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.

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.

DON'T BE SPOOKED OUT ABOUT SWIMMING LESSONS

While watching trick or treaters roaming the streets around Halloween it isn't the costumes of ghosts, monsters and other creepy things that I find scary but rather that so many of these children out knocking at doors are at an age where they are at a high risk of becoming a drowning statistic.  According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, drowning is responsible for more deaths among children ages 1 to 4 than any other cause except birth defects. Also, among children up to the age of fourteen, fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor vehicle crashes. Don't be tricked into thinking knowing how to swim isn't an important skill for kids to learn and treat the children in your life to swimming lessons.

It has been recognized that a lack of swimming skills and water safety knowledge is a key contributor to youth drownings; and research has shown that participation in formal swimming lessons can greatly reduce the risk of drowning.  With this in mind, I'd encourage you to check out Goldfish Swim School.  My kids have been enrolled there and we've witnessed amazing progress in their swimming abilities. In fact, when my son found himself in a precarious situation at a water park the skills he learned at Goldfish Swim School gave him the abilities and confidence to get himself out of trouble. Both of the twins have developed a greater understanding of water safety skills and an appreciation of swimming since our family got involved with Goldfish Swim School.

Gold Fish Swim School's focus is on providing swimming lessons and fun water activities for children 4 months up to 12 years old in age. They pride themselves on offering small class sizes with one life guard certified instructor for every four children. The school offers programming for children of any ability ranging from those who have never dipped their toes in a pool to ones who are mastering their strokes and would like to engage in a bit of friendly competition. Once a kid has completed all the swimming class levels they can than participate in the Swim Force swim team. My daughter in fact just participated in her first swimming meet as part of the Goldfish Swim School Swim Force.

Gold Fish Swim Schools originated in Metro Detroit 12 years ago and have since expanded across Michigan and into 14 other states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma & Texas). I've written about 5 REASONS MY FAMILY LOVES GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL and the PERKS OF ATTENDING GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL which highlight why my family has valued our experience with them but I'll just emphasize again there are three key factors that really stand out when it comes to taking swimming lessons here.

First, is an emphasis on water safety. They really put an emphasis 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 the basic skills to help them avoid becoming a drowning statistic.

Second, Goldfish Swim School provides a very personalized experience for the kids.  They have small class sizes with instructors that provide a lot of one on one attention. Parents receive quarterly report cards plus an update on their student's progress after every lesson.

Third, the customer service is exceptional! 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 come up … as they always do … arranging a make-up class is no sweat!  Plus they have lots of extra things they do throughout the year at Goldfish Swim School like Water Safety Awareness Weeks where drowning prevention techniques are reinforced with students and their families as well as Member Appreciation Nights where the whole family is invited to come for an open swim night in the pool and pizza for dinner.

Treat a special kid in your life to swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School! It really is scary how many families each year across the United States are impacted by drownings.  Improving the number of children who have the ability to swim and have basic water safety skills can do the trick.  Visit goldfishswimschool.com to find a location near you and learn more about the classes and programs they offer. We've had a golden experience at Goldfish Swim School and I'm sure you will too!

A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador promotional partner with 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.

FIRST SWIM FORCE SWIMMING MEET

My daughter just competed in her first SWIM FORCE swimming meet!  Kids who have graduated out of Goldfish Swim School's tier of lessons can be a part of this program that introduces them to friendly competition and the athletic aspect of swimming. Swim Force members meet for an hour each week to be coached on perfecting their strokes and becoming faster swimmers in the pool.  Then there are quarterly SWIM FORCE swimming meets throughout the year where the kids can choose which events they want to compete in.

There is an informal atmosphere to these meets where the kids are dressed casually not wearing swim caps or hydrodynamic swimsuits; sit together as a group cheering on other swimmers when they aren't in the pool themselves; and setting personal time records is emphasized over winning races.  To keep things light hearted the meet ends with a relay race where swimmers must wear a Goldfish Swim School t-shirt over their swimsuit and pass it on to other team members to put on as they swim their length of the race.  These quarterly meets introduce kids to the FUN-damentals of competitive swimming with a focus on making sure everyone is having a fun experience.

It has only been a few weeks since my daughter moved up from swimming lessons to join the Swim Force; but she was gung-ho to participate right away in her first swimming meet.  She signed up to compete in her best stroke, the backstroke, and her favorite one, the butterfly, during the Swim Force swimming meet. Of course she joined in the t-shirt relay race too because it sounded like too good of a time to miss out on when her coaches described the event to her.

