Merritt Clubs Blog

   

Kids Fitness: Five Fun Pool Games to Keep Your Kids Active This Summer

Posted by Merritt Clubs

Aug 4, 2017

School has been out and this is the time for kids to take a mental break from yellow school buses, school uniforms, and heavy backpacks. This, for many kids, means binge watching cartoons, having all-night video game sessions, stuffing their faces with every junk food in sight, and snap-chatting their summers away. According to the Australian organization Healthy Kids, Eat Well Get Active, studies have found, that "the number of overweight and obese kids ha[s] risen from around 1 in 10 children in 1985 to almost 1 in 4 children in [recent years]."

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Topics: baltimore swimming, Michael Phelps Swim School, best kids fitness

Three Competitive Swimming Opportunities Through Merritt Clubs

Posted by Merritt Clubs

May 2, 2017

For some people, swimming has been a part of their lives from a young age. For other people, while they want to be a good swimmer, they only have a little swimming experience. Luckily, at Merritt Clubs, we offer assorted competitive aquatics programs.

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Topics: baltimore swimming, Michael Phelps Swim School, fitness swimming pool, swim school, swim training, kids swimming

Michael Phelps Swim School is Ideal for Improving Kids' Fitness

Posted by Heather Blake

Aug 16, 2013

Has all the recent talk surrounding Michael Phelps’ June 2013 photo shoot got your kiddos reaching for their swimsuits? If so, you may want to capitalize on their enthusiasm for the retired Olympian by signing them up for our Michael Phelps Swim School Program. It’s an excellent way to improve yourkids' fitness levels and fuel their chlorine soaked, athletic dreams.

For proof of the activity’s fitness value, just take a moment to consider all of the health benefits commonly associated with it. They include the ability to improve our musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems as well as burn calories. Some people say it can even improve one’s mood and minimize certain maladaptive behaviors. In addition, knowing such skills can help to reduce your child’s risk of being involved in an accidental drowning.

Our version of the kids’ fitness program is being offered at our Merritt Athletic Clubs in Towson, Canton and Eldersburg. It is designed for Maryland residents between 6 months and 12 years of age. Families may opt to sign their children up for once a week, individual or group lessons based on their age and skill level. In general, both types of lessons tend to last 30 minutes each and run over a course of 6 weeks.

The skill levels include get wet, pre-beginner, beginner, advanced beginner and intermediate. During the sessions, the kids will learn such valuable skills as rotary breathing, backstroke and freestyle techniques. They’ll also receive Michael Phelps related, motivational items including gold medal stickers. Session times and dates will vary based on the Michael Phelps Swim School Program level desired.

Would you like to learn more about the Michael Phelps Swim School and the other great kids’ fitness programs offered at our Towson, Canton and Eldersburg locations? Contact us by calling 1-410-563-0225 or stop by the Merritt Athletic Clubs’ website.

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Topics: Merritt Athletics, children, Michael Phelps Swim School, Michael Phelps, Fitness for a Cause, swim school, swim, Aquatics, swimming, kids

Importance of Early Swim Lessons

Posted by RaySa

Dec 13, 2011

As parents, we prepare our children to excel in life through a number of different avenues. From the time they are born, we constantly teach them skills. We teach them basic skills like walking, talking, reading and writing. At the same time, we’re also teaching them skills to keep them safe and healthy; look both ways before crossing the street, stop drop and roll in case of fire. So it stands to reason that we should include water safety in that list of skills to be taught early in life.

Learning to swim is an essential skill. While swimming undoubtedly provides a great form of exercise, recreation and social enjoyment, it is also integral to the safety of children and adults alike. According to PreventInjury.org, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14 and the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 4. The majority of drownings and near-drownings occur in residential swimming pools and in open water sites. By teaching children how to swim - and float - at an early age, parents can significantly reduce their child’s risk of drowning.

No child is too young to begin learning water safety. Merritt Athletic Club offers a Get Wet class for children from newborn to school-age and their parents to get comfortable with the water in a no pressure, supportive group setting. When children are comfortable enough to sit on the side of the pool without assistance, they are ready for our Michael Phelps Swim School Pre-Beginner lessons. These lessons begin by teaching essentials of floating, kicking and water safety. A child who cannot yet swim, but who knows to lay back and float if they fall into a body of water has a significantly greater chance of surviving than a child who does not know to float. All of our Get Wet and Swim Lesson Classes are taught by experienced instructors and overseen by certified lifeguards to ensure the highest level of safety as your child learns to swim.

No parent wants to imagine harm coming to his or her child. The best way to prevent harm from the water is by beginning swim lessons early and continuing them until the child is proficient. Merritt Athletic Club and the Michael Phelps Swim School are committed to the safety and growth of children through aquatic education. Our new session of Swim Lessons at Towson and Eldersburg begin January 9, 2012 and at Canton January 3, 2012. Register today to get your child started on the path to learning the skills that can bring recreational enjoyment for years to come, as well as save their lives.

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Topics: swimming baltimore, Michael Phelps Swim School, fitness swimming pool, water safety, Aquatics, swim lessons baltimore