The use of goggles can be very beneficial. Goggles can help children develop the confidence to submerge, but at some stage learners need to become comfortable with the feel of water in their eyes. It is important that children not become “goggle dependent”. Goggles & Swimming Lessons Consideration needs to be given to how safe…
The winter season creates additional concerns for many parents. As cold and flu viruses make their rounds through your swimmer’s schools, many parents worry that swimming in cold weather will contribute to the likelihood of illness. Many old wives tales exist about children’s health and the weather. Hopefully, the following information will help clarify the…
Here at Little Otter, we teach our teachers and our parents to avoid asking “yes/no” questions to our little ones as a way to coax them into doing something we want. Why do we do this? Because, most of the time you’re hoping for a “yes” and you’ll get a “no”. So, how do we…
We all know that children need to be encouraged through recognition and praise. We want to build them up and help develop self-esteem, so we take advantage of every opportunity to say things like, “good job!”, “I like the way you….” “I knew you could do it!”. Building Self-Esteem During Swim Class Although these are…
We have (and have had) pediatricians bring their own children to our school for lessons. We find that it is due to our litigious society and the concern for liability that they do not recommend swim lessons for their patients. There is no data that the American Academy of Pediatrics can cite stating that swimming…
We are all aware of the risks that come with neighborhood pools and lakes. We go to great lengths to lock pool gates, secure proper fencing and enroll our children in swim lessons. We also understand that even good swimmers are not drown proof and therefore no child should ever be allowed to swim without…
Join the staff of Little Otter for a Swim Festival on June 6th. It will be an afternoon of races and games for all our students. Little Otter Swim Festival We plan to end the day with a record setting attempt for most babies back-floating at one time. Please follow the schedule below so your…
As you head for the pool this summer, think twice before you pack those “water wings” in your swim bag. Most people perceive floaties to be good tools for helping children learn to swim. The opposite is actually true. Floaties do not help children learn to swim. Should My Child Use Floaties? Floaties teach children…
Parents…are you tired of participating in songs and games during class? Do you feel like you’ve done the same circuit several times? The songs and circuits play a crucial role in our lessons. They provide a consistent routine that increases the comfort of your baby in swim lessons. Singing the same songs and playing the…
Have you noticed that your child works on a lot of the same skills during every lesson? Bubble, back float, face floats…Learning to swim is based on repetition. We need repetition to strengthen skills and build a strong foundation. To prevent our students from becoming bored with repetition, our instructors use different themes each week…