Goldfish Swim School tries to keep the races evenly matched with girls vs girls and boys vs boys plus kids are assigned heats where they compete against equivalently skilled swimmers. Still competing in front of other kids as well as an audience of their families can still be daunting and I could see my daughter was a bit nervous before the meet. You couldn't tell though once the Swim Force swimming meet began.  She did really well!

After the swimming wrapped up it was time for a snack. PIZZA for everyone! My daughter refueled enjoying pizza slices and Rice Krispies provided by Goldfish Swim School while laughing and chatting with new found friends she had made since joining the Swim Force. It was a fun, memorable night for the whole family and my little mermaid is already looking forward to swimming in the next Swim Force swimming meet at Goldfish Swim School.

There was a big smile on her face after swimming in her first Goldfish Swim School Swim Force swimming meet. Three events → three 2nd place ribbons. A nice introduction to competitive swimming! She really had a great time during her first ever swimming meet.

For more information about Goldfish Swim School swimming lessons and its Swim Force program, head over to goldfishswimschool.com

A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School brand ambassador. In exchange for providing publicity through this blog and its social media outlets, I receive free products and services from Goldfish Swim School. Opinions expresses are always honest and my own.

GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL SWIM FORCE

My daughter just graduated from the highest class level at Goldfish Swim School. Does that mean her time there has come to an end? Not just yet … she's joined the Goldfish Swim School Swim Force!

The Swim Force is a program for those kids who have advanced through all the swimming classes that Goldfish has to offer. It is the school's in-house swim team.  Team members train each week to participate in the Swim Force's swimming meets that take place four times per year. It is a great way to transition kids from learning to swim towards participating in swimming as a sport. Especially for those who may be athletically inclined to pursuing joining a competitive swim club or being a part of high school and college swim teams. My daughter really is into swimming so we absolutely wanted to give her the Swim Force experience to see if this is an activity she really wants to take to the next level and being participating in at a competitive level.

Instead of going to a once per week class, Swim Force swimmers participate in a once per week workout.  This workout is double the length of time and distance in the pool than the normal Goldfish Swim School swimming class.  Swim Force workouts are an hour instead of half-hour long. Plus Swim Force members swim the length of the pool during their workouts instead of across its width as is done in swim classes. Your kids is absolutely going to get some exercise during a Swim Force workout!

Swim Force session sizes are larger than the average swimming class with 10 to 15 kids normally participating in a workout compared to the maximum of four per class in swimming lessons.  This is balanced out though with their being three to four instructors helping out the swimmers during a workout so there is still approximately a 4 students to 1 teacher ratio when it comes to participating in the Gold Fish Swim School Swim Force.  These sessions are all about taking kids who have their basic swimming skills down pat and helping them to master strokes, improve their speed in the water, and introduce them to the competitive aspect of the sport.

Each Swim Force member is assessed by instructors and assigned to a specific pool lane based upon his or her skill ranking where he or she will be interacting with other swimmers of similar ability.  This helps swimmers avoid becoming overwhelmed or feeling defeated by Swim Force members who have may more advanced skills. Children 5 to 12 years old can join the Swim Force anytime throughout the year – there is no “season” like in other sports. You don't have to have taken lessons at Goldfish either, any kid can join Swim Force provided they can pass tests to determine if they’re ready.

Here are 5 great things we've discovered about joining the Swim Force:

• It is one day per week! If your family is like mine I'm sure you always seem busy so the once-a-week Swim Force workouts mean no overextending your schedule with a commitment to a team activity that has multiple practices per week. Children can be involved in swimming yet still have the flexibility to do other activities as well.

• Workouts are for one hour! The extended time of Swim Force workouts versus the normal half-hour Goldfish swimming lesson times gives kids extra time spent in the water. And while traditional swim lesson classes may be over, swimmers are still getting lots of individualized attention from coaches who are in the pool with them during the Swim Force workouts.

• Socialization! Kids build relationships and learn about working together when they are a part of Swim Force. It is the opportunity to compete against others as well as to feel what it’s like to be on a team.

• Builds Confidence! The more often kids practice at something the better they will become and swimming is no different than anything else. Being part of the Goldfish Swim School Swim Force allows children to gain confidence not only in their swimming abilities, but in themselves as they see their accomplishments over time. The quarterly swim meet, which is voluntary to participate in, allows kids to showcase their skills in a team setting meant to build confidence no matter the skill level of the swimmer.

