Our Fish Blog

Swimming Injuries and Treatments for Them The water is a great place to work out. Exercise keeps the body healthy, but while exercising injuries do occur, here are four common swimming injuries and how to treat them: Swimmer’s shoulder – This occurs after repeated energetic sessions as the tendons are being pressed against the bone and eventually get sore. This stretches down to the rotator cuff tendons. If it is ignored, it will result in tears. Treatments include: Resting for long periods after exercising. Icing to reduce inflammation. Warming up before sessions and stretching as a weekly treatment. Lower back pain – The butterfly and breaststroke lower back pain occurs because of vigorous body jerking with the wrong swimming technique. This lower back pain can transform into a stress fracture in the vertebrae. This injury is also commonly found in weightlifters. Treatments include: Avoiding sitting positions because they apply pressure. Gentle stretching to relieve strain in the spine. For acute pain caused by a stress fracture speak with a medical professional. Bicep Tendonitis – This comes with swimmers’ shoulder and is caused by long periods of overexertion. Taking long rest periods can prevent this injury. The symptoms include pain in the shoulder that gets worse when lifting the arm, a shooting pain moving down the upper arm, at times there is a noticeable bulge in the tendon, a warm feeling moving from the point of the pain, as well as a snapping sound coming from the shoulder. Treatments include: Icing the pain to remove swelling. Gently stretching the scapula, posterior capsule, and rotator cuff areas. Taking anti-inflammatory medication provided by a doctor. Swimmers Knee – This is known as a strain in the Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL). It mostly occurs by extreme use of the breaststroke technique, which puts repeated strain on the knee. Symptoms of this injury include swelling, muscle spasms, decreased strength and movement, as well as pain in the quads or the knee. There may be a rough feeling when moving the knee. Treatments include: Gentle stretches to bring back movement. Taping the knee. Icing to reduce swelling. Exercising is the key to keep the body functioning, but doing too much or doing the technique the wrong way can lead to injuries like these. It is important to know how to treat them to get the body back in shape and keep it healthy.

Our kiddo’s progress thru our child centered curriculum while learning survival skills and having fun. Children retain what they learn when they become passionate and enjoy themselves and with repetition. At Small Fish Big Fish Swim School “Small fish become BIG fish by swimming in schools”.

Splashing water is one of the most enjoyable things for babies to do, whether it is taking a bath or in the pool. But do you know when your baby should start learning how to swim? Children should start learning how to swim as early as possible. Some babies start swimming even at the age of two months. So, if you want your baby to learn how to swim at an early age then here are some tips to prepare them. Make bathing an enjoyable event Whether your baby is interested in playing in the water or not, if you want them to learn swimming as soon as possible then you will have to make it more enjoyable when they are near water. A great way to start is while taking bath. You can increase their interest in water by providing them with a warm environment and water so that they can feel more comfortable than playing with cold water. In order to make bath time a fun experience, you should enjoy it with them so that they can replicate you. To make bath time more fun for your child you can use some rubber or washable toys so that they can enjoy them while taking bath. Splash water Unexpected splashes of water are one the oldest ways to develop the interest of your child towards the water. Though it can be a bit startling for them when water enters their nose, mouth, and eyes but with time they can get used to it while taking bath regularly. You can encourage them to splash water from the bathtub in response to your splash so that they can easily understand its effects and fun. You can also expose your baby to shower nozzle by bringing it down and spraying water on their face as well as on their belly or arms so that they can experience the water’s effects more closely. Make fun after a bath After finishing the bath, instead of rushing out, you should take some time to wrap your baby in a warm towel so that they can enjoy that moment before getting dry. Now pat them gently with a towel to dry them from top to bottom and make them relax with your soft voice or a song. It will give your baby a unique experience after getting out of the water. Blowing Bubbles It can be difficult for children at a young age to understand that they have control over their breathing, making it hard to teach them how to hold their breath while swimming. The best way to show your children how to begin regulating their breathing is by blowing bubbles in the water. Demonstrate the different ways the bubbles appear depending on how hard you exhale and encourage them to do the same. Buoyancy Lessons When bathing with your child, you have an excellent opportunity to safely show them the effects of buoyancy on their body, allowing them to learn how to float. Place your child in the bathtub before it is filled with water, and then begin filling it so they can feel the water start to lift them up. Keep them from sliding under at first, and soon they will figure out how to float on their own without your assistance. Swimming lessons After introducing your baby to water in the bathtub and they feel comfortable it’s time to get some formal swimming lessons. At Small Fish Big Fish Swim School, they can get lessons from experienced Aquatic educators that specialize in working with babies. All instructors are participating in continuing education and will be taking part in an 8 hour workshop given by the United States Swim School Association. But it doesn’t stop there, we teach self-confidence, discipline and well-being through the lifelong sport of swimming. Want your baby to learn how to swim? We offer free classes for babies 6 months old or younger. The free lessons do not include cost of Small Fish Big Fish annual membership fee. Membership is required to qualify for Free lessons. You can also sign up for our Free Trial here https://www.smallfishbigfish.com/free-trial

