Patterns: A Learning Moment with Grey

At LPB, our curriculum mantra is "Pace, Pattern, Compassion and Fun!". We know that these four elements of teaching are key to engaging children in the art of learning. Our curriculum is child development based and was created by our owners, who are both retired school teachers. Because of this foundation, we are PASSIONATE about how children learn. We had to share this report from Los Ninos Nursery School in Half Moon Bay. It describes in perfect detail how Grey (grandson of LPB owners Irene and John) creates his own learning environment using patterns:

A fine, sunny October afternoon in the yard offered a great opportunity for outdoor artwork. I set the sidewalk chalk out on the paved pathway and directed my attention toward the children playing in the yard. I overheard Grey demand, “I need to draw here!” I turned to see what was going on and found Grey hastily drawing out a pattern of squares! Two squares; one square; two squares; one square. The pattern began at the bottom of the stairs and proceeded along the paved path towards the gate. As he continued to draw his pattern on the path, other children became interested in what he was doing. Recognizing the pattern, Jenna used the squares to play a rudimentary form of hopscotch, planting two feet, then one foot, and so on. Sophia Ta, Eli and Alex jumped in and began hopping along the squares. Grey just kept moving down the path, adding squares like he was on fire! 

I was excited to see this pattern that Grey was making because it highlighted Grey’s use of mathematical processing in his play. Patterning is interesting to young children; it is the underlying structure of algebraic thinking. Because patterns are predictable, the brain is primed from infancy for pattern recognition. Grey’s use of the squares supports the development of number and spatial sense. Patterns help children learn to make predictions, to understand what comes next, to make logical connections, and to use reasoning skills.

 As he came to the end of the line in his pattern drawing, Grey stood back proudly and watched as his friends jumped along his predictable path. When it was his turn to jump, he joyously announced, “Here I go!” I noticed, again, how very motivated children are when they are self directed in their learning, and given the opportunity to explore their thought processes through uninterrupted free play time. “You made a pattern!” I exclaimed, validating Grey’s learning. “Tell me more about that,” I said. “It’s just what comes next,” answered Grey. Voila! 

Drawing the consistent pattern of squares along the path, Grey demonstrated the following learning: • Ability to focus and use intention in planning his work:

• Understanding of pattern and sequence 
• Intrinsic reward of following his own ideas 
• Mathematical reasoning

Celebrate Subs!

The student/teacher bond is one of the most powerful relationships in existence. At LPB, we strive to provide consistent teachers for our students. Like most other learning environments, the swimming pool requires a great deal of trust which is often formed over time.

That having been said, even the most experienced swim teacher who has had a student for multiple years may invariably run into a plateau of sorts. It might not even be noticeable. It could be that one thing holding them back from their next ribbon....like diving or climbing out of the pool.

Enter the substitute.

Students can learn more from a variety of teaching personalities

Our staff can help make a substitute something to celebrate!

While every teacher at LPB teaches the same developmental curriculum, each teacher brings their own unique style of teaching to the pool. For example, LPB is famous for teaching "Up-Faces". While all of our teachers use similar layers and equipment, each teacher may provide a slight variation of verbal or emotional feedback or energy. What works for some students may not be as effective with others based on personality and learning styles. It could be a simple change of wording, or innovative use of equipment that "clicks" in the student's brain.

On more than one occasion, I've come back from a day off and found that my students learned something new from their substitute! It's not unusual that they suddenly break through a barrier with a substitute because perhaps the student/teacher relationship had gotten stuck in a rut, or perhaps another teachers perspective simply saw something I'd been missing.

So, when you learn that your child has a substitute at swim class...celebrate! I guarantee they will learn something new.

Grandparents and Swimming: Match made in Heaven

I've been meaning to write this post for months, and today (thanks to social media) I learned it's National Grandparents Day! There's no time like the present:

Today's grandparents are active and involved in their grandchildren's lives on so many levels. They're caretakers, playmates and special occasion celebrities. On behalf of all parents out there, we don't know what we'd do without our grands!

