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The Jungle Journal

Senator Proposes Mandatory Water Safety Lessons in Florida Schools: Will this Sink or Swim?

Living in Florida, we are never too far away from some body of water. Whether it be a pool, ocean, or lake we can assume there is always at least one body of water near us. This can be exciting for those who love to swim, but terrifying for those who do not. It is important that every person in Florida know some form of water safety, starting with children. Water safety lessons should be taught in schools to ensure the safety and well-being of our children.

Annually, there are over 3,500 unintentional deaths due to drowning, and of these about one in five of them are children under the age of 14, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alarmingly, Florida is leading the country in drowning deaths for children ages 1-4. We are not doing enough to keep our children safe in and around the water. Most of these deaths can be avoided with the proper knowledge and skills when it comes to swimming and water safety.

A recent senate bill proposed by Florida Senator Jason Pizzo would make water safety lessons a requirement for all Florida children enrolled in public school…

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Five Reasons to Enroll in Year-Round Swim Lessons

Winter is finally here! That means we can all put on our fluffy socks, sip our hot cocoa, and watch our favorite holiday movies. Most of us like to stay indoors during the colder months, for obvious reasons, but when thinking about swim lessons it might be worth it to venture out into the cold temperatures, if for nothing more than to keep our children safe. We all understand why swim lessons in the summer are great, but did you know that swim lessons in the colder months are just as useful?

Here are a few reasons to consider keeping your little one in year-round swim lessons:

1: Repetition is Key

It’s true, kids (and adults) learn best with repetition and taking extended breaks can cause swimmers to regress. Think about it: how many times have you asked your child what they learned last year at the start of a new school year only for them to say they do not remember? The same thing happens with swim lessons, you just spent all this time working with your child and they have learned and advanced so much throughout the summer. But…

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Why Choose Swimming Safari Swim School?

Swimming Safari is the Industry Leader in Swim Instruction

in NE Florida! We offer complete Comprehensive lessons at our State of the Art Indoor Facility. The small class sizes, allow our Swimming Specialists to use Specialized Teaching Techniques. Chances are you probably already know someone who has taken a Swimming Safari with us! We are well known & respected in Jacksonville and super friendly.

A Leader in Swim Instruction in NE Florida

Swimming Safari is the Industry Leader in swimming instruction in Northeast Florida. Our program has taught thousands of children to swim and be safe. Swimming Safari is dedicated in making a difference in the lives of children as well as adults, and their families.

Comprehensive Curriculum

Swimming Safari Swim Schools’ Comprehensive Curriculum with 15 different levels designed to meet the needs of every student. With in each level we have included several milestones that each child will get to complete. Every time a level is achieved, a child is rewarded. It starts from the very littlest and progresses in small steps to the very best. We…

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What is the Swimming Safari Difference? Why choose us over other swim facilities?

It’s incredible to think that we have been teaching swimming lessons in Northeast Florida since 2002. A lot has changed since we first embarked on this wonderful adventure in the pool, but one thing that has remained consistent is our promise to teach every swim lesson with the Swimming Safari Difference. The Swimming Safari Difference is:

Providing each student a high level of individualized instruction through small class sizes Expert lessons provided by a highly trained (over 40 hours), enthusiastic, and energetic staff member of swim instruction professionals. A comprehensive curriculum that places a strong emphasis on water safety education for students and parents. An exceptional level of customer service that regularly exceeds expectations. Most Importantly, an atmosphere filled with encouragement, excitement, and fun. Because after all, swim lessons should be about learning to enjoy the water and having respect for the water.

Our Mission: To provide every student with the skills needed to become Safe, Happy, and Confident, in the water.

Our Goal: To create safe life-long swimmers who enjoy the water as much as we do!

Our Core Values: Safety, Fun, Teamwork,…

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Swimming Safari Response “Teaching children to swim is a heartfelt lesson from a Jacksonville Mom”

After reading the article, “Teaching children to swim is a heartfelt lesson from a Jacksonville Mom.”

I agree learning to float on your back is essential for all children and even adults (many adults drown because they can’t swim-think of fishermen), however, I feel the wrong message is being given here. Children need more than just being able to turn over, they need to learn to swim! Also, the place she is giving her lessons…. really an above ground pool? Do you know how many deaths are caused by children climbing up the ladders of above ground pools? and the fence around it… I could see it was not secured! And let’s not think about the cleanliness of the water with all the animals that must drink from it at night, etc.

