In this episode, Joani Maskell discusses the importance of learning how to swim. Joani started teaching lessons in her own backyard, helping neighborhood children learn to swim. She also taught swimming while in college where she earned her B.A. and M.A. in Elementary Education and Special Education. Post-college she started working as a teacher, then it began all over again when her child needed a lifeguard for her troop. Joani went back and got her lifeguarding certificate and decided to start teaching swim lessons again. Eventually, Joani bought a place to teach lessons out of and hires her own instructors from the University of North Florida. No matter where you live, there is always water around, so it is super important to learn! Seventy-six percent of all drowning deaths in the United States are kids under the age of five.
Swimming Safari lessons start at four months of age, and it really is more to educate the parents. Parents are in the water with the children until they are two years old; it is a bonding experience! Water wings in certain situations may be necessary, especially when watching multiple children at one time. Joani recommends teaching children how to do the strokes first, then allowing the kids to play with their inflatables as a treat. Games are a perfect way to have fun in the water while also teaching essential swimming skills.
Then, Joani explains how to keep the pool clean. Her pool has a UV system which kills all the pathogens instantly and is tested at least twice daily. Next, Joani gives water safety tips; always be within an arm’s length of your child at the swimming pool. At parties, Joani suggests having a water watcher device. The device has a timer for ten minutes so that person is designated solely to pool safety when the time is up they can pass it to the next adult. Later, Joani advises what to look for in a swim instructor, you do not have to find the most expensive place! Finally, we learn some essential safety features that are necessary to keep children safe when owning a pool.
[02:00] How Joani started Swimming Safari
[06:00] The process of hiring swimming instructors
[08:15] The age range for lessons
[10:00] Fun swimming techniques
[12:00] Maintaining pool cleanliness
[13:05] Pool and water safety tips
[15:40] When will my child learn how to swim?
[18:05] What to look for in a swim instructor
[21:40] Safety features to consider for your swimming poolWebsite: https://swimmingsafari.com/contact
“I was an entrepreneur before I knew I was an entrepreneur.”
“We keep our pool at ninety degrees.”
“I would love to get swim schools in all parts of Jacksonville.”
