I am a single mother of a sixteen year old boy, myself.
My alternate stream/(s) of income predominantly involve the instruction and assessment of swimming and water safety skills; first aid; resuscitation/CPR; lifesaving skills; advanced aquatic rescue techniques; and, self-defence. With the majority of those students, being children aged between six months and sixteen years of age. I additionally, also facilitate and run, professional development training courses alongside some Lifeguarding roles.
Other relevant previous roles I've held, include being a Voluntary Children's Football/Soccer Coach; Volunteer Lifesaving Patroller, Training and Development Director and Mentor for Nippers and Teens for a Life Saving Club; a Children's Party Host; and have occasionally held science "fun lab" and Martial Arts demonstrations for school students at varying levels and certain community events.
I am experienced and comfortable working with, and around children of all ages. Many of which, having had different cultural/religious/ethnical/economical/educational backgrounds, lifestyles and abilities.
My experience also includes the successful provision of education/instruction, supervision and guidance of children with physical/medical/intellectual/psychosocial disabilities, learning difficulties, mental illness and those on different levels of the autism spectrum, and even overcoming (to a degree) language barriers over the years spent in the above roles striving to assist every child and their parents being able to set and focus on continuously working towards attaining their own, realistically achievable, short/long-term goals over time.
I feel that it is important for children to experience the joy and sense of accomplishment, having actively put in the effort required to achieve each of these goals. I believe it is not only beneficial to the child physically/psychologically/mentally, but have also found it can provide their parents/caregivers with a little bit of comfort and more peace of mind, knowing that with every goal achieved - and the effort applied in doing so, carries with it, an expansion of their child's future potential, and opportunities that await them in years to come.