About Lessons
What do children learn in lessons?
Babies will learn to hold their breath under water, roll onto their back, and float until picked up.
Children 1 year and older will learn to swim with their face in the water, roll over to breathe, and then flip over to continue to swim. This means children can learn to swim-float-swim across a pool.
Children 1 year and older will learn to swim with their face in the water, roll over to breathe, and then flip over to continue to swim. This means children can learn to swim-float-swim across a pool.
What does “swim-float-swim” mean
This is the way young children are taught to swim. They kick with their face in the water (swim), roll onto their back (float) when they need a breath, and then roll over and swim again.
Why do you teach “swim-float-swim?
Young children do not have the strength and coordination to tread water or lift their head to breathe repeatedly. They would tire very quickly trying to do so, and would also develop habits counter-productive to learning the freestyle later on, which is the most efficient swimming stroke. Swim-float-swim is the safest and most efficient swim method for young kids, and also gives them the proper body position and concept of rotation to learn the freestyle and backstroke when they are older.
Do you teach strokes?
No, but this program lays the proper foundation. Young children (up to about age 5-6) typically do not have the coordination to learn traditional swim strokes like the freestyle or backstroke, but they CAN learn to swim using the swim-float-swim technique. While I don’t focus on stroke instruction, if older kids (ages 4-6) seem ready, I can introduce some basic freestyle and backstroke concepts to them during their lessons.
are these "survival swim" lessons?
Some people refer to them that way. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under age 5, so teaching kids how to roll over and float is a critical life-saving survival skill that I teach to my students, starting as young as 6 months old. But I like for people to know that these lessons are not just about survival. They are about developing true swimming skills that are also for fun! Once kids are about 18 months old, they can learn to swim-float-swim around the pool, and that is fun! I try to incorporate fun into my lessons as well. It's not all work and no play!
DO YOU TEACH KIDS OLDER THAN 6?
Kids older than 6 are usually ready for true stroke instruction, which is not my specialty, but I can recommend teachers who are if you have this need.
ARE BABIES/KIDS THROWN INTO THE WATER?
This is a common misconception, but is not at all how lessons are conducted. Children are taught skills gradually, starting with how to hold their breath in the water, how to kick, how to float, and how to roll over. Once kids have learned all of these skills and put them together (usually after about 20-24 lessons), we simulate a fall-in by gently placing them in the water to test their skills and confirm they have mastered them. Kids are NEVER thrown into the water.
HOW ARE LESSONS CONDUCTED?
Lessons are private, 10-minute lessons held 4 days per week. Children are taught skills gradually, starting with how to hold their breath in the water, how to kick, how to float, and how to roll over. Consistent attendance is very important so we can build on learning from day to day.
WHY ARE LESSONS ONLY 10 MINUTES LONG?
Young children have a limited attention span, and learning a new skill like swimming can be tiring! While 10 minutes sounds brief, a private 10-minute lesson gives a child more instruction and practice than they would get in a typical 30-minute group lesson with 3-5 kids. For young kids, it's also safer to limit the amount of time they are in the water to be sure they do not get too tired, too cold, or swallow too much pool water (as many are prone to drink it!).
WHY DO WE NEED TO COME TO LESSONS 4 TIMES PER WEEK?
For the same reason children go to school several days per week… frequent repetition is required for effective learning. By coming 4 days per week, we are able to build on what your child learns each day. This program is designed to teach your child to swim in a matter of weeks. Infrequent practice means it could take months or years to learn to swim.
Do you offer group lessons?
Lessons are private so that full attention can be devoted to your child, and lessons can be paced just for them. When kids have mastered the swim-float-swim sequence, group lessons would be more appropriate. If you are interested in group lessons to maintain your child’s skills after completing private lessons, please let me know. I may be able to schedule some if interest and time allow.
Will you come teach at my pool?
Generally speaking, lessons are held at a central location, as it would take too much time to travel from pool to pool, especially for this type of lesson which is brief. If you would be willing to host lessons at your pool, please let me know. This would mean allowing other children to have lessons in your pool, about 3 hours a day, 4 days per week for 6-8 weeks.
Can I come observe lessons before signing up?
Yes, if you would like to do this, please send me an email so we can arrange a time for you to do so.
When to Start and What to Expect
At what age can my child begin lessons?
About 6 months old. Once your baby can sit unassisted and roll over both ways on land, they can also learn to roll over and float in the water.
