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.

SWIM LIKE A GOLDFISH

**  Sponsored by Goldfish Swim School **

My daughter has been excited this summer that we've been able to spend some time at some of Michigan's great beaches putting her swimming lessons from Goldfish Swim School to use.  The state's lakes may be a bit cold and the water is murkier than you'll find when visiting an ocean location, but on the positive side they're filled with fresh water and you don't need to be worried about bumping into a shark during a swim.  That being said the water can still be dangerous if you don't treat it with caution and respect.  Goldfish Swim School has provided my kids with the necessary skills to be confident swimmers who know what they need to do to be safe in the water.  This lets them have more freedom and fun at the lake or in a pool; and while I still keep a watchful eye over them it makes me a lot less nervous about something bad happening when they are in the water.

In addition to teaching a mastery of a variety of swimming strokes, Goldfish Swim School's lessons also include aspects that help kids develop an increased comfort level in the water and essential safety skills.  Before we attended Goldfish Swim School, my kids really hated putting their heads under the water.  Now they love swimming underwater and really have demonstrated some incredible breath control being able to stay submerged longer than I actually can based upon the diving ring drill incorporated into their swim classes.  They LOVE diving to find toys, rocks or shells underwater whenever they can!  Plus whether it is for leisure or an emergency occurs they know how to handle themselves underwater now.

Beyond learning swimming strokes being able to tread water for an extended period of time is a skill that is reinforced at Goldfish Swim School.  So if children find themselves in water where they can't touch instead of panicking they have the ability to tread water and think about their options.  Maybe it is staying in place waiting for help or it could be swimming to a safer spot.  Avoiding panic and making intelligent decisions is one of the best ways to stay safe when trouble in the water arises.

Get dragged away from the shore by a current or have to evacuate a boat that is too far to swim to safety?  Goldfish Swim School makes sure kids are able to flip from various positions onto their back to do the dead man's float.  This is one of the most important water survival skills to have because it allows people to stay safely afloat preserving energy and oxygen when they may not have the stamina or swimming skills to handle the circumstances.  It is also an invaluable technique for kids with limited swimming experience who may find themselves in a deep pool.

For beginning swimmers, Goldfish Swim School also works on making sure little ones know how to get in and out of a pool.  They have a drill Jump, Turn, Swim to the Wall where kids learn what to do when they become immersed in water to safely get out and work on it repeatedly to make sure they have the routine down.  The kids are also taught the Fin, Fin, Belly, Flipper (Elbow, Elbow, Tummy, Knee) which shows them how to get out of a pool by manipulating their bodies.

Yes we aren't going to have to avoid sharks in Michigan, but there are still dangers to be aware of such as cramps, currents, drop offs and reckless behavior.  Goldfish Swim School provides kids with practical guidance on how to handle these type of situations.  Plus thanks to their lessons my kids are really good swimmers now too! So while you aren't likely to see a shark in the Great Lakes State there is a very good chance you'll come across a ... Goldfish.

Goldfish Swim School has nine locations in Michigan and also has franchises in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.  Classes range from parent-tot sessions to swimming lessons for kids up to 12 years old.  For more information, visit goldfishswimschool.com

Goldfish Swim School Water Safety Day 2017

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

My daughter and I attended the annual WATER SAFETY DAY event hosted by Goldfish Swim Schools at the location where she takes her lessons this weekend. Bubbles, the school's mascot, provided a safety tips presentation where kids who participated earned special ribbons and safety badges.  Plus kids could work on their water safety skills in one of the facility's pools with some help from the school's instructors.  It was a great safety refresher for the children who are members of the swim school and the event was also open to the general public so parents considering signing up their kids for lessons could take advantage of the presentation and activities with their children as well while checking out the place and meeting some of the staff.

While water safety is a serious matter there was also a lot of fun and games associated with this free event. Kids were treated to face painting, a goofy photo booth, bounce houses, and balloon animals.  Plus there was a family open swim time going on in the main pool that was available to anyone who wanted to jump in.

The highlight of this year's WATER SAFETY DAY though for my daughter was the foam bubble battle she had with her swim teacher in Goldfish Swim School's parking lot which was closed off to provide a carnival space for entertaining activities. It was nice to see the kids getting to know their instructors outside of the pool and having a good time hanging out with them.  I'm sure that will have a positive impact on their rapport during lessons.

If you weren't able to attend this year, here are six important questions every parent should ask themselves before allowing a child to be around the water that Goldfish Swim School's staff emphasized during the event:

1. When can my child swim alone?
Depending on a child's swimming skills you don't necessarily need to be in the water with them, but juveniles should always have someone within eye contact of them. Here are some more tips to keep in mind to help you determine if your child is ready to swim alone.  That being said, kids should always swim with a buddy and actually adults should too!  Having a buddy present in the water means there’s someone there to assist if needed, or to go get help should an emergency arise.

2. When should we use puddle jumpers and/or life jackets?
When learning to swim, we believe it is more beneficial for kids to learn without water wings, puddle jumpers or life jackets. However, every child should always wear life jackets when on a boat (and it’s generally the law in every state that kids ages 13 and younger must wear life jackets on boats). Beyond that, you’ll have to consider what kids of water you’re in, how deep it is, your child’s skill level, if you’re in the water, and other issues.

3. What are the signs of drowning?
Drowning happens quickly, and it can be difficult to notice because it doesn’t involve crazy splashing and loud yelling. If someone is having trouble in the water, they may quietly slip under the water. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of drowning and what to do if someone appears in distress.

4. How can I help my kids become better swimmers?
Did you know that teaching kids water safety helps kids to become better swimmers? It’s true. When kids – and all of us, really – understand what it takes to be safer in the water and implement those points, the focus can be on improving swim skills. Perpetual (year-round) swim lessons are best and truly helps keeps kids safer in the water.

5. How can we stay safe in an indoor pool?
Even if you’re not swimming outdoors, there are certain considerations that need to be made to stay safe at an indoor pool.  For instance, make sure young children aren’t enticed to go near the pool unattended to scoop up toys randomly floating around – and always keep an eye on your kids, even if there’s a lifeguard on duty.

6. What to do if I don’t know how to swim?
It can be quite the conundrum: How do you keep your kids safe in the water when you don’t know how to swim yourself? First of all, it’s important to not impart any fear of the water onto your kids. And teaching your kids to swim and learn the 5 things every kid should know how to do in the water helps empower your kids and yourself to be safer and confident in the water.

If you didn't attend WATER SAFETY DAY make sure it is on your radar to swing by your local Goldfish Swim School next year to join in the activities.  The event is full of family-friendly fun plus also provides some valuable educational information to help keep kids safe.  And as I mentioned before...it is FREE to attend for any family with preschool and school aged children. We really had a good time!

For more information about water safety tips and swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School, please visit goldfishswimschool.com.