r/SwimInstructors

Sorry if this has been asked before but is it okay for me to sign up for a bronze medallion course + efa if I only know how to swim freestyle, like I can do the timed test but I don't know other styles or egg beater. I am planning to take it at the lifegaurd academy

Hi all!

So I’m a private swim instructor and have been for many years. In the last 10 years of teaching privately (plus 5 years at a swim school before that), I get a lot of kids who are fearful of the water, going under, back floating, or are just generally nervous being in a lesson without their parents or a group at a young age. It’s usually their first lesson in that kind of setting. Honestly, I think those are pretty normal reactions, and that’s what I tell parents.

I know all the tips and tricks for making class fun, distracting criers, games, songs, not pushing too hard the first few lessons. I want kids to trust me and have fun learning.

Now onto my issue.

Because I teach private lessons, I rarely get kids I can’t get through to. We have plenty of time to go slow, lots of talking, and lots of fun activities where I can usually get a child to try anything at least once. I had one little girl maybe 5 years ago who would kick, bite me, and scream bloody murder if asked to do anything off the steps. We eventually discontinued lessons, although I continued teaching her brother. I was told she behaved that way outside of the pool too, so it was a behavioral issue the family was already working on.

I currently have a 5-year-old who had two decently good lessons with me last week. Even though they have a backyard pool, she was VERY nervous about coming off the steps. I was also told she had tubes in her ears from ages 2–3 and is very touchy about her ears even though she is medically good to go. I’ve worked with plenty of kids who have had tubes, so I assumed it would be similar. I was wrong. 😂

Not only is she a big 5-year-old, but she fiercely refuses to do anything that involves her head getting wet. The first lesson, I didn’t have her do anything involving her face in the water anyway, we learned swim terminology, kicks bubbles, lots of supportive skills. The second lesson we tried a little bit, but she was very nervous. She can blow great bubbles and does all the other skills we work on. She’s perfectly happy for most of the class.

After talking with her dad after lesson two, we agreed to just rip the Band-Aid off and that I’d really try to get her ears in for a back float and do a simple, quick submersion so she could see it’s not scary, she can do it, and her ears will be fine.

Wow…it did not go well.

Right off the bat she told me she did not want to go under or get her ears wet, clearly remembering my conversation with her dad. We started class easy and she was having fun. Then we moved to a supported back float with her head on my shoulder. Needless to say, because of her size I couldn’t even maneuver her enough to get her into position. Her legs were wrapped around me so tight, she was scratching and pulling at my arms and swimsuit, refusing to let go, yelling “NO!!”

This was after I had already shown her and talked with her about her ears not even going under. She was not having it. It’s important to note she goes right back to happy when we moved onto skills she was comfortable with. Night and day, screaming turns into a smile. She wants to be in the water.

I asked her to try and “kiss her ears” to the water, tried it on a wet kickboard, told her to listen to the fishies, explained we’d only be on her back for five seconds and then all done, and reassured her that I wasn’t going to let her go or let her leave class with water in her ears. I just wanted her to try.

It was a vehement “NO” over and over again.

Trying a baby submersion was even worse. I always tell kids exactly what we’re going to do beforehand, but it immediately turned into a tearless tantrum.

It wasn’t just with me, either. After our lesson, her older cousin (probably around 19 or 20) tried to get her to do a back float, and she reacted the exact same way.

She is SO strong. 😂 My back actually hurts today, I think I pulled something from how hard she was fighting those two skills, which we didn’t even end up doing.

This very rarely happens to me. In group lessons, kids often have a little peer pressure that helps them along. In private lessons, I can usually get any child to try anything eventually, and they end up loving lessons.

I’ve thought about breaking back floating and submersions down into even smaller steps so she can feel successful with each one. She’s even against getting her nose in the water.

How would you guys handle a child like this?

Her dad told me I have more patience than he does and to “just dunk her.” Honestly, I have done that with plenty of kids because I have a pretty good gauge on whether it will end up being a positive experience once they try (they blow bubbles, I can tell even if they are screaming, they are listening and will do it and be fine.) With this little girl, though, not only is she so stiff that I don’t think she’d have a good experience, but I’m honestly not sure I could physically make her do it. I genuinely got the impression I might make things worse if I did that and like I said above, 99% of kids I work with I do not think that.

What do y’all think? First question would be what would you do?

My mom is a special education teacher, and she suggested telling the parents that I’ll give her a few more lessons, but if this continues, she just might not be ready for lessons yet. I really hate to do that, though. She clearly has an extreme fear.

How can I explain to the parents that they may be paying me a lot of money for us to spend weeks simply getting her comfortable enough to put her face in the water? I want to set realistic expectations without making it sound like I’m giving up on her, because I’m not.

The very last possibility I considered while working with her and I know this might sound terrible 😂, was asking the parents why she’s so comfortable throwing that level of tantrum at an adult and refusing to even attempt something. Like, does she just get out of anything she doesn’t want to do?

I wanted to dunk her. 😂

But seriously, if you’ve been doing this a long time, part of the job is recognizing different parenting styles and how much they affect lessons. You can usually tell pretty quickly which kids have learned that a firm “no” or a meltdown gets them out of uncomfortable situations and which kids have a healthy fear of their parents and listen and participate even if they don’t like it.

