FAQs

Logistics & Location

Q: I live in [City Name]. Do you service my area?

A: My primary service area includes Pasadena, San Marino, Arcadia, and La Cañada, If you are located just outside these boundaries, feel free to reach out - I review every inquiry to see if your location fits within my daily “travel clusters”.

Q: Can you teach lessons in my above ground pool or mini pool?

A: Not effectively. To teach this program safely and provide the results I am known for, I require a standard in-ground, heated pool with a minimum depth of 8 feet at the deep end to safely teach beginner diving skills from the pool edge.

Q: I don’t have a pool? Can you teach my kids at a public or neighborhood pool?

A: I exclusively provide kids’ swim lessons at your private home pool. For safety, efficiency, and liability reasons, I do not offer lessons at public, apartment, condo, community, “borrowed”, or rented pools.

If you do not have a private pool, I encourage you to search for local providers who offer swim lessons at community pools or at their own facilities. There are many great local options to fit every budget and need.

Q: Why must the pool be heated to 88-92ºF?

A: For young children to progress, they must be physically comfortable. Cold-stress or shivering can stop learning immediately. For levels 1-5, 88-92º is required. For advanced students (Levels 6 & 7) and adults, 80-88ºF is appropriate.

Methodology

Q: What makes your program different from a standard swim school?

A: I am a Drowning Prevention Specialist. While standard lessons focus mainly on “swimming strokes”, my curriculum focuses on swimming as well as water safety skills.

Q: What is Water Competency

A: According to Water Safety USA, true competency involves three pillars:

1. Water Smarts: Knowing your limitations and awareness in, on, and around water.

2. Swimming Skills: The physical ability to enter, float, turn, swim 25 yards, and exit.

3. Helping Others: Recognizing a person in distress and knowing how to assist safely.

My 16-lesson program offers instruction in all three, not just one.

Q: Do you teach the butterfly & breaststroke swims?

A: Yes, I provide technical instruction for all four competitive strokes: Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Butterfly. Learning these strokes helps students learn buoyancy as well as efficient stroke mechanics that lead to comfort and confidence in the water.

Scheduling & Commitment

Q: What is the best age for my child to start swimming lessons?
A: Generally, children 2.5 years old and up are ready to participate in one-on-one instruction. Most preschoolers are independent enough to participate without a parent in the water. Please note that I do not offer Parent and Me classes or infant survival classes.

Q: How many lessons should I schedule for my child?

A: I exclusively offer a 16-lesson package.This ensures the consistency required for a student to retain skills and make measurable, long-term progress. Skill retention drops significantly with once-a-week lessons; therefore, twice-a-week is my minimum requirement.

Q: Do you offer 30-minute lessons?

A: I require a one-hour minimum per visit. However, the hour is flexible; you may divide it between two students (30-minutes each) or keep the full hour for one student. You may schedule less than 60-minutes, but the rate remains the same as it covers the specialized instruction as well as the travel time to your home.

Progress & Fear

Q: How many lessons will it take for my child to “swim”?
A: Every child is unique. It could one 16-lesson block, or it could take three seasons.

Readiness is influenced by physical development, temperament, previous experiences, home environment, parental attitudes, parenting styles, and personal preferences.

For most skills, there are simple prerequisites, activities and lead-ups that can prepare a child to perform skills. For example, before children are ready to put their entire face in the water, they may need to practice blowing bubbles, "wash their face", splash around and put parts of their face in the water first. How quickly a child progresses through these skills can depend on the factors above. Ideally, a child should participate in at least sixteen lessons every summer during ages 3 to 7 to develop full water competency, swimming skills, and water safety awareness.

Q: How many levels should my child complete?
A: Ideally, your child should complete up to Level 5 to develop full water competency. A child who has only completed up to level 2 or 3 may have acquired basic water skills but not yet mastered full swimming technique and water safety skills.

Q: What can I do to help my child?
A: You will be taking the first step by enrolling your child in a quality program. To help them succeed, schedule lessons regularly and take time for other practice and water play opportunities in-between lessons. This will help extend the lesson experience beyond the water and encourage discussions about safe practices in and around the water.