• Improves Athletic Skills! The Swim Force program is designed to prepare kids for participating in team sports and competitive swimming. It focusses on helping swimmers becoming more proficient in both technique and stamina. Coaches will help kids perfect swim strokes for the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle – and also learn new racing skills including turns and finishes. If your child has an interest in doing swimming as a sport, Swim Force will get him or her up to speed to move up to a competitive team when he or she has outgrown their Goldfish Swim School years.

My daughter has just started Swim Force and hasn't been in it long enough to participate in a swimming meet yet.  She was initially shocked at how many of the kids on the Swim Force outpace her right now after she was always the star of all her swimming classes. I've been impressed on how she has taken that on as a challenge to improve herself to be competitive with them and it looks like she is really enjoying the Swim Force workouts. Stay tuned for more updates as she keeps swimming at Goldfish Swim School and prepares for her Swim Force swimming meets!  

For more information about Goldfish Swim School swimming lessons and its Swim Force program, head over to goldfishswimschool.com 

A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School brand ambassador. In exchange for providing publicity through this blog and its social media outlets, I receive free products and services from Goldfish Swim School. Opinions expresses are always honest and my own.

DON'T LET TEARS AND TANTRUMS KEEP YOUR CHILD FROM LEARNING TO SWIM

Often times when it comes to swimming lessons you will find children, especially toddlers and preschoolers, crying that they don't want to participate.  Sometimes these fits will even last through multiple lessons if a parent doesn't cave in right away to dropping the child's participation in the activity.  It is important though as parents not to let tears and tantrums prevent a child from becoming comfortable in the water, learning valuable safety skills, and trying out new things.

Crying is actually one of the most common behaviors my friends at Goldfish Swim School see in young children who are just starting lessons.  Of course this can be stressful both upon the child and parent.  Here are some tips on how to turn these negative situations into positive experiences:

First it is important to understand why the child is crying.  In most cases it isn't fear of the water but rather separation anxiety from parents and being in an unfamiliar environment.  Sensation of water in the ears also can be unnerving for some youngsters.

So when will a child stop crying? Typically this will be by the fourth lesson if a family sticks with a routine for their classes.  Once trust and confidence is formed with the teacher and a kids know parents will be coming back after the class is done they tend to settle down.  That being said kids do progress and mature at different paces so each situation is always unique.

To help children be comfortable attending swimming lessons, Goldfish Swim School recommends parents stay in the viewing area during class so they can be seen but a child can't use mom or dad to intervene in a crying spell or fit.  When out of class reinforce desired behaviors and offer ongoing encouragement.  Also practice skills outside of the Goldfish Swim School pool when possible between lessons.

Also Goldfish Swim School urges parents NOT to:

• offer bribes for attending lessons;
• allow your own anxiety show through to your child;
• and discontinue lessons altogether due to tears and tantrums.

Learning to swim not only can help keep a child safe in and around the water but is also a healthy activity that can provide a lifetime full of fun.  Goldfish Swim School instructors provide a safe and stimulating learning environment that will eventually win over even the most finicky kid. During the years my own son and daughter have been going there I've seen a number of melt downs around the pool yet I've always seen those same children within a few weeks smiling, laughing and have a good time.

Jump into lessons! The water is warm at Goldfish Swim School, literally they always keep the pool heated to 90 degrees, and children are sure to have a good time once they get comfortable there. It has been a wonderful experience for a Geek Daddy's family!



For more information about Goldfish Swim School or to find a location near you, head over to www.goldfishswimschool.com

THE VALUE OF 30 MINUTE SWIM CLASSES

For several years we enrolled my son and daughter in swimming lesson sessions with hour long classes at a local community pool.  So it seemed odd that when they started taking classes at Goldfish Swim School their lessons were only thirty minutes long.  Yet after just one year at Goldfish the twins' swimming skills have positively progressed significantly more than they did over the three year span taking classes at that other place.

Here are three reasons why thirty minute lessons have worked out great for my kids at Goldfish Swim School:

• Small Class Size -- lessons are limited to 4 students or less per instructor.  This really allows the teachers to interact with the students in their class and get to know the kids' strengths and weaknesses.  My son and daughter have been in classes at other facilities that had 8 to 12 kids in it. You get a lot more quality swimming time learning in the pool when an instructor is attentive on helping 2 to 4 kids instead of eight or more. Our family found out first-hand how this can make such a big difference!
• Attention Span --  in developing their results-oriented lesson plans Goldfish Swim School determined that after thirty minutes kids begin to tire out and lose focus.  Once a child stops being actively involved in a lesson or starts having his or her mind wander, they stop retaining information and become less productive.  Goldfish strives to have kids get the most out of the time they are in the pool.
  
