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.

View this post on Instagram

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!

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

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.

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.

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

FUN THINGS TO DO OUTSIDE THE POOL AT GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL

** This post was sponsored by Goldfish Swim School **

We always arrive a half hour early to my kids swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School so they are ready to go and don't miss a minute of class.  My kids are never bored showing up early though because there are plenty of fun things to do outside the pool.  Just another reason we've had a golden experience at Goldfish Swim School!

The twins love to draw on the large chalk boards in the waiting area and sometimes I have to pull them away so they aren't late for class even though we arrived early and are only a few feet from the pool.  They've really created some impressive drawings and the kids enjoy having the feeling they are helping decorate the place.  Plus there are always activity sheets and coloring pages tied to the swim school's monthly theme available to keep children occupied.  July's theme is "Celebrate Ocean Life."

Rushing out the door and forget to give the kids something to eat before leaving home?  Goldfish Swim School stocks a snack bar filled with affordable family-friendly items to help energize kids for their swimming lessons or re-fuel after class.  Items to eat range from bowls of Cheerios to Rice Krispy Treats along with juice or bottled water to drink.  They have coffee as well to help perk up moms and dads.

My son can't go into class without checking out the pair of turtles and tank of goldfish that are on display.  It is amazing how as many times as we've been there he is always fascinated with checking them out.  Have to admit I always go over and look at the turtles too whenever we're at Goldfish Swim School.

If you have toddlers and preschoolers there is also a play area stocked with games and toys to keep the little ones amused before they get in the pool.  As part of the theme of the month program, they also give out to students a small toy or puzzle that ties into it.  They really do a nice job with these giveaways and my kids are always on the lookout for them.

After class is over don't forget to grab a FREE balloon to take home with you!  At Goldfish Swim School your kids are sure to have fun in and out of the pool.  For more information, please visit goldfishswimschool.com.  You can also follow along with my family's fun times on Twitter and Instagram.