Olympic-Gold Medalist Teaches Kids to Swim
Lessons and Techniques of Safety from a Four-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Contrary to popular joking, throwing a kid in the water is not the quickest way for him to learn how to swim. But now that summer is here, and along with it the ubiquitous water sports and swimming pools, put your child in a swim program guaranteed to have you clapping when he is thrown in to the pool and then reacts instinctively to protect himself. This is part of the “survival test” that takes place in lessons at the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy using its Swim Right Method. Developed by four-time Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg. The Swim Right Method teaches safety in the water first, instead of immediately focusing on strokes and swimming, and includes mastering floating and water comfort. The survival test is conducted after an instructor deems the child is ready; and who wouldn’t want their child to be ready to react in this type of potential situation when each year, more than 830 children, ages 14 and under, die as a result of unintentional drowning in the United States.
Children as young as 16 months old have passed the Krayzelburg Swim Right Method survival test. “Our method is based on safety first,” said Krayzelburg. “In addition to making kids comfortable in the water, if they accidentally fall in the pool they’ll know what to do and it may give adults the precious few minutes to find the children and pull them out of the water.”
It’s refreshing that safety for beginners comes first for owner Krayzelburg, who has mastered every swim stroke there is and the Olympic medals to prove it. In the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, Krayzelburg represented the United States and at one point owned five world records in the backstroke, long course and short course. As expert as he is, Krayzelburg has learned that primary to skill development is comfort in the water. As a child in the Soviet Union, it was his own comfort level in the water from a young age that ultimately propelled him to excellence. At age 9, Krayzelburg was hand-picked out of large group of kids in his class, as one of the ones who had the potential to excel. The intense regimen he underwent as a youth and Olympic hopeful in the Soviet Union is something he appreciates but realizes is not for everyone. “It is a foundation that never left me,” he says. “But no way I would advocate the intensity and training at such a young age because children need to have freedom to have a life and enjoy things outside of competitive sports. Having said that, I don’t think I would have achieved all that I have if I had not had that foundation in Soviet Union. If you want to be great, there are no shortcuts, you have to work hard, you have to make some sacrifices.”
These days, his hard work continues as he shares his knowledge, expertise and life lessons with kids all over Los Angeles who want to learn how to swim. Two Krayzelburg Academies – one on the Westside and one in the Valley – make Krayzelburg’s Swim Right Method easily accessible to all L.A. kids. The success of the Krayzelburg Swim Academy is apparent in a third Academy in Brooklyn and the near-future plans to open up another Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy in New York. It is most evident though in the hundreds of children who have graduated and are now adept at swimming and water safety.
Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy Locations
Westside JCC
5870 Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, 90036
(323) 525-0323
New JCC @ Milken
22622 Vanowen St., West Hills, 91307
(818) 464-3315
Website
It’s nice to know that every creature has its guardian. For rabbits, Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue has been playing the part since 1993 by being a no-kill rabbit welfare organization. Based in the City of San Gabriel, Zooh Corner rescues, treats, spays/neuters and places as house pets rabbits that have been abused, neglected, injured or abandoned. So if your family is ready for the responsibility,don’t buy one but adopt a bunny from Zooh Corner then learn with your kids at the free rabbit classes they’ll offer this spring at the San Gabriel Humane Society. You’ll learn what the best diet is for your pet rabbit, how to brush and groom your rabbit, how to trim his nails, the proper brushes, how to look for signs of illness and a rabbit vet, because not all vets treat rabbits.
For older kids, instill the value of volunteerism and charity by bringing a bag of fresh produce to the bunnies, volunteer to help love and groom the rabbits, or help with cage cleaning, become an education volunteer, donating items to Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue such as litter; cages and hutches; litter boxes and toys or donating money to help with health care and administrative costs to run Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue. Check out their website, call or email them for more information on how you and your kids can help the bunnies and Zooh Corner Rabbit Rescue.