Also, why traumatize a child, like she said in the beginning? Wouldn’t it be kinder to have mom work with her? So, she would feel comfortable and secure? I certainly wouldn’t want a stranger to put me underwater and handle me that way, why would we want a baby to be subject to this?

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When is the “Right” time for swim lessons?

When can I take my new baby swimming?

This question makes me wonder. “At what age CAN’T I take my baby swimming?” Babies came to us swaddled, in a milk-bath of warm water. Their natural environment is unconditional warmth from delicious,inviting soothing, tepid water. Some people worry about germs their baby may get. However, since swimming pools have chlorine, this will kill off any germs you may be fearful your child will be exposed to.

The temperature is what is important. Under 6 months, a baby is most comfortable in 90-92 degree water. If the temperature of the water is still not that warm until the summer sun comes around, it would be best to wait so the baby will enjoy their time in the water. Indoor pools are great to start your baby out in. Swim Schools know how valuable it is to teach babies and toddlers in comfy water, so they usually keep their pools around the 90 degree point.

Did you know that most infants, up to the age of six months can actually swim? Remember where they come from? They are “swimming,” even before birth,…

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What is your child’s learning style?

Have you ever wondered why your child learns best one way and not others?

There have been many studies about different learning styles and how to incorporate them in teaching students.

In general, it has been narrowed down to three types;

Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning. Here at Swimming Safari our instructors are given tools and techniques to work with students in each category!

The first style we are going to cover is the most common one, kinesthetic.

These are the students who love to move, move, move! They learn best by doing to activity and learn through

experiences. Swimming is most definitely an activity that gets students moving and here are a few examples that you will see in the pool that emphasize this style!

· Standing or sitting on steps to practice arm and leg motions

· Instructor corrections in form on the way to the platform

· Students trying the skill on their own on the way back to the step

The second most common learning style is visual learning. These students learn with their eyes and by seeing…

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How Positivity Can Affect Your Swimmer

“At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a

child’s success is the positive involvement of parents.” - Jane D. Hull

Parents have a key role when it comes to a student’s learning, whether it be in the classroom, at home, and even at swim lessons. A parent’s attitude towards activities can influence a child’s view of it. Below we have some tips on the best way to encourage your swimmer in a positive way!

Listen!

Especially if your swimmer is vocal, nothing can be more exciting than telling mom and dad about their day! Ask you swimmers after class if they had fun, or ask what was their favorite part. When you seem interested in their classes it makes them more excited to go, if not for the pure fact that they get to tell you about it after!

Try not to push too hard.

We do evaluations once a month, and we understand it can be tough when a student sees a classmate get a star and they do not. After a class where they were evaluated, again,…

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What’s the Big Deal About Water Aerobics?

It’s just another way to exercise, right?

While it does burn calories, build strength, and reduces blood pressure and stress just like any other exercises, there is something more to being in the water. Not only is it a great way to stay cool, it also has other added benefits that you just can’t find on land!

One of the great benefits of being in the water comes from buoyancy. We naturally feel lighter in the water, and because of this our joints do not have to experience the pressure they do on land. This alleviation is great for people with arthritis or for helping rehabilitation after injuries. It’s a great way to build up strength without having to worry about our joints!

On top of making us feel lighter, the same water that holds us up also provides resistance. It has been reported that by exercising vertically in the water, resistance can be increased by up to 75%. According to the American Council on Exercise, this makes our body work harder to move while actually keeping our heart rate lower than it would be on land!<…

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Possible Link Between Early Age Swimming and Intelligence

Every parent wants their child to be successful.

Studies have shown that children who part take in swimming lessons start development in multiple areas sooner than others. These areas include speech, language, reading, writing, social interaction, and emotional maturity. Swimming at a young age helps the cognitive aspect of child development advancing in almost 10 months ahead of the normal population, setting the stage for academic success. Griffith University’s studied that swimming lessons provide a language- rich environment for the children. Many parents of babies noticed the child said their first word sooner than a baby who had not participated in swimming lessons.Swimming instructors use phrases that help children absorb tenets of speech like prepositions and other useful topics like shapes, colors and numbers. Simply just hearing and observing the conversations throughout the lessons improves the child’s language notably faster.

Not only do the children become mentally developed they also become socially and emotionally matured. The Griffith University research noted the young kids involved in swim lessons are on average 15 months ahead of the normal population in social and emotional development. These children understand direction better, which will allow them to…

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