I spend a surprising amount of time coaching parents too. Sometimes I have to tell them, “No, we aren’t getting out of the pool because of a few tears. You’re can step inside, but they’re staying in the lesson and participating, you can come back out when he/she calms down.”

Almost every parent appreciates it because, while it’s hard to watch your child struggle, learning to swim means working through some discomfort. Nine times out of ten, a lesson or two later the fake tears and excuses disappear, the child realizes they’re capable, and lessons become fun and productive.

With this little girl, though, I’m genuinely torn because I do think a lot of this is rooted in real fear. At the same time, I also think her parents need to help reinforce the process outside of lessons. If they’re still being extremely cautious about getting her ears wet during baths or showers(told me baths are an issue), it may be unintentionally reinforcing the idea that water on her ears is something to fear.

I almost want to tell them that on the days I’m not there, they need to work on making water around her face and ears a normal, positive part of life, and they also need to set the expectation that trying is not optional. She doesn’t have to like it, but she does have to try.

I don’t know…I’m really torn on this one.

TL;DR: I have a 5-year-old student with what seems to be an extreme fear of getting her face or ears wet. I can usually work through fear in private lessons, but she refuses to even attempt back floats or submersions and physically fights any effort to even try. I’m trying to figure out if this is something that just needs more time and tiny baby steps, if the parents need to reinforce these skills and expectations outside of lessons, or if she simply isn’t ready for swim lessons yet. Curious how other experienced instructors would handle this situation.

My daughter is 16 months old and we go swimming about 3 times a week.

She loves the water, but I feel like she’s starting to get bored because all I really do is carry her around the pool and let her splash.

Maybe this is a dumb question, but what are you supposed to do with a toddler this age in the water?

Should I be teaching any basic skills? Are there games, activities, or exercises that your toddlers enjoy? I’d love some ideas because I feel like we’re stuck doing the same thing every visit.

What does a typical pool session look like for your 1-2 year old?

Thanks! 😊

Hey everyone! im a swim instructor and i have 2 back float situations that i need advice for. Background im a starfish aquatics institute instructor and for the 1st level students have to jump in and float on their back for their swim test.

1. Students who are really tall and cannot hold their hips up. Some of the kids can touch the bottom which is great but when it comes to holding their backfloat they cant do it? Their chins are up, stomachs up, but they sink. I’ve tried using the occasional pool noodle to hold them that doesn’t work either. Which for that i only use the pool noodle to show them where their stomachs should be and then i remove it and try to have them hold their hips up. I also know that some people literally just can’t float but I really want to try to help before determining they can’t do it

2. Students who tuck their chin to get on their back. I’ve tried having them look at toys, up at mirrors, it does not work. I can’t figure out why they do this so if anyone has an explanation for that lol. The only thing that’s semi worked is having them hold on to the side of the pool and practice looking up. As well as having students put their heads back on my shoulder and push their hips up (works most of the time but sometimes it doesn’t)
   So if anyone has any advice that would be awesome!

Hey all, I (21F) have a 13y/o student who’s been taking lessons from me for several summers.

She can swim freestyle, backstroke, and breaststroke. However, she can only tread for 13 seconds even though we’ve been practicing it every lesson last summer.

She has a tall and lanky build which I suspect may be making it more difficult for her to tread. Also, she’s had a bad swimming experience where she was scared of drowning- and she seems more jerky/stiff while treading despite our drills which isolate arms/legs with noodles, and trying to relax while treading.

At my swim school, we only learned how to teach the kiddie version of treading (stomp feet and move arms), and not the eggbeater version.
I don’t know any drills for eggbeater-nor do I know the best way to break down the movements step-by-step to the student.

Any advice would be helpful!! I forgot how I learned eggbeater treading back when I was a kid 🥲

I recently got my lifeguarding certificate and am ready to apply to some jobs we have a local YMCA who is always looking for new lifeguards but because my schedule is quite busy I was wondering how the shifts work or when do you have to work

Does anyone have tips or strategies for working with kids who have sensory issues/a severe aversion to going underwater? For example, a kid who is otherwise understanding and following instructions, explains that they aren't *afraid* of going underwater, but gags and coughs if any bit of water gets in their mouth, and freaks out about submerging no matter what you do? I've had one kid who was like this and made extremely slow progress, requiring a full 30 minute lesson to work up to going underwater (with distraction and game breaks to avoid psyching them out too much) and then still being distressed afterwards.

I've worked with a lot of kids who are really *scared* of going underwater due to trauma or lack of exposure, and have been successful with the progression of pour water on the head > blow bubbles > surprise submerge > super excited praise, but I have less experience with kids for whom that strategy doesn't work. I've also had success with a related sensory issue (autistic student who hated wearing goggles), negotiating "Okay, we'll wear goggles for one lap of freestyle, then no goggles for the next lap," but haven't been able to apply that strategy as well to kids with a sensory aversion to water on their faces.