There’s something about the water; the way it envelops you, literally taking the weight of the world with it, drowning out the noise outside. It called to me even as a child, as it still does today. I continued swimming competitively through high school and into college, before leaving the pool behind for a career in luxury automotive sales. It was a career I was good at, and it certainly paid the bills, so I ended up sticking with it for an extended period of time. During which, I got married and started a family. But by the time my second child came along, the country had fallen into the recession, dragging the automotive industry with it. A lot of people said the recession changed how people in this country thought about work. If you weren’t going to be making a ton of money, you might as well actually do what you really want to do with your life! For me, that was SWIMMING. My husband and I incorporated Small Fish Big Fish in 2009. I started in the simplest possible fashion, by running Craigslist ads and going backyard-to-backyard teaching one little swimmer at a time. As my reputation spread, business started booming! I quickly realized that I needed to make a bigger splash. I wanted to open a swim school. I attended a conference for the United States Swim School Association in San Diego, where I was able to network with over 300 other passionate swimmers! It was from these relationships where I was inspired to dive into the deep end. I developed my own plan for an indoor swim school in West Palm Beach – A controlled space that focuses on fun, learning and development for kids in the ideal learning environment! It took over a year to sign the lease, and 4-5 months to build. It was during this time that I discovered something that would change my life forever. I felt a lump in my breast and I knew something wasn’t right. After three mammograms and several consultations with doctors, I sought out a surgeon and learned I had stage 2-3 breast cancer. Small Fish Big Fish Swim School officially opened on March 15, 2012. Only a year later on March 18, 2013, I started an aggressive treatment plan that included five surgeries, six months of chemotherapy and 37 radiation treatments in two years. Looking back, I don’t feel for one second that I had it hard. No matter how bad my day was I knew that there is always someone out there that had it worse. As Maya Angelou said, “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve its beauty.” I gained my strength from my family and the enormous support I received from the industry nationwide. I have also been fortunate enough to give help and support back to many others affected by this disease. Since opening Small Fish Big Fish in 2012, I am so proud to have helped almost 3,000 students learn to love swimming. I know what a huge, positive impression swimming has had on my life, and being able to share those joyful experiences with children – from infants, to children with special abilities - and teaching them how to appreciate and understand swimming safety is my legacy. I feel so fortunate to do what I love every day. And to help other people love swimming just makes it so much better. Thank you for all your support, and I hope to see you and your children at Small Fish Big Fish soon! Swimmingly, Melissa Taylor

One of the most common questions I get asked by parents is, “How can I help my child build their swimming skills at home and progress faster in between swim lessons?” While we always welcome and encourage parents to boost their little fish’s swim savvy with our Fast Start Package, there are terrific ways to engage your child’s inner fish at home with some fun games and toys. My personal favorite tool to use at home (and most effective, in my opinion) are dive rings. They have so many wonderful benefits including sharpening spatial awareness and hand eye coordination. They are also great tools to increase their lung capacity and practice proper underwater breathing techniques. Plus, it’s a super fun game to them! They love to play and the freedom throw the rings back in the water and dive in after them. (With proper supervision, of course!) Most importantly, dive rings are by far the best tool I’ve found that builds water confidence by getting kids to know that they can go under the water and get up again safely. This removes a huge learning block when it comes to swimming. In fact, we practice diving games here at Small Fish Big Fish for that very reason. Reinforcing water safety skills, and developing a love of the water early – all while advancing their physical, social and intellectual development before they potentially develop a fear of the water, will give them the chance to build swimming skills quickly. For the child that isn’t quite comfortable, dive rings are a good tool to slowly get children into the pool by strategically placing the rings in the water and allowing the child to retrieve, then going further and further back at their pace. Start in the shallow end and just get them to grab a ring from under the water. In your first few sessions it may only be deep enough for them to bend over and pick up, but try to get it just deep enough that they have to put their head just under the water. This will teach them to hold their breath correctly. Gradually move deeper. Not too deep at first – they still need to be able to stand up – but this time get them to dive down. Teach them how to dive under the water. When they start to swim you can go a bit deeper with diving games, but this will often come much later. (Don’t push it as it may erode their confidence). Just remember to have fun! This month ONLY at our Splash Boutique, buy one package of dive rings and get the second 50% OFF! Your kids will love the different colors, sizes, shapes and buoyancies. They are very easy for little eyes to spot and little hands to grab underwater, and they come in some cute designs and packages too! As always, thank you all for your support, and I hope to see you and your children at Small Fish Big Fish soon! Swimmingly, Melissa Taylor