WHY SHOULD I START SWIM LESSONS AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE?
First of all, swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning. As soon as kids are mobile (i.e. crawling), they can get themselves into trouble around bodies of water, and drownings can happen so fast! If you have a pool at home, or spend time around pools or lakes (vacation homes, friends’ or relatives’ houses, etc.), you should enroll your child as soon as possible. Babies as young as 6 months old can learn survival skills in the water. Also, starting your children at a young age allows them to learn proper swimming form and technique without having to overcome bad habits that could be caused by relying on puddle jumpers or floaties. Kids who start later usually take longer to learn and have a more difficult time.
How long will it take my child to learn to swim?
It usually takes about 6 weeks (24 lessons) for kids to master the full swim-float-swim sequence, though every child is different and learns at their own pace. Babies (under age 1) sometimes finish in less time since they are only able to learn to roll and float, and are not taught as much swimming.
Will my child cry during lessons?
Tears are pretty normal at first, but the majority of kids calm down and are happy after the first few lessons. Swimming is not an easy skill, and can be emotionally-laden for kids (and adults!) because not everyone is naturally comfortable in the water. As their skills and comfort level grow, most kids calm down and start to enjoy lessons. Children going through separation anxiety or the typical tantrums of the "terrible twos/threes" will often exhibit this behavior at swim lessons too. My goal is to get your child comfortable and happy as soon as possible, while still making sure that they are learning the skills. Afterall, that's what you're paying me for, and not all tears can be avoided. As hard as we try, for some kids, learning to swim is not fun, but knowing how to swim IS fun. If your child cries, keep the end goal in mind... a child who knows how to swim can be safe and have fun in the water!
Do parents get in the pool during lessons?
Generally not, but parents may get in the pool during the first lesson if they think it would help their child adjust more easily to the teacher and environment. Parents are invited into the pool at one of the child’s last lessons so I can show the parent how to practice swimming with their child.
Registration and Other Policies
how do i sign up?
Go to the Sign Up page to fill out a Registration Request Form. Once I receive this form, I will get back to you about an available time slot. You will then need to submit your deposit and sign the waiver to reserve your spot. You will later be invoiced for the balance of your lessons. You must be paid in full prior to your first lesson. Please see the Policies page for more information.
Why do you require lessons to be paid in full before beginning?
This is because signing up for these lessons needs to be a commitment on your part. Swimming is a complex skill and takes time for kids to learn. Kids also need time to adjust to the instructor and the lessons. If you do not complete the program, your child will not have had time to learn and master all the skills, and they may not have had enough time to adjust to lessons either. This could leave them with a fear of the water and/or swim lessons, or an overconfidence, and neither would be a good outcome. Please be sure you are prepared to make this commitment before you sign up, and then be patient and give your child time to complete the process. Kids who have time to master all the skills can be happy swimmers, and that’s our goal.
Can we start lessons on a different day or week than your session start date?
I only have access to the pool for a certain number of weeks, so everyone needs to start on or very near the session start date to ensure we can complete all their lessons. If you will miss just the first day or two, this will probably work, but please confirm with me before signing up. If your child is a refresher who will need fewer lessons, there may be openings starting later in the session, so please inquire.
Do I have to sign up for 6 weeks of lessons or can we sign up for less?
Most new students need 6 weeks of lessons to learn and master the full swim-float-swim sequence, so this is usually the required number of weeks to sign up for. If your child has previously learned to swim-float-swim and just needs a refresher, then you can sign up for fewer weeks. After you complete the Registration Request Form I will tell you how many weeks of lessons I recommend based on your child’s swimming experience.
What if my child needs or wants more lessons than we originally paid for?
If your child needs more lessons that we originally anticipated, or you would like to sign up for more to let your child continue to practice, you can pay for additional lessons one week at a time. The cost is $100 per week. Additional lessons are subject to availability.
What if we are going to be out of town and miss a week of lessons? Can I still sign my child up?
Please talk to me about your specific situation before signing up. Consistent attendance is critical to success. Yes, you can miss a week of lessons, but it may end up taking longer as a result. You are paying for your time slot, regardless of attendance, so this may mean you will have to pay for additional lessons, and we’ll have to ensure that my schedule can accommodate additional lessons if needed.
Why do I have to use a cloth swim diaper?
