Children Safety

An estimated 260 children under five drown each year in residential swimming pools and spas. Drowning is the fourth leading cause of death for children under five. Keep your family safe and take a look at some of these tips for this Summer.

Please open the following Children Safety spreadsheet I created and add a number 1 for 'Yes' if you agree with the importance of any of the tips listed or leave it blank if your answer is 'No'.

Google Blogger for Dummies by Susan Gunelius

If you are thinking about starting a blog anytime soon, whether for business of for fun, Blogger will offer the tools necessary to start a blog. Let’s also remember that anybody can set up a blogging account for free. Susan Gunelius is the author of “Google Blogger for Dummies”. As a writer and professional blogger she delivers the information that we need in order to use the right software for blogging and walks you through the entire process. Her book offers step-by-step instructions to help new bloggers like me. If you are looking to learn more about blogging and need a helpful step-by-step manual, "Google Blogger for Dummies" by Susan Guinelius is the perfect book for you.

Google Blogger for Dummies describes in simple words the differences between a variety of platforms, functions and benefits. It includes comparison of Blogger with other Blogging software. After reviewing the comparisons you can definitely see that some of the free blogging software is very limited unless you are willing to pay a fee for upgrades.

Blogosphere, a term I’ve learned from this book, is the name of the online community of people who are actively blogging. As a member of the blogosphere, we can decide if we just want to read blogs, comment on someone else’s blog or write our own blogs.

Another issue the book emphasizes is to be very careful on what we publish on our blogs. We never know who might be looking at our posts. The book states that “Blogging can be a double-edged sword.”On one hand, it gives you the opportunity to share your opinions with others finding similar interest people to network with. On the other hand, it exposes your personal information and preferences to the world.

Google Blogger for Dummies will show you how to start with Blogger from step one. You’ll create a Google account, although your email address doesn’t have to be a Google Gmail account. Once your blog is created you are an official member of the blogosphere!

The author also advises that after we become an experienced blogger, we should integrate advertising into our blogs. Adding ads to your blog is a fun and great way to make money. Ads are automatically displayed to your visitors each time they access your page. There is a list of blog monetization options, but keep in mind that they are not all equal. It is a good idea to research each one thoroughly before you add them to your site and make a commitment.

Blogging on the Go-Mobile Blogging” is another great tool available with Blogger. Google Blogger for Dummies shows you some techniques to be able to publish blog posts and make comments from your phone anytime from wherever you are.

If you are interested in learning how to “Podcast with Audio or Video”, this book will walk you through each step to make sure that you have the right podcasting tools and learn all the tricks to become a good podcaster. I think this is a great tool once we get more experience with blogging, and I do agree with the author’s opinion that free trial offers are the best way to test it before making a commitment to any type of payment.

Finally, the author recommends that as your blog grows, you should think about letting your blog be hosted by a third party other than Blogger to add more growth. Keeping in mind of course, that an additional expense will be added.

At the end of the book, the author lists the “Ten Common Blogger Problems and Possible Solutions” guide that will help you indentify the most common problems that may arise from time to time. She also lists the “Ten Places to Find Free Blogger Themes and Templates”, very handy if you are looking to change the look of your blog and make it more distinctive without spending money.

Overall, the book is a perfect manual for people like me, who have never started a blog before. It is very thorough and it gives you the step-by-step instructions and tools to become a very productive editor.

Andrew's Diving Progression

Diving for underwater toys is a great learning experience for kids. Doing it at a reasonably deep pool also helps make kids feel comfortable with being in the water. Pool toys are the best way where your children can learn how to dive down and swim under water.  After attending swimming school for a few years, diving in the pool for rings and toys became one of my son's favorite things to do in the water. It is such a joy for my husband and me to watch our son improve his diving and swimming technique in the water. Some of his friends that at one point were afraid of swimming pools and being in the water take swimming lessons now. It has definitely helped Andrew’s self esteem and kept him very active outdoors.

Swimming is one of the best fun activities for kids during the summer. Making sure that they are safe it is our responsibility as parents. Watching Andrew’s progress through the years has made us realize the importance of swimming for our son. I hope this blog helps parents that are trying to make a decision on whether or not ‘swimming’ is good for their kids. For us, it was the best decision. Here is a slideshow of Andrew’s progress from day one.

Wikiparenting - Free Wiki for Parents!

Wikiparenting is a very informative site mainly for parents. You are required to create a login account to be able to post and edit the pages. At the time I wrote this article the free registration section was shut down temporarily. However, you are still able to browse the site under their Wiki Articles or by just doing a Wiki Search. If you search by “Category” and click on “Safety” or “Family Life” or “First Aid”, you’ll find the Swimming Pool Safety and Rules article. This article covers safety rules for both personal pool and public pools.  Safety comes first!

