lessons. Tied to the theme are activity sheets, toys and other rewards given out at the end of each week's class. November's theme is CELEBRATE MOVIES and with that in mind this sci-fi loving dad decided to share ten great movies that take us on underwater instead of outer space adventures. Here are ten science fiction movies that all have water as a major part of their plot:

Water World

After the melting of the polar ice caps, most of the globe is underwater. Some humans have survived, and even fewer still, notably the Mariner (Kevin Costner), have adapted to the ocean by developing gills. A loner by nature, the Mariner reluctantly befriends Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and her young companion, Enola (Tina Majorino), as they escape from a hostile artificial island. Soon the sinister Smokers are pursuing them in the belief that Enola holds the key to finding the mythical Dryland.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

In 1866, Professor Pierre M. Aronnax (Paul Lukas) and his assistant Conseil (Peter Lorre), stranded in San Francisco by reports of a giant sea monster attacking ships in the Pacific Ocean, are invited to join an expedition to search for the creature. During the search, they and harpooner Ned Land (Kirk Douglas) are thrown overboard during an attack, eventually discovering that the supposed monster is actually a submarine piloted by the brilliant but haunted Captain Nemo (James Mason).

The Abyss

Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio are formerly married petroleum engineers who still have some issues to work out. They are drafted to assist a gung-ho Navy SEAL (Michael Biehn) with a top-secret recovery operation: a nuclear sub has been ambushed and sunk, under mysterious circumstances, in some of the deepest waters on Earth.

Leviathan

Hired by Martin (Meg Foster), the head of a major corporation, a crew including geologist Steven Beck (Peter Weller) descends to the ocean's depths for a mining project. When the undersea explorers find a sunken ship and investigate, they inadvertently bring a malevolent life form on board their vessel. The creature kills some crew members and causes them to mutate, resulting in a battle for survival against an unknown force far below the surface of the ocean.

Sphere

When psychologist Norman Goodman (Dustin Hoffman) wrote a report for the government on how to deal with extraterrestrial life forces, he didn't expect his recommendations to be used. Now that a secret government agency is investigating what may be an alien spaceship that has been discovered partially buried on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, Norman finds that the plan he outlined is being put into effect and that the team he named in his report has been assembled.

Pacific Rim

Long ago, legions of monstrous creatures called Kaiju arose from the sea, bringing with them all-consuming war. To fight the Kaiju, mankind developed giant robots called Jaegers, designed to be piloted by two humans locked together in a neural bridge. However, even the Jaegers are not enough to defeat the Kaiju, and humanity is on the verge of defeat. Mankind's last hope now lies with a washed-up ex-pilot (Charlie Hunnam), an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi) and an old, obsolete Jaeger.

Cocoon

Oscar-winning fantasy in which the residents of a Florida rest home get a new lease of life when they stumble across an alien "fountain of youth" in a disused holiday home. Unbeknown to them, aliens have been using the swimming pool in the house to store their cocooned brethren, giving the waters a powerful, rejuvenating quality.

Deep Blue Sea

On an island research facility, Dr. Susan McAlester (Saffron Burrows) is harvesting the brain tissue of DNA-altered sharks as a possible cure for Alzheimer's disease. When the facility's backers send an executive (Samuel L. Jackson) to investigate the experiments, a routine procedure goes awry and a shark starts attacking the researchers. Now, with sharks outnumbering their human captors, McAlester and her team must figure out a way to stop them from escaping to the ocean and breeding.

Shape of Water

Elisa is a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab's classified secret -- a mysterious, scaled creature from South America that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist.

Aquaman 

Arriving at movie theaters in December, Aquaman finds himself caught between a surface world that ravages the sea and the underwater Atlanteans who are ready to revolt.



Winter is a great time to relax at home and enjoy watching movies like these. It is also a great time for kids to dive into the pool at Goldfish Swim School. They always keep their pool water heated to a comfortable shiver-free 90 degrees so even when the weather is cold outside families can count on having a good time swimming inside at Gold Fish Swim School.  Moms and dads of Goldfish kids can enjoy the pool too by joining in on family open swim nights with their children. For more information, please visit goldfishswimschool.com