This is Brax. He is 16 months old and this was his second Toddler lesson.
In child development terms, a toddler is typically considered to be from around 12 months of age. In swimming, I generally class children as toddlers from around 15–17 months, depending on a range of factors.
Both of Brax's swim buddies were away this day, so I attempted to teach while recording. 😕 Not easy!
Brax has been attending lessons every week since he was 6 months old (except when he's been sick). He now has the skills and knowledge from Baby Gills needed to move into Bronze Gills.
⭐️ He gains his balance in the water while standing on the platform. A toddler's centre of gravity is much higher than an adult's because the upper half of their body is proportionally heavier. As a result, toddlers topple over much more easily, so learning to find their balance in the water is incredibly important.
⭐️ He is developing independence in the water while using a noodle. He can balance independently and kick confidently.
⭐️ He holds the platform and waits safely for the "Ready, Set, Go" cue.
⭐️ He leaves the platform, reaches out to grab me (usually my shirt), and lifts his face from the water independently.
⭐️ He can float comfortably with assistance.
⭐️ He can hold the wall independently and monkey along the wall with assistance.
🍼 The dummy is something I honestly don't give two hoots about. It's not our job to decide whether a child should have a dummy or not. We're not their parents and we're not childcare educators. We're here to teach them to swim. If a dummy helps a child feel comfortable during the transition into toddler lessons, then we're happy to work with that. As you can see, Brax didn't have it for the whole lesson. Once he was settled and comfortable, I was able to remove it.
Why do we get parents out of the pool at this age, even though many swim schools don't?
✨ Kids listen better when their parents aren't in the water. Fact.
✨ It's more convenient for parents, especially those with multiple children. Brax is the youngest of five. If we can get his parents out of the pool as soon as he's ready, it makes it much easier for the family to continue lessons for him and his siblings.
✨ It encourages independence and confidence. Learning to trust another safe adult and follow instructions without Mum or Dad right beside them is an important developmental step.
✨ It allows us to focus on teaching real swimming and water safety skills, rather than relying on a parent to assist.
Every child is different, and we only transition children when they're ready. For Brax, that time is now, and he's doing an amazing! 🤩
Growing Gills Swim School
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Providing quality life saving learn to swim, in a supportive enviroment.
09/06/2026
We expect a lot in our lessons so our swimmers can be safer out there.
We set high standards because water deserves respect.
We expect a lot here so our swimmers can develop lifelong skills that may one day save their life.
We expect a lot so they can simply have fun in and around our waterways.
Every challenge, every repetition, and every skill we teach has a purpose. We’re not just teaching children how to swim—we’re teaching them how to be safe, capable, and confident around water for life so we expect a lot here. 🌊💙
09/06/2026
Meet Nicola 🐠
07/06/2026
Reminder no lessons today due to public holiday
31/05/2026
🏊 TERM 3 BOOKINGS OPEN TODAY! 🏊
We have just 4 weeks remaining in Term 2 (our term finishes one week before the school term ends).
Please ensure all Term 2 fees are finalised.
Term 3 bookings are opening soon to allow time for:
• Class transfers and level changes
• New enrolments
• Preferred class time bookings
*** If your hoping for a place in term 4, term 3 is the term to secure it.
New families Interested in securing a spot for Term 3?
Enquire here:
https://b1101641.family-portal.com.au/public/enquiry
We look forward to another fantastic term in the pool! 💙🐟
(Existing enrolments roll over to new term)
Getting on the "not just a swimming instructor" trend currently going round in the swim world..
Guess who's discovered Chat gpt 😬🤣
25/05/2026
Sooo… last week’s comments left me pretty unfazed. Thank you to the people who had my back or reached out privately — I truly appreciated it.
Personally, I believe the only professionalism that came into question wasn’t mine. If I strongly disagreed with another person’s approach, a private conversation would’ve been my choice. But anyway… moving on.
One parent actually told me to jump onto the mums’ page and look at a post from the 29th of March. My kids are 12, 16, 18, and 20 now, so I don’t exactly spend much time on the mums’ pages these days… but wow. That post honestly knocked my socks off.
Reading through those comments reminded me exactly why my team and I do what we do. The effort, care, commitment, and passion we pour into our lessons every single week does not go unnoticed.
So instead of focusing on negativity, I’m choosing to focus on the incredible support from our families and community. I’m just going to share some of those comments as unofficial reviews, because they reflect the standard and quality we work so hard to provide for every child who walks through our doors. 💙
20/05/2026
I sent this as an email but incase it doesn't reach everyone...
Last year through winter, I removed kids swimmers while still in the pool so they could climb out and be wrapped in a towel at the ladder. The suckiest part of swimming through winter is getting out and getting dressed so having swimmers removed in the water limits that cold feeling once out. With the extra kids and instructors, I just want to gain consent from parents. I'll automatically assume consent unless told otherwise.
2 piece swimmers are great through winter, especially for the older kids so we can remove their top 1/2 and keep their botton 1/2 on. Just to get those shoulders covers as soon as they are out will make for a more positive vibe.
Another option is to put some un**es on under swimmers so they aren't hoping out rudie nudie.
There's kids older and parents would like them to strip off their top 1/2 in the water, they are more then welcome to. The childcare educator in me wants to protect both child and instructor, and keep bottom 1/2 on. Kids for about 3years of age we will ask them each time before we remove their swimmers.
This will just make life that bit easier for both kid and parent.
Dani and the Growing Gills team
20/05/2026
Parents "do big kicks"
Us thinking "don't say it. Don't say it"
Us- "actually we don't want them to do big kicks. Exactly the opposite in fact. We want them little and fast."
So Parents say "fast kicks" or "long leg kicks" or "splashy feet" or "fast feet" or "flicky feet" or "gentle kicks", we all know "gentle" is Dani's favourite word 😉... Don't say "big kicks", otherwise they will end up spending all their time kicking the air and using all their energy to go nowhere.
When the swim teacher says “gentle kicks” but Dad’s coaching like it’s the Olympic finals 🏊♂️😂
Friendly reminder: let the teacher do the teaching—we’re all here to keep the kids swimming and smiling 😄
14/05/2026
🎉🎉18🎉🎉
Happiest Birthday Jett who turns 18 today!
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1085 Bruxner Highway
Lismore, NSW
2480
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| Saturday | 7am - 11am |