Singing Swim School

One of my dear friends and Asheville Swim parent and nanny, Joanna Hewlett sent me this video of her 5 year old daughter reading my book to her 2 year old son.

My heart melted into a puddle beneath me.

I am living the story of the caterpillar, we all put in our own special way.

My friend sent me a video of the story being told in her home, in a familiar, safe and cozy place.

When that same story is brought into swim lessons, that same warmth, safety and familiarity with come with it.

Learn how to utilize this story song and swim methodology with your swim students or suggest it to a swim instructor you know:

I’ll include a link in the comments.

You can pick up a physical copy of the Caterpillar’s Song of Courage on Amazon.

Thank you, Joanna, for this video and for growing and teaching and inspiring the next generation right along side of me.

There is a new and almost ancient way of parenting and teaching that is not about techniques or tools but is more about:

“The courage to become aware, to be responsible and to be authentic. And often that’s where the relationship starts to feel safer both for the child and the adult.”

Find your way back to connection, regulation, presence and awareness.

Thank you, Ulrika (Happy Babies Swim)

Sometimes the best thing I can do as a swim instructor is… do less.

This family came to me with an almost 2-year-old big sister and her 6 month old infant brother. Big sister was upset after our first couple of lessons — and I could see it. No eye contact. Didn’t want to come to me.

That was on me. Even with 13+ years of experience, I still sometimes fall into the trap of trying to prove myself. I had moved too fast.

So I pivoted. I worked with baby brother. I taught Mom the techniques. And for big sister — I took all the pressure off and let her stay on the steps with Dad for as long as she needed.

A few weeks later, her mom sent me this video. 🎥

Face in. Gliding. On her own terms.

Submersion is the very first skill we build in the Story, Song & Swim structure — and comfort with water in the face is one of the most foundational ingredients for learning to swim. But no amount of instruction builds it stronger than trust and time.

Slow at the start pays off. Not just in skill — but in the building of trust and communication with a child and their family.

More on this coming soon. 👀 The Story, Song & Swim Starter Course is almost here.

The child is the curriculum.

This week I’ve been part of a lot of conversations about crying in swim lessons. I’ve never been comfortable with it — and I don’t believe it’s necessary.

Separation anxiety is real. We don’t have to separate the child from the parent.

Parents can be one of your greatest teaching tools.
Follow for more on the Story Song Swim approach.

The first lesson ends beautifully, with a couple opportunities for full submersions.

I don’t always submerge on the first lesson but sometimes my students let me know they are ready.

I use the same story and songs in every swim lesson.

The skills will build within the structure of the story and song.

Families often learn together to increase comfort and to continue the learning at home.

❤️

When she woke up from her nap, she heard a strange rumbling sound (we growl in the water)

And a strange humming sound (we hum in the water)

She looked WAY UP HIGH

Another chance to get that head back in the water.

There are lots of chances for this because learning to float is such an important skill.

The water is the primary teacher, so I set up the environment so my students can feel how the water supports them when they get their head back in the water.

We try many different techniques for comfort in a back float.

The trick is to find out what works best for each student and then let them experience it, without supporting too much.

I’ve been working on my course to help swim instructors and I can’t wait to share it with you!

The caterpillar in our story likes to be able to feel her feet on the ground all the time.

She climbed up that plant, but she’s careful to keep her bottom 2 feet on the ground. Cause she likes to be able to feel her feet on the ground.

Our students like to be able to feel their feet on the ground while they’re learning so they can feel secure.

While she naps, the wind swirls around her and sings to her a lullaby…

This is such a sweet moment of connection and learning in the story.

I help my students put one ear in the water and I maintain eye contact with them while I sing to them the song the wind sings to the butterfly while she’s napping.

Fuzzy caterpillar 🐛
Inching, inching by
When you wake up from your sleep
You’ll be a butterfly 🦋

When we stay low in the water, our students get an opportunity to experience how the water supports them.

We are building bonds of trust and connection with each other and with the water.

Learning buoyancy on her side is also important because being able to put one ear in the water will help a child transition from a swimming position to a floating position.

In the next part of our 🐛 story,
“She sees a nice, tall plant with lots and lots of leaves that reach way up into the sky”

This is the first opportunity to explore back float

-and to experience how the water holds us up when we are floating on our back.

When a child puts the back of their head back in the water, their body and naturally floats up.

This can feel uncomfortable for some children, so we start with as much security as we can offer while also allowing them to feel how their bodies respond in the water.

Teaching families together is so rewarding.

There is already so much trust there, so children are more at ease with a care taker in the water.

Today is a special anniversary

I take the time to remember the little baby with the sky in her eyes and the sun in her hair who was lost to drowning when I was 12 years old.

Her family lived very close to me when I was a kid in Central Florida.

The Beazers had me start babysitting for them when I was 10 years old.

Chelsea was the youngest of 3.

My family was always close by to help if needed. But the kids and I got along so well and I rarely needed help.

Chelsea’s mom, Laurel, saw my gift for connecting with children at a young age. She helped to cultivate that gift, and trusted me with her children.

The Beazer family had a pool and I found every excuse I could to get over there and swim in the pool. I discovered my love for swimming with the Beazer family.

I had such a hard time when the Beazers moved out west, and an even harder time after hearing about Chelsea’s fall into the pool.

I stayed with the Beazer family for two months this summer after Chelsea passed - playing with the kids and being close to Laurel, who I always felt a special connection to.

I remember one time hearing Laurel say that she just didn’t want Chelsea to be forgotten.

She’s never forgotten.

This short video has a verse of one of Chelsea’s favorite lullabies.

I sing it tonight. I remember it of Chelsea Beazer, the little baby with sky in her eyes and the sun in her hair.