Candis’ Swim Lessons

What an INCREDIBLE way to end the week!

I just wrapped up lessons with twins Revna and Hazel, and it has been so rewarding watching each of them grow in their own way. Even though they are the same age, what clicks first for each of them is completely different. Every child has their own pace, their own fears, and their own path to confidence in the water.

Earlier this week, I highlighted Revna as she worked on her breath control and learning to stay calm when she loses her balance. From the very beginning, we have been building that foundation for both girls so they can stay calm and in control when things do not go as planned.

Hazel, on the other hand, quickly excelled at going underwater and pushing off the bottom early on in our lessons. This is exactly why I love having a wide range of training and techniques as an instructor. There is not a single approach or curriculum that works for every child, and being able to meet them where they are makes all the difference.

But here is what made this week really exciting…

Even though they each started with different strengths, both girls reached a major water safety milestone.

One of the first and most important skills I teach is being able to calmly breathe while back floating until help arrives. From there, we begin building toward the bigger goal, because if a child can safely reach the edge and get out of the pool, that is always the safest place to be.

That is where this next progression comes in. Simple arm movements that allow them to move through the water while staying on their back, calm, breathing, and in control.

And this week, BOTH girls achieved it.

I am so proud of the progress they have made so far. These are the moments that never get old. 💙

If you want a feel good moment today, watch Hazel achieve this life-saving skill.

One of the most overlooked risk areas in a pool… the steps.

It may surprise a lot of people, but it makes sense if you think about it. The stairs are where kids feel the most comfortable. It’s where they play, explore, and build confidence. However, one small misstep can lead to them slipping beneath the surface into water that’s too deep to touch.

And in that moment, what matters most is whether they have gained the skills to properly respond.

At the earliest stages of learning to swim, it’s about building the foundation of self-rescue skills, including:

💧Submerging with breath control
💧Finding the bottom
💧Pushing off and moving toward safety
💧Returning to a standing position

These skills help a child stay calm, orient themselves, and regain control in an unexpected moment.

And often, what parents see during this stage looks like play. I intentionally bring out their favorite toys to encourage them to try something they may feel uncomfortable with at first.

Children learn best through play, through positive experiences that engage their senses and reduce fear.

So while it may look like play from the outside, what’s really happening is the foundation of water safety being built through repetition, skill development, and growing confidence in their ability to do hard, sometimes scary things.

Kody was diagnosed with autism at an early age and is nonverbal, which means communication in the water looks a little different. Instead of words, I watch for cues with his body language, his comfort, his trust, and the way he responds to the environment around him.

Like many children with autism, Kody is naturally drawn to the water. That connection can be powerful. It provides comfort, regulation, and sensory input… making water safety not just important, but absolutely critical.

I’ve been fortunate to expand my training through Swim Angelfish’s Swim Whisperers® Method, designed by an OT/PT team to better support swimmers with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, and other sensory or developmental needs. This specialized training gave me additional tools to adapt each lesson and meet swimmers like Kody exactly where they are.

He loved being underwater, so we started with increasing his breath control… then built to pushing off the bottom for air, back floating. And now we’re working on stroke development.

Kody swims almost every day. His breath control is incredible, his love for the water is undeniable, and he has strong foundational skills to help keep himself safe.

As Kody continues progressing, we’re very intentional about practicing safe habits, like rolling onto his back for air instead of lifting his head (which can quickly lead to a dangerous position). Because even strong swimmers need consistent reinforcement of safety skills.

Beyond swimming, we’ve worked on listening, following directions, counting, and so much more… skills that carry over into everyday life.

Watching Kody grow, trust, and thrive in the water has become one of the most rewarding moments I’ve had an Instructor 🩵

With April being Autism Acceptance Month I would like to move beyond general awareness and educate others on how this impacts the drowning statistics:

💧1 in 31 children are diagnosed with autism in the US
💧 leading cause of death for individuals with autism
💧160x more likely for children with autism
💧accounts for more tha 70% of wandering-related fatalities

This is why the National Autism Association strongly encourages families to prioritize swim lessons. This isn’t just a skill… it’s life-saving.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes moment… captured by mom.

You may recognize this future swimmer from a previous post where we were working toward independent rolls into a back float… and this week, Jack consistently accomplishing just that!

Swim lessons are so much more than just practicing isolated skills. It’s about practicing how these skills come together in real-life situations.

Just as important as the physical skills is the ability to remain calm. That calmness is what allows a child to find their back float when they need it most.

If we’re always assisting, catching them before they go under or picking them up the moment they stop swimming, we’re unintentionally holding them back. Instead, we coach within arm’s reach and give them safe opportunities to experience real-life scenarios.

Now, keep in mind, Jack has already demonstrated phenomenal breath control, which allows us to safely work through moments like this.

When you watch this video, you’ll see how calm he remains. He knows what to do, and he has the skills to do it. What you don’t see is that he started this lesson with some big emotions, we pulled him away from his favorite toys, and he knew he’d be challenged. But with the right approach, he worked through it and was all smiles in no time.

Big emotions are part of the process. At this age, children can’t always communicate what they’re feeling, and learning new skills can feel overwhelming. That’s why creating a calm, fun, and supportive environment is so critical.

We really saw Jack’s progress take off when we did three lessons back-to-back. That repetition gave him exactly what he needed to build confidence and trust in his skills.

When we follow progressive steps and build confidence little by little, the growth is incredible to watch 🥹

Next up for Jack:
➡️ Swim–float–swim across the full length of the pool
➡️ Continuing to practice real-life scenarios as a 2-year-old living his best life

So proud of this little man!