Q: Will my child become "drown-proof" after having swim lessons?
A: No person is ever “drown-proof”. However, high quality lessons are the first step in developing water competence, swimming skills and water safety awareness. Continuous practice, regular exposure to water and encouragement are the tools needed for long-term improvement.

Q: What causes fear of the water?
A: Fear can stem from many sources, including:

• Being raised by parents or caregivers who are afraid of the water and have either knowingly or unknowingly communicated this fear to their children.

• Being raised in an environment that prevents childhood water play, whether as a result of lack of opportunity or parental actions.
• Being forced into water activities beyond their ability or comfort level.
• Being carelessly handled in water experiences.
• Being involved in or witnessing a traumatic water accident.
• Having a fear of the unknown or a general fear of new experiences.

Q: What helps prevent fear of the water?
A: No matter how cautious, fear cannot always be prevented. You can help reduce fear in the following ways:
• Provide enjoyable non-threatening water activities that are simple and fun to build confidence and success.
• Arrange for regular, continued contact with a water environment for your child.
• Select safe water environments and supervise all water play.
• Treat water mishaps with empathy and do not alarm your child.
• Be aware of your facial expressions and choice of words so that you do not signal panic or fear.
• Try using goggles. This may help children explore under the water
• Teach your child “respect” (water safety awareness) for the water and water rules without implied threats or fear.
• Lead by example. Follow rules and enjoy the water with your child. Get your face wet and perform some of the simple and fun activities you observe them participating in during lesson time.

Q: What if my child already has a fear of the water?
A: Respect your child’s feelings. Progress slowly by following these guidelines:

• Provide plenty of time for your child to adjust to the new setting
• Concentrate on activities with which your child is comfortable and ready
• Expose your child to other children who are having fun in the water
• Enjoy the water yourself with your child

Q: Do you use aggressive teaching methods or “infant survival” techniques?
A: No. My method follows the child’s readiness. While I expect cooperation, if a child shows true distress, I reassess immediately. I do not believe in fear-based teaching or forcing skills before a child is ready. I teach at the child’s pace to ensure a happy, confident relationship with the water.

I offer a program that follows lesson plans as a guideline. But, every lesson plan always follows the child’s readiness to learn. If a child begins to cry during a swim lesson (which is rare in my experience), it is a sign that the child is experiencing discomfort and/or may not be ready to perform a skill. My teaching method includes doing an assessment the moment a child shows signs of discomfort. Parents may be asked if there are any issues I should be aware of. For example; whether a student is feeling under the weather, missed a nap, or might be upset about an incident that may have happened prior to the swim lesson. If I assess that the student is not ready for a skill at that moment, we move on to a different skill and revisit the skill the student was not ready for at a more appropriate time.

There are swim schools out there that force children into performing skills that they are not ready for, causing a child to cry and feel fear and anxiety during their experience in the water. These swim schools tend to be more concerned about showing results in a short period of time, rather than teaching at the child’s pace and providing a happy and fun learning experience in water. While I do not agree with fear-based styles of teaching water safety, I do believe “to each his/her/their own”.

Q: Do you offer adult swim lessons?

A: Yes. Private adult swim lessons can take place at your heated home or hotel pool.

HOME POOL WATER SAFETY QUESTIONS

Q: What rescue equipment can I consider for my home pool?
A: Consider having the following available in prominent and accessible locations:
• Reaching equipment, such as a reaching pole with a life saving hook

• Fiberglass reaching pole to attach the life saving hook to (to avoid electrocution during a rescue should the pool water be electrically charged from a faulty pool light or other source).
• A well-stocked first aid kit
• A telephone or mobile phone with emergency numbers posted near the phone (include your home address on the sign to tell the 911 or emergency number dispatcher in the event of an emergency).

Q: My child has been invited to a pool party. What can I consider to ensure his/her safety?
A: Consider asking the host the following questions before allowing your child to attend the party:
-What type of supervision will be provided? Who is the designated “Water Watcher”?

-Are the individuals who are responsible for supervising swimmers trained in CPR, first aid and water rescue techniques?

-What type of safety rules do you have at your pool?

Consider reviewing relevant water safety tips with your child before the day of the party. You may also want to consider asking the host if you may attend the pool party so that you may supervise your child.