The Little Gym International’s Post

How to choose a good swim school for your baby, toddler or beginner swimmer. As a parent or carer, you play a crucial role in choosing a Swim School that will enhance your child’s Drowning Prevention Skills. Here are some key factors to consider in your decision-making process. We’ve also included practical insights into what to look out for in classes or a swim program that will NOT maximise their development. Welcome to our 20-part Superfish Educational Series with Andrew Baildon OLY and Karen Baildon. It’s alarming to know that 75% of Australian 4-5-year-olds lack life-saving, self-saving drowning prevention skills. This means children are either not being taught at all, or they are being taught the wrong way, and the parents don’t realise. As Learn to Swim Experts, we aim to drive awareness and share real-world drowning prevention insights and tips. So please share these videos with friends and family with young children - you could save a life! SUPERFISH SWIM SCHOOLS® Learn to Swim Experts® Since 1996 https://lnkd.in/gaG-AM88 #parenting #lifesaving #drowningprevention #learntoswim  #swimaustralia #swimmingaustralia #aussieswim #australianswimming

🌞Splashing into Summer Fun with Swim Lab International! 🌊 School holidays bring exciting opportunities for our families to embark on intensive therapy blocks at Swim Lab, who provide expertly tailored, fun, and ambitious swim sessions for each child’s individual physical needs, in a friendly, sunny and fun environment! We look forward to seeing more of our children enjoy their time at Swim Lab International in the coming months, into October half term too. ☀️ Has anyone been to Swimlab recently or planning on going soon? #SummerFun #TherapySessions #TailoredExperiences #ChildhoodMemories #SummerAdventures #SpecialThanks #SupportForFamilies #ExpertTherapists #ChildrensWellbeing #SummerTimeVibes #MakingMemories See less

It’s Friday, and I get to reflect on the week gone by. This week, I felt that fire in my belly – the love for swimming and the sense of purpose that brings us all together in this industry. Knowing that we’re making a difference is so fulfilling. It may sound a little cheesy, but those who resonate will get it! I’ve had the chance to be creative in my role, which can be hard to sum up when people ask what I do. Some weeks focus on site visits, partner support, conversions, product implementation, and lesson observations. Other weeks are all about innovation – developing products, designing training, and adding that Swim England touch to collaborative projects. It’s all about equipping operators, swim schools, and partners with the best tools to deliver quality swimming across the country. Of course, there’s also our BAU work, supporting swim school members, teachers, parents, and other Swim England departments. I thoroughly enjoy the creative process, and yesterday, in particular, I got to showcase new ideas for swimmers and parents. Do you take the time to reflect on your weekly or monthly workload? I haven’t always practiced this, but since returning to work, I’m embedding more ways to appreciate what I do and build self-gratitude. #lovewhatyoudo #learntoswim #swimengland #selfreflection

What a fantastic program! "Paulana Lamonier started Black People Will Swim in 2019 and has since provided free and low-cost lessons to over 2,500 Black and brown people. Lamonier, a former competitive swimmer, started BPWS in 2019 as a “side hustle” after posting on social media that she wanted to teach 30 people how to swim. Since then, BPWS has provided free and low-cost swimming lessons to more than 2,500 Black and brown people at Queens’ York College pool. Lamonier said she plans to expand the business. Like most of their clients, BPWS’s 15 swim instructors are Black. “Seeing someone who looks like me, who is making me feel comfortable, who’s giving me the right affirmations to keep me going, that’s very empowering,” said Jeanette Benons, who takes lessons along with her two sons. “I think that’s a great step and very important for our little kids.” . . . "Drowning is the leading cause of death for US children aged one to four, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black people under age 30 are 1.5 times more likely to drown than white people, and those disparities are even starker during early adolescence: Black children aged 10 to 14 drown at 7.6 times the rate of white children. These figures have historical roots. Black Americans were historically excluded from quality public pools, and even when segregation was outlawed in the 1960s, pools across the country shut down rather than integrate. Pools that remained open were often openly hostile places for Black swimmers. Today, there are only about 300,000 public pools in the US, compared with 10.7m private pools, according to  estimates  from the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals. Many cities have shortened their public pool seasons and restricted hours – even during record-breaking heat – amid a nationwide shortage of lifeguards. “Black people have not had access for generations to get to pools through racism,” said Donna Hall, 58, whose 11-year-old son Samuel is a student. “With no access to pools, how are you gonna learn how to swim?” Samuel has been taking lessons with BPWS for two years." #theguardian #BPWS #watersafety #socialentrepreneurs

SOS Outreach alumni Fernanda Landeros and Aaron Chaussignand teamed up with Nordica and Christy Sports to create a limited-edition ski, the Nordica SOS Outreach Enforcer 94, blending top-tier design with a mission to empower youth. This project allowed five SOS Outreach alumni to gain hands-on experience in ski production, from crafting a custom top sheet to developing a marketing strategy. Only 70 pairs of this unique ski were produced, and a portion of every sale supports SOS Outreach’s mentorship programs, which help over 3,000 youth annually build confidence and life skills through outdoor experiences. As Fernanda, a first-generation Latina skier, shared: “These skis are making a significant impact on the lives of kids like me, the first in their families to hit the slopes.” https://lnkd.in/g7s2SZEA

