Where To Get Your Swim On This Winter: Indoor Pools

If you enjoy swimming, you may find the winter months quite boring. With colder temperatures, there is no way you can enjoy your favorite outdoor swimming pools. However, you do have the option to visit indoor swimming pools in your area. Enjoy a swim and even sign your children up for indoor swimming classes for kids. Your children will have fun swimming during the winter months and build skills that will last a lifetime, keeping them safe in the water. But where do you go to enjoy swimming when it is cold outside? Check out a few options below! 

Public Pool

Recreation centers in your area may offer indoor swimming pools along with outdoor ones. You can use the indoor pools in the winter months to avoid the cold temperatures but still enjoy swimming. Such facilities can also offer private swimming classes for kids to help your child practice their skills. Do a little research on the recreation facilities in your area or nearby towns to see if indoor swimming pools are offered for you to use. 

Consider the Classes Available

When you are interested in finding classes for your child to take during the winter months to learn the art of swimming, you will find several options available to you. Such programs as those offered by Zodiac Swim School can help your child progress in their swimming skills. Children can start out in the programs offered to toddlers to learn the basics and then move on to more intricate swimming details. As the child becomes comfortable with basic skills, they can then focus on drills that include distance. Your little swimmer will be active in the water and be safe wherever you go swimming or are near the water.

Programs start out for children three years and up to teach the basic skills including breathing, submersion, floats and glides, jumping into shallow water and more. Moving up in the class will help the child apply these skills to be able to swim a short distance without assistance. Skills are built upon as the child moves up a level so that they are comfortable in the water by themselves, having fun but staying safe at the same time. 

Parents should take a look at such options as listed above in the local community. By doing a little research, you can find out if there are indoor swimming pools in your community that can be used for recreation as well as teaching your child to swim. Make a list of the options you have including any cost or restrictions. This way, you can make the best choice as to which indoor facility you will like to use. 

Zodiac Swim School is one option for indoor swimming, offering lessons for children of all ages. Learn more about special swimming programs and lesson opportunities by contacting Zodiac today. Help your child develop their swimming skills and be safe in the water year after year. Zodiac Swim School will help your child gain valuable skills that will last a lifetime.

Fall & Winter Is A Great Time For Swim Classes

When the cooler seasons of fall and winter arrive, outdoor water activity ceases. It is during this time that parents can take their children to indoor facilities to continue with children swimming classes. Kids who go through the numerous seasons without continuing with lessons can easily forget strokes or fall behind. It is important to continue with such activities so children are prepared for the summer months, at a lower risk for drowning and are able to enjoy the water with ease. 

Reducing the Risk of Drowning

Swimming for children is an activity that is fun and exciting. However, it is something that can be very dangerous. Children who do not have basic swimming skills can easily drown, in deep or shallow water. Children need to be protected from injury and death by learning from qualified and certified swimming instructors. 

Formal swimming lessons help to reduce the risk of drowning by as much as 88% or more for children who are 1 to 4 years of age. It is this age range that is at the most risk of drowning. With swimming lessons, even the youngest of children can learn how to swim and protect themselves in the water. Small children learn how to float so if they were to fall in deep water they can roll onto their back and be safe until help arrives. 

Promote Healthy Habits

By learning to swim at an early age, children are developing healthy habits. The exercise from swimming can promote a boosted immune system as well as a healthy body. Children are able to build muscle, avoid sickness and just feel good from the exercise that is done during swimming. By swimming in the winter months, children continue with regular exercise and expend pent-up energy. Children easily get bored during the fall and winter and need something physical to do. Swimming is the perfect activity to get your child moving, with added benefits such as a healthy body! 

Time with Friends

An added bonus to swimming lessons in the fall and winter is time spent with friends. It is often hard to spend time outdoors doing a physical activity with friends when the temperatures are too cold. With swimming lessons, children are able to spend time with friends having fun. If your child is new to the swimming class, encourage them to speak to the other kids and make friends. 

These are just a few benefits from swimming lessons during the colder months of the year. Continue the swimming education of your child by enrolling them in the swimming lessons provided by Zodiac Swim School. Such swimming lessons will provide your child with an outlet for exercise as well as help them learn the proper techniques for enjoying the water safely. You will be able to be at ease when your child is in a swimming pool as they will know the way to stay safe and while they are still having fun. Learn more about the many swimming programs available by contacting Zodiac today.

3 Reasons To Take Your Kids Swimming This Winter

Winter swimming may not seem like a good idea to most parents but it can have many benefits for your child. Despite the cold weather  during the winter months, children can benefit from the exercise as well as fun that swimming provides. Children learn to swim quite well during the winter months and these skills can be applied during the summer months during family vacations, birthday parties and other swimming events. Read on to learn the top three reasons to take your kids swimming this winter. 