With National Bubble Bath Day being this month, we wanted to give you a few helpful tips on how to make bath a fun and safe you and your little fish. Bath time is a great opportunity to have quality bonding time with your child. You have the chance to play, and enjoy a little break from the rest of the world. Here are some tips to ensure that bath time is an enjoyable and safe experience. Before Bath Time Starts: Make sure any sharp, or dangerous objects are removed from the bathroom. Razors, hair dryers, medications, full bottles of shampoo and conditioner are all potentially dangerous object if your curious little fish gets a hold of them. Invest in a spout cover for your tub, so there is no chance of your little one hitting and bruising their head on it. Take a class on infant CPR, you never know when a scary moment can happen and it is always best to be well prepared. Ensure you have everything you need for bath time in arm’s reach so you never have to turn your back on your little one while they’re in the tub. During Bath Time: Fill the bath tub to no higher than your little one’s belly button. This helps reduce the risk of drowning; the less water they are sitting in the better. Keep the water temperature warm, but not too hot. If the water is too hot you can risk burning their skin. Do not take your eyes off your little fish, even for a second! All it takes is one second for something dangerous to happen. If you have toys in the tub, make sure they are age appropriate. Teach your little one to not stand-up while in the tub. The bottom of the tub is extremely slippery, and they can easily slip and fall while standing. After Bath Time: Empty your bath tub as soon as you are done giving your little one a bath, you don’t want a tub of water sitting around that they could potentially fall into. Make sure you buddle them up! Children get cold much faster than adults and being wet makes them even more prone to getting chilly. Dry your little fish very thoroughly, you want to ensure they are completely dry before you put their diaper and clothing on. Close the bathroom door and toilet seat when you leave, the bathroom is not a place you want your child exploring alone. Keeping all of these tips in mind during bath time will help you feel stress-free, and able to focus all your love and attention on your little fish! Swimmingly, Melissa

It is that time of the year when kids are back in school and refocus on their studies. Most parents are forced to make a decision about whether their children should keep attending their swim classes or choose other activities. Of course, no one understands kids better than their parents, but we want to remind you of a few reasons why swim lessons all year round are important, especially for children. 1. Stay active The most important benefit of year-round swimming lessons is to keep your children stay active at all times, particularly during the off-season. In most cases, outdoor activities can taper off during rainy season, leaving kids a sedentary lifestyle with TV or games. Swimming can be a great chance for them to do exercises regularly and keeps kid fit even when the weather does not allow them to play outside. 2. Provide frequent practice to improve and speed up learning Attending swimming classes regularly can help your little swimmer to practice their skills on a routine basis. As a result, they can retain and enhance their capabilities quickly over time. Also, with more time in the water, they won’t develop a bad habit or a fear of being underwater when they grow. Since there are so many skill sets to learn, such as elementary backstroke, monkey-walking, treading water, back floating, or rhythmic breathing, it is essential to keep learning and practicing all year round. 3. Keep up with the progressive curriculum With every professional swimming lesson, the curriculum should be carefully designed to develop each essential skill progressively. This means that your kids should attend year-round classes to get professional training in a continuous schedule. When they are interrupted for a few months, your kids must spend a lot of time later to relearn the skills that are required to progress to a higher level. This can be time-consuming and discouraging for both the parents and child. 4. Better performance in academic classes Many studies have proved that those kids who participate in year-round swim lessons typically show better cognitive abilities than the others. From mathematics reasoning to understanding directions, your investment in these swim lessons might also make a significant contribution to a greater academic performance in their classroom. 5. Relieve daily stress for kids In addition to physical health, after-school swimming lessons can also help your kids relieve stress after a long day at school. By stretching their body and enjoy the water, they can forget about math homework or school projects to relax with friends. No matter what time of the year it is, it is essential to bring your kids to Small Fish Big Fish Swim School and have swim lessons all year round. Not only does it keep them physically active, but also improve their skills over time. With a team of highly trained and experienced staff, we are devoted to providing professional lessons and exceptional service to ensure that your little ones can have an essential foundation for their life. Do not hesitate to give us a call or visit our facility for a free trial.

Did you know spinning helps the brain produce dopamine which makes us happy? This is the real reason why we do our motor boat activities!