Quick edit - other body language and info from parents suggests other sensory issues, not just water, or i would assume it's a fear of water that the kid just isn't classifying as a fear for whatever reason

Thank you!

hi everyone!

I have a child in my SEN group sessions who throws/ spits up almost every lesson. he gets so excited to get into the water but he just throws up when he gets water in his mouth. parents say the last he eats is at school so im not really sure what to do?

I am also trying to teach him to blow out bubbles to help this situation but he doesn’t seem to get it what can I do to help?

I started a new job at a local swim school, coworkers are nice, job is fun— but to say I am disgusted by the level of cleanliness at that place is an understatement. I found out recently that they do not mop the floors in any part of the facility. Multiple of my coworkers told me this directly, they only hose down the deck if there’s something especially gross on it. They don’t mop under the showers either, despite the amount of shampoo making the floor underneath them dangerously slippery. I have never seen them sanitize any of the tools or toys we use with the kids (which many of them chew on). I bought a pair of swim shoes because I am NOT catching foot fungus this year, no way. I have no idea what to do, I want to bring it up to management, but I’m a brand new employee and don’t have much say yet I don’t think, and I’m pretty sure the managers already know, because they never check any of it anyway. They are also on deck frequently so they are able to see the grimy floors. Is this normal??? I started lifeguard training as well and just went over the part of the course that discusses hygiene and how the facility you work in is supposed to protect you. I am not seeing any of that here.

Hey everyone,
I'm a total beginner and finally working up the courage to learn how to swim. I signed up for private lessons at the Arlington city Rec Center (2 weeks, 1-on-1), but I'm nervous about whether it'll be the right fit.
I tried a college swim class before but dropped it halfway.

I felt behind, scared, and like the instructor didn't see my struggle. I was the only minority in the class, and everyone else was way ahead given they had some prior experience with swimming. I did pick up a bit of backstroke (it feels safer), but I can't freestyle at all, my kicks are weak, and I can't maintain a float.

Has anyone taken private swim lessons through a city rec program? Did it help? Any tips for building confidence or making the most of 1-on-1 time? I also learned my instructor might be a teenager, so l don't know how to feel about that. I'm in my early 20s and not sure if a teenager can handle an adult with built up anxiety. I called the office and explained my concern, but they told me I would be fine and they train adults too.

I am sacrificing by leaving my class 30 mins early to make it on time which my professor is ok with, but I don't know if it's worth it given it's a 4 week class.
I really want to try to do this, just need a little guidance. I don't want to spend money on something that would yield the same results as before.

Hello,

I'm a teacher going on a swimming trip with my special needs class this week and I'm nervous and confused on what to wear.

1. I don't have a swim suit yet because I've never been swimming. ( my school is aware of this but with the needs of the kids I have to go in with them if they choose to)

2. I have really saggy ladies so I'd imagine I'd need extra support under my swim suit but I've seen it's a taboo thing and I don't feel comfortable letting them free around strangers and coworkers.

3. I have to shower around my coworkers and kids because they need support with that so it raises worries about what to buy and what or wear underneath. I also have to be able to change fast

4. I'm the only black teacher which comes with a can of worms and I don't know how to deal with my hair for the pool and shower.

my current solution is buying a body swim suit that has a zip and wear a sports bra underneath. I don't know if I should buy swim panties as well to have under when it comes time to shower. please feel free to offer any constructive advice (don't be mean please)

What to do if I always blow dry my hair after washing and need it for work? Usually I shampoo once in 5 or 6 days. Now if I have to swim- I don’t want to be blow drying my hair every other day?

This happened when I was 19 on my swim team. One day during practice I forgot to tie my trunks. I dove in and started swimming… and my trunks stayed at the surface. I did a full lap completely butt naked and didn’t even notice.
I hopped out of the pool like nothing happened. That’s when the entire team started losing it, pointing and cracking up. I looked down and realized I was standing there in front of everyone with nothing on.
Thankfully it was guys only, so it was slightly less mortifying 😂 The worst part? We didn’t keep towels out by the pool — they were all in the locker room. So I had to do the naked walk of shame through a room full of people, covering myself with both hands the whole way.
Still one of the most embarrassing moments of my life.

My 3.5 year old son has a significant speech delay (minimally verbal, uses signs) and is sensory-seeking.

We started him in beginner swim lessons yesterday (4:2 ratio). He had a really hard time — he got out of the water once, splashed a lot, threw some toys, and basically didn’t participate in any of the activities. I actually shocked at how much idle time the class had. 95% sitting…

The instructor was able to redirect him, but it was maybe disruptive. I’m feeling discouraged and worried this might be too much for him right now. Has anyone had a similar experience with a late-talking or sensory-seeking toddler? Did it get better after a few classes? Would it be reasonable to ask to switch him to a Parent Aide class even though he’s a few months over the age cutoff?

Any advice from swim instructors or parents is appreciated. Thank you!

Can yall give me swimming tips to make me go faster and swim longer? But like tips no has heard before and are legit? Thanks.

tomorrow i’m starting my private lessons and really looking forward to it but the weather is not looking great. i normally will still teach in rain but the temp has me concerned. any ideas for ways to improvise when there is rain?