Fight Winter Boredom

The winter months can be dark and dreary, with children quickly becoming bored. With swimming lessons, children have an activity to look forward to. The activity is something fun and exciting, and a way for kids to be safe in the water. Along with becoming bored and disengaged, the winter can also be a time frame when something known as the winter blues takes place. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a condition that mainly affects adults but can affect children as well. One of the best ways to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder is to have your child enjoy something fun. Being able to learn to swim, children enjoy themselves and feel happy in the process. Watch as your child beats the blues and enjoys the time in the water each time a lesson takes place! 

Time With Friends

In the summer months, children are able to enjoy plenty of playtime with their friends outside. In the winter months, children are spending more time indoors and are not with their friends as often as they like. Socialization is important, so by signing your child up for swimming lessons, they are able to socialize with other kids they know or make new friends. Group lessons provide the child with ways to enjoy time with friends as well as learn how to be safe in the water. Children are provided with lessons in groups of their own peers so the kids taking part are the same age, helping your child to be comfortable and find new friends with similar interests. 

Build a Stronger Immune System

Many parents feel that a child will catch a cold from being wet and cold after swimming. However, this is not so. Your child can actually build a stronger immune system during the winter months with swimming lessons to be able to fight infections and avoid being sick. Your child will be exercising regularly and building up their immune system which will make them less susceptible to catching illness that occurs during the winter months. Simply dress warmly on arrival and departure for swimming lessons to be comfortable and allow your child to build a healthy immune system. 

To learn more about swimming lessons and how your child can thrive with a group of their peers, contact Zodiac Swim School. Zodiac offers quality swimming lessons for children of all ages by certified instructors to help assist with learning the skill as well as making friends and having fun in the process! 

How To Prepare Your Child For Day Camps

Children need to be active and stimulated. A great way to provide your child with constant activity is summer camp or day camps for kids. Children can enjoy sports, arts and crafts, as well as making friends with children their own age during camp. For parents, the first time a child goes to camp can be difficult. Whether the child is going to be away for a few hours each day or several days in a row, having your child away from home can be stressful or worrisome. Learn how to prepare your child for day camps so they can be ready for the experience as well as yourself! 

Plan the Goodbye Ahead of Time

Be ready to say goodbye to your child ahead of time. This will help with the drop-off. If your child is catching a bus to summer camp, say goodbye in the home. Hug your child and let them know they will have so much fun at camp. If your child is going for a few hours, say goodbye outside of the camp so they can enter and be ready to begin. Avoid a long drawn-out goodbye so your child will not feel any need to hang back or cry when you leave. 

Talk about the First Day

As you prepare for the first day of camp, talk to your child about what will take place. Discuss drop off and what activities will be offered. If you have the option to get a schedule of activities ahead of time, do so. Show your child the schedule and talk about what they will be able to do. Talk about the first day frequently and help your child be positive and excited for the first day. 

Visit Camp Ahead of Time

A great way to prepare your child is to visit ahead of time. Take your child to the facility so they can see where they will be able to go and have fun during camp. A child can be scared to go somewhere that they have never been or have never seen. By visiting camp, meeting counselors and seeing the camp space, your child will be better prepared to attend. 

Avoid Projecting Anxiety

As a parent, you are most likely anxious about your child attending camp. If your child has never been away from home before you may be feeling stressed out or anxious. These feelings can be projected to your child which can lead to similar feelings within your child. You want to see your child excited about camp, and not anxious. Avoid projecting any anxiety you have towards your child. Only talk positively about camp and keep your anxious feelings to yourself. This will help your child feel good about being away from home. 

Zodiac Day Camps can help you feel more at ease by providing quality day camps for your child to enjoy. Learn more about the different camp options available by visiting http://www.zodiackids.ca/.

How To Choose The Right Day Camp For Your Kids

Day camps for kids are a great way to provide a summer activity for your child. If you are looking into a day camp for your child you want to make sure you find the right camp that he or she will enjoy. Every child is different so choosing the right option for the individual is key to a successful camp experience. Check out the tips below to ensure you choose the right day camp for your child.


What Does Your Child Enjoy?
To get started, consider what your child enjoys. If your child is a sports enthusiast, then you know a camp offering sports activities would be ideal. If your child enjoys arts and crafts, a camp that provides such activities would be best. Don’t just sign your child up for any day camp for kids. Take time to research the activities offered and ensure your child will be happy and content.


One Activity or Multiple Programs?
Another factor to consider is whether or not the camp you choose should offer one activity or multiple options. For example, a swimming camp would last for around two to three hours and focus on swimming techniques. Does your child have the focus to last that long on one activity? If not, you might want to focus on a day camp option that has more than one activity. A child that has a short attention span will do better to have several activities during a three hour time frame than one activity for the same amount of time.


