Swimming Aids Asthma Symtoms In Children, Study Finds

Research has shown that swimming aids asthma in children. The activity has been proven to be an effective non-pharmacological intervention for children and adolescents according to a study in " Respiration", published by Wiley-Blackwell.

" Unlike other sports, swimming is unlikely to provoke asthma attacks. In addition to improving asthma, swimming promotes normal physical and psychological development, such as increasing lung volume, developing good breathing techniques and improving general fitness, said lead author, Wang Jeng-Shing from the Taipei University.

He added," Not only is swimming an excellent form of exercise for children with asthma, the health benefits reaped continue to be observed for at least a year after the completion of the swimming program."

Wiley-Blackwell ( 2009, August 20 ) " Swimming Aids Asthma Symptoms In Children, Study Finds. Sciencedaily.

Quality Time....For Parents!

Here are several ways of making quality time for the marriage as well as helping children understand that Mom and Dad's relationship is numero uno. Single parents: These apply to you, too!

1. Don't allow children to interrupt your conversations. Make them wait their turn. preferably in another room. Say, "We'll let you know when we are finished talking." A child who simply "can't wait" probably needs five minutes of cool down time in his/her room.

2. Create a weekly "Parents' Night Out" and don't let anything except acts of God
interfere with the commitment. Every now and then, go off for a week end without the kids. They need to realize that the marriage is a separate and autonomous entity within the family with a life and needs of its own.

3. Put the children to bed early. Remember that your children's bedtime is for yor benefit. In other words, determine how much down time you need in the evening during which you have no child-rearing responsibilities and set bedtimes accordingly. Eight is late enough for pre-schoolers, and eight thirty for grade-school age. Older children should be in their rooms no later than nine, particularly on school nights.

Once the kids are in bed, reduce distractions that interfere with communication and intimacy. Agree not to do either housework or office work after the kids' bedtime. Spend this time getting back in touch with the feelings that led to your original commitment. The worst possible and least creative thing you can do is get in the habit of centering your time together in the evenings around television.

From: "The New Parent Power"..Dr John Rosemond

Homework!

When John and I started the swim school in 1979 we were both teaching public school. I had taken many child development classes in college too. So when we decided we would start our swim school, I already had a vision of something very different from anything else I had seen.

I had also carefully watched my three young babies swimming; I could see that other swim programs had "missed the boat" on how children learn. I grew up as a very young child with a swimming pool in the backyard, and four younger siblings that I was often responsible for. This all gave me a lot of strong ideas about children, water and learning.

In addition to the concept of an "aquatic classroom", other regular school institutions seemed to make sense to me. Homework was one of them. Children will repeat over and over a new skill and if it is fun and playful, all the better. I thought it was something parents and children could do together outside our 'classroom' to cement physical skills while enjoying each others company. A win-win scenario for sure!

Often our staff will give a homework suggestion if a child needs a boost. It's important to know that homework should be fun and companionable and any parent can look up homework suggestions on our website. The list includes ideas for each level of ribbon awards.



Some of these ideas can get your own creative juices flowing to make up more silly and fun games to stimulate swim skills. Being 'silly' with your child is a great way of staying young yourself, building bonds with your children.

Please ask deck staff if you don't understand the premise for these homework suggestions or, check in with deck staff if you have questions about your homework prowess. Doing the land exercises is good for your body too and I bet the kids love seeing you participate this way.

Have fun!

Lita-Irene