Ancient Wisdom
There’s an ancient Jewish teaching that may seem out of the ordinary in a spiritual context. Back in the third century, the rabbis clearly stated that parents are obligated to teach their children how to swim.
Why? Because it’s a matter of basic survival. Teaching children to swim empowers them with the ability to save themselves when we aren’t there.
The Day I’ll Never Forget
It’s personal for me, too. When my daughter was three years old, we took her floaties off so that she could go to the bathroom. I stood nearby talking to a family member. What I didn’t see was that the bathroom was locked, and she decided to get back in the water while she waited.
As she struggled in the water, not more than five or ten feet from me, my vision of her was blocked by the pool stairs covered in a tarp.
An angel standing by (in the form of a random middle-aged dude) saw her struggling and alerted us. By the time I got to her, her face was fully submerged and she was actively drowning. And I’ll never, ever forget what it looked like.
The experience instilled in me a healthy, strong fear of the water. I take swimming lessons very, very seriously.
For me, it’s not a fun extra-curricular activity (even though it certainly is). It’s a matter of life and death.
Our Experience at Goldfish
My kids love taking swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School because it’s a bright and cheery space, the teachers are friendly and kind, the water is warm (90 degrees!) and they get a free scoop at Culver’s every time they pass a level.
I love it because I get very clear updates each month about the specific skills they are working on and how my child is progressing. And more importantly, I see very clear results when we attend consistently.
They use the Science of SwimPlay® approach, which supports decades of scientific studies that indicate kids learn best through guided play.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Goldfish approached the safety of their students thoughtfully and they revisit their protocols regularly.
More Info
Goldfish Swim School has a location in Brookfield, near the Capitol Drive exit off Highway 45. They are opening a new location at Bayshore Mall later this year.
Swimming lessons are for all ages and skills, from 4 months – 12 years. Lessons are held each week.
To find out more, head to their website.
Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