  My kids are always tuckered out when they finish a Goldfish Swim School class so I know they are getting a workout. Since their swim strokes have been consistently improving this thirty minute approach is obviously working. I have to agree these lessons really seemed nicely timed to capture my son and daughter's attention span.
• Perpetual Lessons -- when taking lessons at other pools there often would be weeks and sometimes months between class sessions.  That's not the case with Goldfish Swim School!  Kids keep the same time and day for their lesson continuously throughout the year until they graduate to a new achievement level.  This consistency enhances the overall quality of a child's comfort with swimming and their skill development.  My kids look forward to having swim lessons EVERY week since we started going to Goldfish Swim School.

We've really had a golden experience at Goldfish Swim School.  I've been incredibly impressed by the impact their swim lessons have had on my kids.  So of course they've earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval. With classes available for toddlers through tweens head over to your local Goldfish Swim School and get your kids swimming.

For more information, please visit goldfishswimschool.com

Merry Goldfishmas

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

It may be cold and snowy outside but the water is always warm when kids jump in the indoor pool for swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School during the winter months.   My daughter looks forward all week to the day when her swim class arrives.  Not only has she been having lots of fun and getting some great exercise but her swimming skills have become quite remarkable under Goldfish Swim School's tutelage.

The swimming abilities of both my children have improved more in the last year than in four years previously spent taking lessons somewhere else.  I can honestly say that working with Goldfish Swim School as a brand ambassador has been a highlight of my blogging experience and one of the most valuable partnerships A Geek Daddy has been involved with.  My kids have not only become more athletically skilled when it comes to swimming through their lessons but have learned some valuable safety lessons too.  In fact, we attribute Goldfish Swim School for helping my son properly handle himself when he found himself over his head in a scary situation at a water park during a vacation last summer.  My daughter's continued advancement through various levels of swimming instruction over the year and mastery of a number of swim strokes has also made a noticeable difference in enhancing her self confidence both in the pool and at elementary school.

We went to the kids last swim class of the year before the facility closes for two weeks to complete seasonal maintenance and refurbishments with a thank you gift for the staff in recognition of the exceptional service and experiences we've had at Goldfish Swim School.  Christmas cookies that looked like Bubbles the Goldfish Swim School mascot!  My wife did the baking, the kids decorated the cookies, and I taste tested them for quality control before we wrapped them up and brought them with us to the kids swim lesson.  Merry Goldfishmas!

Our year at Goldfish Swim School wrapped up on a real high note with my daughter being told after her lesson that she has advanced enough to participate on the school's competitive swim team.  She has been talking about doing this all year long and was ecstatic about the news.  Being invited to join the Goldfish Swim Force Team made this holiday season especially wonderful for her this year!

Congrats to Amanda M. from Macomb Twp. Michigan who won two months of free swimming lessons for her daughter in A Geek Daddy's Goldfish Swim School Holiday Giveaway.  Interested in lessons for the kids in your life?  To look for a Goldfish Swim School location near you or to find more information about their programs, please visit goldfishswimschool.com

Perks of Goldfish Swim School

My kids have been getting some great swimming lessons at our local Goldfish Swim School but there are also some great perks beyond the classes of being enrolled there.  There are a number of extra entertaining and educational opportunities that we enjoy taking advantage of.  Here are a few of our family's favorite Goldfish Swim School perks:

FREE FAMILY SWIM HOUR

Every weekday our Goldfish Swim School has a lunch hour open swim period where member families can take a dip in pool for free.  It is a nice time for parents to spend some quality time with their kids in the facility's shiver-free 90-degree pool.  Everyone in the family can goof around in the water or even better the kids can practice what they learned in class showing mom, dad, grandma or grandpa the swim strokes they are mastering.  This fun hour in the pool that doesn't cost any additional money to participate in. It is especially great to take advantage of when my children are on for summer break or have a day off from their elementary school classes.

WATER SAFETY DAY

Once per year, Goldfish Swim School locations host a Water Safety Day carnival.  During this free event, the staff provides water safety presentations, complimentary food to eat, and a variety of family-friendly activities.  During the most recent event, our local Goldfish Swim School treated kids to face painting, a goofy photo booth, bounce houses, and balloon animals as part of the festivities.  Plus there is a family open swim time going on in the main pool that is available to anyone who wants to jump in.