Disposable swim diapers are not effective at containing feces, and thus do not meet the health department's safety standards. They can be used as a liner inside a cloth diaper, but a cloth diaper is necessary to avoid contaminating the pool. Splash About, AlvaBaby, and iPlay all make cloth swim diapers, and many are available on Amazon.
Why should my child not eat for 2 hours before lessons?
For one thing, swimming is vigorous exercise for young kids, and doing so on a full tummy is not very comfortable. Secondly, kids who are learning to hold their breath in the water tend to swallow air and therefore need to burp. If they have a stomach full of food, they will often throw up food when they try to burp, which is again, very unpleasant. It could also contaminate the pool and cause us to have to end the lesson and cancel those after your child. It takes about 2 hours to fully digest food, so please keep your child’s meal or snack-time in mind when you schedule lessons. Your child can eat as soon as lessons are over.
Do you offer make-up lessons if we miss a lesson?
Makeup lessons are not offered for conflicts on your part, nor are refunds offered for missed classes. When you enroll your student in lessons, you are reserving a slot for your child that is in high demand. By reserving this spot you are agreeing to pay for your reserved spot independent of your child's attendance. If your child is ill, I will do my best to find a time to make up the missed lessons, but this cannot be guaranteed. If lessons are cancelled due to weather, make-up lessons will be provided.
Other Information
what training do you have?
I am a certified instructor with Infant Aquatics®. I am also certified in Infant, Child & Adult CPR & First Aid. All Infant Aquatics® instructors have received at least 6 weeks of training with at least 100 hours of in-water instruction, in addition to academic work to learn physiology, safety, child behaviorism, development and psychology. We are also given opportunities for ongoing learning and support through an annual conference and communication with our master instructor, and a network of nearly 100 instructors worldwide. Infant Aquatics® was founded in the 2000 by a group of instructors who had been teaching these techniques since the 1980’s. They formed Infant Aquatics® to formally train other swim instructors to use the same techniques, and create an international network of instructors.
Why do you recommend NOT using puddle jumpers or floaties?
One, these devices can actually lead to an unsafe situation. Young kids do not know that the puddle jumper or other device is what makes them able to “swim,” so they often become overly confident about the water. There are COUNTLESS stories of young kids jumping into the water without their puddle jumper on because they did not realize that they could not swim without it. These devices can also be relied on too heavily by parents, and therefore decrease adult supervision.
Secondly, puddle jumpers create a muscle memory of "swimming" vertically with your head out of water. Trying to swim vertically is a recipe for drowning, as it impedes forward movement, and causes you to tire very quickly. For kids who have used puddle jumpers, swimming vertically is what feels “natural” and this muscle memory is EXTREMELY difficult to overcome in swim lessons. While it can be done, it will likely take much longer.
The better alternative is to enroll your child in Infant Aquatics swim lessons at a very young age. They will learn actual swimming skills using proper form and techniques, and they will also be more aware of their own swimming abilities and limits. And ALWAYS supervise children when they are in or around water.
Secondly, puddle jumpers create a muscle memory of "swimming" vertically with your head out of water. Trying to swim vertically is a recipe for drowning, as it impedes forward movement, and causes you to tire very quickly. For kids who have used puddle jumpers, swimming vertically is what feels “natural” and this muscle memory is EXTREMELY difficult to overcome in swim lessons. While it can be done, it will likely take much longer.
The better alternative is to enroll your child in Infant Aquatics swim lessons at a very young age. They will learn actual swimming skills using proper form and techniques, and they will also be more aware of their own swimming abilities and limits. And ALWAYS supervise children when they are in or around water.
What water/pool safety do you recommend?
- Nearly 70% of drowning accidents with kids happen when they were not expected to be in the water, and drownings happen in less than a minute, so always keep an eye on your child any time there is water nearby. Remind your children that they should never go in or near water without a grown up.
- If you have a pool at home, I strongly recommend a child-proof pool fence, even if your child has finished an Infant Aquatics program. If a fence is not possible, invest in a pool alarm.
- Doors to the pool area should always be locked (you may need to install a lock that is out of your child’s reach).
- Always supervise kids who are swimming. Even good swimmers can have accidents.
- When you are in groups, always designate an adult to be the pool watcher. It is easy to get distracted while chatting with other adults.
- Teach your child what to do if another child falls in. They should immediately go get help from an adult, and should never try to jump in the pool to save another child.
- Before leaving your child at the house of a friend, babysitter, or relative, find out if they have a pool, and if so, what safety measures they have in place. If they aren't sufficient, don't leave your child there.