In the past few years, we've seen a record setting number of grandparents bring their grandchildren to swim class at LPB. What a perfect activity for grands to do together! Water is weightless, making it easier for grandparents (and great grandparents) to hold and embrace young children. Our pool water is warm and therapeutic, creating the perfect bonding environment. When adults and children swim together, there's an unusually high level of skin to skin and eye contact. Have you ever noticed we're all about the same height in the pool? What a great way to connect face to face!

 

Lastly, as children get older, grandparents can enjoy actual swimming with their grandkids. As seen here (right) older more active children can swim hand in hand with their great grandparents! It's tough keeping up with these older kids on land, but the water slows them down just enough for that quality time.

My own mom, owner of La Petite Baleen, still enjoys the occasional water slide and trip down the lazy river with her grands (all 8 of them!).

So, Happy Grandparents Day! Now get out there and swim!

Infant Swim: Why So Early?

Parents often ask us why we recommend starting swim lessons at 2 months. Those of you who know me know that I could go on for hours describing the many reasons why earlier is better when it comes to swim lessons, but here's the "short list":

Reflex: Infants are born with many reflexes. The startle reflex (or Moro reflex) is one that causes babies to inhale (perfect for breath control underwater!). By blowing in the baby's face, we are able to take advantage of this natural reflex when submerging infants. This reflex doesn't last forever, and typically disappears around 7 months. It's a shame to miss this excellent window that mother nature gives us.

Bonding: There are few "activities" parents can do with their non-mobile infant. Swim class provides a myriad of sensory stimuli including eye contact and skin to skin contact. LPB provides a safe, clean and warm environment for parents and babies to connect.

Sleep: In our many years of teaching infant swim, we consistently receive parent feedback (and gratitude) about how well their babies sleep after swim class. All that sensory stimulation makes a growing baby sleepy (and hungry!).

Tummy Time: In swim class we primarily hold infants in a prone position. Teachers will teach you how to properly support your baby's head, but we find that infants tend to hold their heads up very well in the water. We also practice tummy time on the magic carpet, further strengthening neck and back muscles.

Socialization: Songs and games on the magic carpet encourage infants to connect with their fellow classmates. Moms and Dads get to make new friends too, sharing stories about how much (or little) sleep they got the night before. We've had many LPB playgroups form over the years from our Baby and Me program.

That's the short list, but for those wanting to learn more about the benefits of infant swim, click here.

Still not sure? Give us a call and book your FREE trial lesson and decide for yourself!

Adult Swim: It's never too late to learn

Here at LPB we're big proponents of the Safer 3 message:

• Safer Kids (swim lessons)
• Safer Water (safety gates/nets, barriers)
• Safer Response (caregivers trained in CPR, lifeguards etc.)

Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death in children under age 5 in the US (and California). One of the layers of protection is "Safer Response", meaning you the parent or your childcare provider. Ask yourself this:

"If my child fell in the water and was struggling, could I swim to him in deep water or would we both potentially be at risk?"

Kids spending the week at grandma's house with a pool? Great! is it fenced and gated? Even better! Can grandma swim? Hmmm.....there's a missing layer. One of the things we teach our students during our annual Summer Safety Week is "never swim to a drowning person". Every year drowning deaths occur due to unsafe rescues. The only thing worse than someone drowning is their rescuer drowning with them.

LPB offers adult learn to swim classes at all 4 locations. We even offer special "adults only" 45 minute lessons at our Half Moon Bay location. If you or your childcare provider are not able to swim in deep water, you may be taking a risk of not providing a "Safer Response" in the event of an emergency.

But wait...there's more!

Swim lessons are also a great form of exercise for adults of all ages, shapes and sizes. It's rhythmic breathing and weightlessness adds an element of meditation in the mix, while getting the muscles moving and cardiovascular system pumping.

Still not sure? Give it a try for FREE! We offer free trial lessons at LPB.

How long will this take?

Today's parent wants to know when something starts, how long it will take and when it will end. It's nice to have an idea of what to expect and what the end goal is when it comes to all things parenting. At La Petite Baleen, parents occasionally ask "how long until my kid can swim?" or "will my child EVER graduate the program?!?".  We're glad you asked!