A BIRTHDAY SNACK

Kids enrolled in Goldfish Swim School are sent a birthday card that they can redeem for a free treat at the Snack Shack.  Being able to choose a handful of candy, a bag of popcorn or a granola bar to commemorate their special day always puts a big smile on the kids faces who are turning their birthday cards in.

THEME OF THE MONTH

To help make lessons a bit more fun, Goldfish Swim School also has a special theme they promote each month with decorations around the facility, activities such as coloring contests, and special giveaway items they hand out each week to children after they've completed their lesson. My kids have a collection of water toys they treasure featuring Bubbles the Goldfish Swim School mascot that are given out each month based upon its theme.  Having a different theme each month is just one of the many ways Goldfish Swim School differentiates itself as an ideal location that truly caters to providing a great experience for families who bring children to go swimming there.

For more information, please visit goldfishswimschool.com

GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL SAVES THE DAY

One of my family's favorite ways to have a good time is enjoying ourselves in the water.  We all love to have fun at beaches, pools and water parks.  With that in mind, my kids have been taking swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School for the last year to help them be safe and have the athletic proficiency to make the most out of those activities taking place in and around the water.

While playing in the water can be really fun, a lapse in judgment or unexpected circumstances can quickly lead to a treacherous scenario.  Even for experienced adult swimmers suffering from a cramp while swimming, being caught in a rip current that can't easily be escaped or misjudging water conditions or depth are hazards that happen quite regularly.  So for kids it is even more important to be prepared when it comes to water safety and swimming skills so they are ready to handle themselves when unexpected hazards arise.  For us one of those dangerous situations arose during a family vacation and it turns out Goldfish Swim School lessons really did save the day.

My kids are drawn to water park lazy rivers.  They don't like to make their way around these canals by being pushed along in a slow moving current while lying in a giant inner tube though.  The twins need to run and swim around the course instead.  In fact, if you look around most lazy rivers you'll probably see quite a few kids swimming and walking around the course instead of relaxing by floating on a raft.

During a visit to Universal Orlando Resort's Volcano Bay water park, the first thing my son wanted to do was go on a lazy river.  While my daughter and I were in line for an aqua coaster, my wife and son made there way into what they thought was a lazy river.  What they didn't realize was that this wasn't a normal lazy river but rather a more intense version called TeAwa The Fearless River.  At first glance it  seemed fairly peaceful but it quickly turned into a white water rapids style ride with fast currents and choppy waves.  My son misjudging the situation jumped off his tube like he normally does and was caught off guard as the water conditions quickly began to intensify.  He was in trouble!

The current and waves were dragging him under and it was too deep in places for him to stand and get his balance.  Waves had pushed my wife in her inner tube several yards in front of my son and as it became apparent he was struggling in the water she tried to get back to him.  The current was too swift and powerful for her to make it back to him.  The situation was quickly becoming very precarious for my son's safety.

The boy never panicked though and put his Goldfish Swim School lessons to use!  He utilized a variety of the things taught during his classes to get himself out of this pickle he found himself in.  He used the side breathing they utilize during laps in the pool to get breathes of air whenever he could emerge from the water.  Combining the strokes he has learned with the treading water water safety skills Goldfish Swim School has their students practice kept him from being sucked under by the current.  Following the instructions he had been provided of reviewing your surroundings and calling for help, he was able to get a lifeguard's attention who jumped in with a float to assist him.

Those Goldfish Swim School lessons kept him from panicking and provided enough training to help him get out of danger even when the water conditions were too intense for his overall swimming abilities.  He was embarrassed by what happened but otherwise unscathed and ready to jump right back into the water.  Goldfish Swim School saved the day!

We found out later in the day that Volcano Bay actually has a regular lazy river called Kopiko Wai Winding River which was much more my kids speed.  Both my son and daughter spent a good amount of the rest of our time at the water park enjoying this winding river.  I noticed though that neither of them jumped off their rafts again though.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ten people on average die everyday within the United States from drowning.  It is the 5th leading cause of unintentional injury death in the USA.  A person can black out from water inhalation in 90 seconds or less with serious brain damage or death occurring within four minutes of a drowning incident.  Kids having swimming lessons can really make a big difference in helping them avoid becoming a CDC statistic as my family's own story has demonstrated.

Make sure your time spent in the water is all smiles.  Enroll your child in Goldfish swimming lessons! Goldfish Swim Schools originated in Metro Detroit 10 years ago and have since expanded across Michigan and into 14 other states (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma & Texas). They have programs from children as young as infants and as old as 12.  For more information, please visit goldfishswimschool.com.