There is also another interesting article regarding swimming information for babies. This article was written by several users, so Wikiparenting encourages you to expand on the subject if you are interested. Please remember to create your free account before you try to edit and make changes to the pages on this site.

This source is written for parents by parents, so some of the articles that you’ll find here are personal opinions, so of course you can do your own research afterwards. Wikiparenting has a “Contribution rules” tab that lists the rules that you need to agree to before contributing with Wikipedia.  

I can wait to see more interesting and educational articles in the future on this site. I hope you enjoy browsing through Wikiparenting as much as I did!

To start browsing Wikiparenting go to http://wikiparenting.parentsconnect.com/wiki/Swimming_Pool_Safety_and_Rules

Ready for Dolphin Swimming Classes?

Dolphin swimming classes are available for children between 3 to 5 years old. I think that a good instructor will let you know when your child is ready to move up from the Parent&Me to the Dolphin class. Dolphin class is basically an introduction to strokes with emphasis of freestyle. This class is where your child will put everything he learned to practice and grasp the idea of water safety. Please note that the name of the classes may vary depending on the school.

Moving your child to the next swim class level is based on the development and cognitive ability of your child. It is also important for parents to remember that not all 3 years old are the same. I still remember when my son moved to the next level. He had a hard time for the first two weeks, so we decided to move him back to the previous class and wait for a little bit more until he felt comfortable and ready. Don’t rush it and be patient!

FYI- According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, all the aquatics programs for children under 4 years old should include the following:

·   Strategies for prevention of drowning.

·   Information regarding the motor and cognitive limitations of toddlers and infants.

·   The adults’ role in monitoring and supervising children in water.





My son Andrew - 3 years old



Public & Private Swimming Pools

With the weather warming up, I thought it would be a good idea to give you a listing of public and private swimming pools around Las Vegas. If you don't want to be bother with a membership and yearly fee, I would recommend public swimming pools. Public pools are definitely an alternative, especially with the financial burden that some of us are going through. Call your local area for more information.
Private pools are also another option for you, if you are looking for a smaller facility and if you don't mind paying a little more. They are also not as crowded as public pools.

Swimming is not just about fun, but is a great exercise!

http://www.insidervlv.com/swimmingpoolindex.html

How Young is Too Young

Safety skills are the primary reason why we as parents enroll our children to take swimming lessons. The American Association of Pediatricians recommend that the perfect age to start swimming lessons is between 1 to 4 years old. However, many doctors recommend that you should start learning safety skills with your children as early as 6 months old.

"Parent&Me" classes offered for infants, are very different than traditional swimming classes. The main thing is to get your baby used to the water and to have fun and bond with them. Infant swimming class focuses on teaching you and your baby to relax and be safe in the water through songs and playing games. The first safety skill will teach your baby to jump in the water and swim back to the sides of the pool.

Not all infants love to be in water! My son hated it when water was splashed on his face and he would often cry. I remember taking a break until he felt better and I would join the class group again. I believe that gradual introduction to water is better than frightening with too much too soon. If you are relaxed and happy, your baby will enjoy this experience with you.

Parent&Me Class - Water Wings Las Vegas

Choosing The Right Swim School and Instructor

Do your research and get references from other parents before you sign up for a specific swim class at any school. A lot of the schools will let you take the first class for free, which is what we did at first. We chose "Water Wings" school, because of its heated pool availability and location. We also like the fact the water was always clean and well maintained. One of our priorities was to attend swimming class the entire year around, and not drive to the other side of town as well.

Choosing the right instructor is also very important. Make sure the instructor has the appropriate certification. The swimming instructor you choose needs to be able to communicate with you and your children, so that each exercise is done properly.  

To find a swimming school in your area and FAQ’s, please go to the following web site: http://usswimschools.org/

Water Wings School - Summerlin

Ready, set.... begin splashing

How many of us worry about all the risks surrounding taking our own children or little nieces and nephews to the pool? Pools can be a safe place for our kids if we first learn ourselves and then teach our children not to be afraid of the water and of course, to never leave them unsupervised. I’m starting this blog to share the information my husband and I have learned through the years and some of our personal experiences with our 4 year old son who loves the water and who now swims like a dolphin.

He started swimming lessons when he was only 6 months old. I can honestly say that I don't regret the hours spent at the swim school or in our own pool at home helping our son apply what he’s learned. The first week of swimming lessons was really stressful and we didn't know what to expect. All I knew back then was that swimming was very important for my baby and easier for him to start young. Now my husband and I are glad that we spent the time and experienced the bonding that occurred with Andrew while being in swimming classes.

I hope this information helps parents and teachers who are thinking about the real benefits of empowering our children to learn to swim at a very young age and also help with the development of their motor skills.