The answer is different for every child. Big shock, I know...but it's true. Some children take to water much more easily than others, just like some children pick up learning a foreign language faster than others. The only difference is that every child must learn how to swim as a life skill, while learning to speak a foreign language is optional.

When to start? Yesterday!

Another piece of the puzzle is dependent on the goals and expectations of the parent. For example, do you want your child to learn basic safety skills, or do you want your child to learn all four competitive strokes? Here's a breakdown of our 4 levels at LPB as it pertains to parent goals and expectations:

Level 1: After graduating L1, your child can hold their breath for a short time, swim to the side of the pool and climb out. These are basic safety skills that can buy you seconds should your child ever fall in a body of water. When it comes to drowning and near drowning, seconds count in saving lives and long term brain damage.

What this means for parents: You still need to get in the water with your child and be within arms reach at all times.

Level 2: Graduates of L2 can swim without fins and breathe independently both on their tummies and their backs.

What this means for parents: You don't need to be in the water with your child, but you need to be watching, alert and prepared to jump in at all times.

Level 3: L3 graduates are strong swimmers and can safely swim in deep water. They have good endurance and can tread water for up to a minute.

What this means for parents: You can now sit on the lounge chair and relax, while keeping both eyes on your kids at all times (no phones, no kindles, no distractions).

Level 4: Gold Ribbon graduates can swim all 4 competitive strokes legally with good technical form. If they would like to join a swim team we recommend you wait until they earn at least their Freestyle and Backstroke mini-ribbons.

What this means for parents: LPB graduates are now primed and ready to explore options in the aquatic world. Swim team, water polo and synchronized swimming are all NCAA and Olympic sports. Opportunity for college scholarships at all divisions exist. LPB has produced thousands of high school and dozens of collegiate athletes. LPB is also the foundation for a career path in swim industry careers (life guarding, coaching, teaching, etc.). We employ many second and soon to be third generation employees (did we mention we're now accepting applications?).

Teacher Liesl competing at the Pan Pacific Games in Sydney Australia

So, depending on what your goals and expectations are for your child in swim lessons, you can be "done" at anytime. But remember, NOBODY is ever drown proofed or "water safe" (not even Michael Phelps!). On average, it takes about 3-5 years to complete all 4 levels at LPB...a commitment with life long lasting benefits.

Drowning: Types, Risks and Prevention

It's summertime, and everyone is suddenly thinking about swimming and water safety. Even the local media is doing stories on drowning. While we're thrilled to have the spotlight on drowning prevention and water safety at this time of year, we want to remind our families that drowning is a risk all year round.

This week, we're discussing the real risk of drowning. Recent media has brought attention to some lesser know types of drowning:

1. Dry Drowning: Also known as "secondary drowning", this is when a swimmer breathes in small amounts of water during a struggle. Fluid builds up in the lungs, causing pulmonary edima (the technical term for "dry" or "secondary" drowning). For more on "dry drowning" click here.
2. Shallow Water Blackout: A loss of consciousness caused by cerebral hypoxia towards the end of a breath-hold underwater. It can be exacerbated by taking multiple fast breaths (hyperventilating) prior to swimming underwater. For more on on shallow water blackout click here. 
3. Near Drowning:  This is when a swimmer is found unconscious in the water but survives.

When it comes to neurological damage, seconds count. Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death for children under the age of 5, but that statistic doesn't include children who survive "near drowning" and are left incapacitated in one way or another.

While all types of drowning are meaningful, the most poignant form for parents to be aware of is regular drowning. Dry drowning is less than 2% of all drownings, and "shallow water blackout" is most common in athletic training. Most children under the age of 5 are not actually inhaling water into their lungs (although they may ingest water into their stomachs!).

At LPB we teach underwater swimming in levels 3 and 4, and our teachers know to avoid teaching hyperventilation and to limit the number of repetitive underwater swims. It's very rare for swimmers under the age of 5 to suffer from shallow water blackout, it's more common in swim team environments. What's most important is that swimmers performing underwater swims must NEVER swim alone...but of course, no swimmer should ever swim alone regardless (our #1 rule in "summer safety week").

So, instead of getting wrapped up in the media attention focused on dry, secondary and shallow water drownings, we ask parents to focus on the real risk of drowning.