This week is “Hell Week” for the high school swim team. As a 1st time Sophomore swimmer, my recently-turned 15-year old son has felt the real effects of being in an outdoor pool at 5:15 am—when it is barely 50 degrees outside and the pool heaters have been turned off for the season—swimming for an hour an a half before school, then turning around after school for another 2 hour practice. Being on a team like that however doesn’t take any special talent or skills. No particular athletic ability is mandated to participate on this team. No, talent and skills are certainly important to compete at an All-State level, but even then the greatest talent in the world would never succeed without the crucial qualities that these teenagers have in abundance. The qualities that set these kids apart are courage, grit, dedication and determination. There is no NIL $$$ flowing their way. No Olympics medals or #wheatiesbox in their future. So, why would 60+ kids give up their lives to work so hard for something that bares so little “fruit” in the world? I can’t wait to see how these qualities of grit and tenacity honed in a nearly freezing pool under a late-September moon blossom in the lives of these kids in the next decades of their lives. Not all rewards come instantly. Lessons learned in youth stick and come through in so many different ways as we all walk the path of life.

When it comes to swim education, the traditional group class model has long been the industry standard. But what if there's a more economical approach that delivers better results for both families and businesses? At Youth Aquatics, we've uncovered the surprising financial advantages of one-on-one swim lessons. Here's how our personalized instruction model stacks up against group classes: 🕰️ Time Efficiency One-on-one lessons are significantly more time-efficient for students Families can achieve their goals in a fraction of the time required for group classes 💸 Cost-Effectiveness Our personalized approach allows us to charge a higher rate per lesson But the total cost for families is often lower than group classes due to faster progress 🏫 Instructor Utilization One-on-one lessons maximize an instructor's productive time Instructors can teach more students per hour compared to group classes 📈 Revenue Potential Higher lesson rates and better instructor utilization translate to greater revenue opportunities Businesses can generate more income from the same pool and staffing resources 🤝 Partnerships Our one-on-one model is attractive to businesses with underutilized pool spaces Collaborative partnerships unlock new revenue streams for both parties 🏆 Student Outcomes Personalized attention leads to faster skill development and goal achievement Families get more value for their investment in swim education In an industry often defined by tight margins, one-on-one swim lessons offer a compelling economic advantage. By rethinking the traditional group class model, we're helping both families and businesses thrive. Ready to explore the financial benefits of personalized swim instruction? Connect with Youth Aquatics to learn how we can help optimize your aquatic offerings.

3 Reasons why learning to swim in the off-season is so important for kids! 🐙 1️⃣ Year-Round Safety: Water safety isn’t just a summer concern! 70% of drownings occur during non-swim times! 2️⃣ More Availability: Summer schedules are bananas! Take advantage of shorter waitlists to get into swim programs. 3️⃣ Builds Confidence & Preparedness: Starting lessons now gives kids plenty of time to build their skills & confidence before summer, so they’ll be ready to dive in when the weather heats up! #WaterSafety #OffSeasonSwim #ConfidentKids #SwimLessons #SwimFloatSurvive #FirstSport #DrowningPrevention

Say goodbye to disruptive swim trips 🚌🏊♀️ Traditional off-site swim lessons have significant challenges for many schools: finding facilities, coordinating travel, and reshuffling class schedules. SwimED's pop-up pool programme solves this by bringing state-of-the-art swim facilities directly to your playground. With no more weekly coach trips, your school gains: ●      Maximised learning time with on-site, small-group sessions. ●      A secure, lockable pool structure right on campus. ●      Specialist support from qualified instructors, custom curriculums, and data-driven progress tracking.   In 2023/24, we helped 83% of pupils hit swim targets without the hassle of transport. See how in our 2024 Impact Report, packed with stats, stories, and programme details. https://lnkd.in/eS22my2R

🌟 UPCOMING DISCOVER EVENT 🌟 We’ve teamed up with BEAMING, Inc., a local horse barn since 2004, to offer youth ages 12-18 the chance to join BEAMING's CANTER Teen Camp at a discounted rate! BEAMING, Inc. provides a safe space for teens to express themselves, explore their emotions, and use art to discover more about themselves—all in the calming company of horses. No horseback riding involved, just meaningful connections and self-discovery. You can choose from two dates: July 11th or July 18th. Note that you can only sign up for one date at the discounted rate. 🌟 UPCOMING DISCOVER EVENT 🌟 We’ve teamed up with BEAMING Inc., a local horse barn since 2004, to offer youth ages 12-18 the chance to join BEAMING's CANTER Teen Camp at a discounted rate! 🐴 BEAMING, Inc. provides a safe space for teens to express themselves, explore their emotions, and use art to discover more about themselves—all in the calming company of horses. No horseback riding involved, just meaningful connections and self-discovery. 🐴 You can choose from two dates: July 11th or July 18th. Note that you can only sign up for one date at the discounted rate. To participate, fill out an application through BEAMING: https://lnkd.in/gaJfqFGJ Once registered, we’ll guide you through the next steps. For questions, contact Monicca at mwinters@bgbrigade.com #TeenCamp #SelfDiscovery #BEAMING #ArtAndHorses #youthprograms