Age Group/Camp Size
It is also important to consider the age group and camp size. A big part of day camp is the social aspect. A child will be able to grow socially by being around children their own age. It can be more beneficial to sign up a child for a day camp that has a nice size as well as children being in the same age range. If your child is 5 then having kid’s ages 4 to 6 is helpful. If a child attends a camp with much younger or older children they may not be able to make friends and possibly would not feel comfortable at camp. Find out the age range and size of camp to ensure your child will easily be able to make friends.


Consider all these factors to make the right choice for day camp or summer camp for your child. Choosing the right camp can be the difference between great memories made and those that your child would rather forget. Contact Zodiac Day Camps to learn more about the variety of day camp options they provide along with finding an option based on what your child enjoys as well as their age. Zodiac is ready to assist you with offering your child a quality camp experience.

A Look Into The Future: What Will Day Camps Look Like In 10 Years?

Today’s day camps for kids are pretty fun and exciting. Children can easily enjoy arts and crafts, swimming, basketball, softball and a host of other activities. Children have the option to attend summer camp for a specific time frame such as a week to two weeks or take part in day camps where they are only gone from home for a few hours a day. Camp today comes in many forms but one common denominator is that children enjoy the time spent at camp, no matter the activity. While camp of today is very similar to what was enjoyed decades ago, what will camp be like in ten years? Below we consider how such camp options might change in the future.

More Technology Driven

In ten years, summer camp may be more technology driven. In decades past, children would only take part in physical activities such as sports as well as arts and crafts during summer camp. However, over the past few years, camps have upgrade their offerings to include technology. Camps exist that focus on robotics, computer programming and more. As technology continues to move to the forefront of the world, day camps for kids may begin to focus more on tech rather than sports and crafts. Today’s children are growing up with more technology than ever before with tablets and smartphones. Children do not know what it is like to operate without such technology. Camps may find that they have to adapt to technology if they want kids to be excited to attend. 

Goal Driven

Camps may also begin to lean towards achieving goals. In the past, camps have focused on providing an outlet for kids to enjoy sports and activities with no real end goal. Children are being asked to set goals now more than ever and with day camps, there will be a challenge to get children to succeed. Perhaps a camp involving swimming would have children set goals of learning how to dive or to qualify for a competition or challenge. With basketball or softball, children can set goals to make a spot on a team or win a tournament. Goal setting can help children to focus on the future and learn that hard work pays off in the end. 

We really have no idea what day camp will be like in the future. It will be interesting to see in ten years what camps are offering and how children are adapting to any change made from the old format of summer camp. Either way, children will have the option to take part in fun and exciting activities that will help to expel energy and learn a new skill. 

To have your child participate in a summer or day camp now, contact Zodiac Day Camp. Children love to take part in the many options Zodiac Day Camp provides including swimming, dance, a variety of sports and much more. They will have a blast with all the fun activities and events that take place in this safe and protected environment.

Is Day Camp Safe For Children With Food Allergies?

Food allergies have become even more prevalent over the past few years as the source of allergies are discovered. For many children, nuts and dyes are an allergy that can have dramatic effects on the body, even result in death. Parents can be quite concerned when sending their child to school or even day camp if they may be subjected to their allergy. As parents, it is important to learn the policies of day camps for kids to ensure that every child is safe. 

Allergy Policies

Every summer camp or day camp will be different when it comes to allergy policies. When registering, the camp will inquire as to any allergies your child may have. Be sure to write down each allergy and note if medications need to be taken or what steps for treatment need to be completed if your child is subjected to the allergen. Bring medications along to the camp so your child can be treated if an allergy attack takes place. 

If your child is not allergic to anything, you should still take the proper measures to learn the allergy policies. Many schools no longer allow products that include nuts such as peanut butter. This is done to protect those who may be severely allergic to nuts. Be sure to  pack snacks or lunches accordingly so every child is safe while they attend camp. 

Camp Precautions

Many camps will have a No Nuts policy to ensure safety of children during camp hours. Some facilities even go so far as to have a catering company provide snacks or foods to help support their No Nuts policy. Each camp is different so you need to know the precautions taken to ensure your child and other kids are safe. 

If an allergy is present during summer day camp, the camp should send out a notice of the allergy. This will alert parents so that they can take the proper precautions. Any allergies will also be listed in the lunch room and even at the lunch table to ensure that homemade lunches are checked so any allergy flare-ups will not take place. 

Caring for allergies is a must. Top camp providers such as Zodiac Day Camp makes sure to cover all the bases when it comes to allergies. An allergic reaction can happen at any time for any reason. Children are commonly allergic to dust, cats, bees, nuts and other items. Camp providers must be well-versed in allergies and know the proper treatment for care after an allergy attack. 

Parents must include information upon registration that will help counselors deal with any food allergies. This way, the child will be safe as they attend day camp. Parents can worry less while the child is away with Zodiac Day Camp as the allergy is noted and any contact with an allergic item will be avoided. Contact Zodiac today to learn more about the allergy procedures and how care is taken to avoid any child being affected by an allergy attack.