The accomplishments of the US Swimming Teams in Rio were nothing short of amazing. It was fun to watch and made us all proud. And because a couple of our finest moments were accomplished by African-American swimmers, it inspired a look back at the history African-Americans have in swimming in the United States. Maritza Correia…
Sometimes when things aren’t going right, we try to do more, not less. This can be especially true with kids. When they aren’t listening, we raise instead of lowering our voices. If something is challenging them, we jump in with a string of ideas, instead of giving them space to figure it out on their…
Swimming is fun and healthy when it is safe. The only way to ensure that is through lessons and year-round lessons are proven to result in better young swimmers who can handle themselves around water. This makes it even more critical to maintain year-round swim lessons – not just lessons for the summer. Sometimes one…
Lots of folks are afraid of water. It’s called aquaphobia and it can be paralyzing for those who suffer from it. Whether you’re comfortable in swimming pools but not in natural bodies of water or you enjoy every possible environment for swimming, each of us has a different level of confidence in and around the…
Did you know that February is Heart Health Awareness Month? Here are five facts about Heart Health that you should know: 1. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. (Every year, 1 in 4 deaths are caused by heart disease.) 2. Cardiovascular diseases claim more lives…
Goal-Dominate vs. Child-Centered: Two Different Methods of Teaching The teaching strategy that your school uses can greatly affect a child’s growth and behavior. There are two main types of teaching methods – each distinct in its ways of cultivating a child’s swimming skills. There is a goal-dominate strategy and a child-centered one. Great care should…
Now that you’re enrolled in your first swim class at Little Otter, what do you do? There are a few things that you can do – even before your classes begin – to make your first class experience the best it can be. Know what’s coming. Families have incredibly busy schedules so squeezing in another…
Sitting at poolside during your child’s swimming lesson or at your community pool, you may find yourself people-watching. You may see lots of behaviors exhibited by parents, but what are the ones that are characteristic of good pool parents? There are definitely some dos and don’ts that apply to the poolside anytime that your child…
Often – despite best efforts – children just don’t seem to appreciate sacrifices parents (or others) have made to give them things and opportunities. Is this a lost cause – or are there things that can help children see the “light” and start appreciating the little things (and the big things) that they have. Talk…
Your children are learning to swim and attend regular lessons at a nearby swim school but your family has a backyard pool. How can you make sure that your children develop good habits for swimming at home? There are some very basic “rules” or “best practices” that everyone who swims in your backyard pool should…