Get a free scoop of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream today from noon to 8 p.m. at any of their participating locations! Ben and Jerry’s has been around for more than 30 years and is known for the big chunks and swirls in ever bite! From Honey Apple Raisin Oreo to Mission to Marzipan to Dulce Delish they’ve got more than 100 crazy yummy options of ice cream and froyo to take home or enjoy right off the cone from the scoop shop. Which one will you choose? 
Have you used Groupon yet? It’s a website with daily deals at phenomenal prices. The only caveat to actually receiving the advertised deal is that the required amount of people have to have purchased the offer. Today’s side deal is a great offer for you parents in the Los Angeles area looking for a unique birthday party idea for your 4-14 year old! For $150, you can purchase an Interactive Science Birthday Party from Mad Science (a $275 Value) that includes fun science and lab activities for up to 14 kids at your home before the end of 2010. These hassle free parties will keep your kids entertained with things such as rocket launches, cotton candy-making, bubbling potions and neon green water. The last time we checked 2 out of the 5 required purchases have been made, so hurry to the website and purchase your kids birthday party! Groupon website is 
We bet you didn’t know you have a magician living in your house. The latest trick we’ve seen from ours is making binoculars appear out of two toilet paper tubes, tape and string. But we’ve also witnessed her conjure an abstract building from misshaped wood blocks and cardboard, something we’re secretly hoping is the foreshadowing of her modernist architect future.
There’s nothing more magical than seeing a work of art created, except maybe one that was created out of nothing at all. Well, almost nothing. Do double duty when you encourage arts, crafts and creativity in your child with supplies that are cast-offs from our daily lives, and the unwanteds of manufacturers and businesses. In the process, you’ll not just stimulate imagination and analytical thinking, but you’ll be green in the process, utilizing more-than-worthy goods that would otherwise be dumped into a landfill. So the next time you’re tempted to buy the latest fancy paper, stickers or art supplies from your big box retailer, consider a bottle of glue, scissors and the recycled treasures available from these environmentally-conscious groups. All host activities or workshops, and some even allow you to purchase their collected goods to continue the tradition at home.
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Trash for Teaching
While larger reuse studios utilize items from businesses or manufacturers, CReATE Studio is more community-based, accepting donations from residents and their homes. A handy “starter list” of recycled materials on the website will help you begin amassing your own unique supplies for an arts and crafts corner at home, or give you a good idea of what to save and donate for use at CReATE Studio. How many times have you thrown away precious bottle caps, broken or chipped dishes, egg cartons, Kleenex boxes, mismatched socks or old cds? It’s a natural to try to reuse items from manufacturers, but says Jemma, “Sometimes people forget that there’s also so much at home that can be reused.”
Check out CReATE Studio online then take your kids and head to the Westlake Village location for two hours of walk-in studio time that’s offered three times a week.
A community art center, reuse warehouse, gallery and event space, reDiscover on the west side of town recycles everyday discards donated by business and gives them new purpose as hands-on learning materials. An annual membership allows you to purchase materials from their warehouse, while 
An art and community space as well, reDiscover will often host exhibits by artists who create works with found materials. And their space is available for rentals, and has been used for music videos, photo shoots, art parties, childrens’ music classes, field trips, seminars, tango, yoga, and more.
Trash for Teaching founders Steve and Kathy Stanton learned a lesson on just how naturally resourceful and imaginative kids are when they took their own company’s discarded byproducts to their then preschool-aged son’s school and witnessed die-cut cardboard hearts, ribbons, and long cardboard tubes find new life in the hands of kids. That was in 2004, and since then, Trash for Teaching has been working with different schools on a comprehensive arts program but also make their warehouse full of fun goodies available for purchase to the public. At $2 per pound of supplies, you’ll be the most popular parent with the coolest playdate or birthday party crafts table. Workshops such as the upcoming “
Trash for Teaching is also available to come to you for your party, and birthday party packages include instruction (with one instructor for every 10 kids), materials from their warehouse, goodie bags full of Trash for Teaching treasures, art supplies and a theme of your choice! Check the website for birthday party rates and packages.