Frequently asked (and answered) questions
What make you different from other swim instructors?
I believe in teaching by example. I see a lot of swim instructors teach without immersing themselves completely and putting their whole head under water. There are reasons for this, chlorine is terrible for your hair and after an hour it’s tough to mitigate the damage. Nevertheless, children are born imitators and the best way to teach a child is to have them follow your example. If I look as though I feel comfortable in the water, the child will likely follow my lead and will begin to put their face in the water, float and swim much faster than if I give instructions without demonstrating the proper body position.
Why travel in the summer?
I started teaching on my own by teaching only in the summer. Then clients started to ask me if they could continue lessons in the winter months. I saw an opportunity to provide a seamless swim lesson experience that follows the clients back to their neighborhood pools yet provided the opportunity to continue lessons after the summer ended.
How long are lessons?
One hour in the summer and 60-30 minutes during the winter.
Will my child have to put their head under water?
I try to encourage children to put their faces and heads in the water so they can practice controlling their breathing. I do not force them. If they aren’t making progress, I can discuss with parents how best to encourage them.
Do you teach according to the Red Cross method?
Pretty much all swim programs use some version of the Red Cross Method. I combine elements of that with other “tricks of the trade” I’ve picked up to get kids moving and encourage their progress. My best method is the most obvious: listen to your client, show enthusiasm, demonstrate accordingly.
Do you teach kids on the Autism spectrum?
I do, and kids on the spectrum learn differently. Private lessons are ideal for kids with special needs because the lesson can be tailored to their specific needs with personalized attention. My clients on the spectrum vary from non-verbal to verbal and usually learn through play and example. I consistently redirect them back to the task with patience and verbal affirmation.
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