A 3-year-old student demonstrates the “swim float swim” technique under the supervision of our instructor, Kate.
SURVIVAL SWIM LESSONS: TEACHING CHILDREN TO BE CAPABLE & CONFIDENT AROUND WATER.
Drowning is the number-one cause of accidental death among children who 1-4 years old. Swimming lessons reduce their risk by 88%. However, as Nicole Hughes observes, “All swim lessons are NOT created equal.” In other words, there is a difference between swimming “lessons” for summer fun by the pool side, and actual lessons that give children a healthy respect for water and that equip them to be better protected around it.
Swim lessons provide a good time, but survival swim lessons teach critical thinking, survival skills, and, ultimately, help your little one’s development.
Our Classes
We essentially offer four different classes based on the age / stage of life that the child is in. Keep reading for an overview of each of our classes.
A 3-year-old student demonstrates the “swim float swim” technique under the supervision of our instructor, Kate.
Infant Survival
6 Mos. – Walking
Through short, repetitive lessons, your infant will learn to roll over from a face-down position onto their back, and to relax and breathe.
Class Details: 8- to 10-minute private lessons, 4 days per week for 4 weeks.
Toddler Survival
Walking
The child learns the “swim float swim” technique: swimming on his/her tummy, he/she rolls over to get air, flips back over, and swims to the nearest exit.
Class Details: 10-minute private lessons, 4 days per week for 6 weeks.
Youth Survival
Ages 4+
Older children capable of longer classes master the “swim float swim” technique.
Class Details: 20-minute private lessons at 2 days per week for 6 weeks or 4 days a week for 3 weeks. Your instructor will work with you to determine which schedule is best for your child.
Stroke Transition
Ages 4+
Children begin swimming further distances while learning proper kicking, breath control, and body alignment in preparation to learn to stroke.
Class Details: 20-minute private lessons, 1-4 days per week. Offered case-by-case for individual students.
Fun Group
Ages 2–6
Through engaging activities, your child will practice independently to maintain confidence and skill retention. Group class of up to 4 children.
Class Details: 30-minute group session, 1 day per week for 6 weeks.
FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on each toggle to learn more about Baby Otter and our lessons.
Infant survival is $300 plus a one-time $50 registration fee to hold your place.
Each of these courses are private one-on-one classes.
The duration of each of our classes is as follows:
- Infant Survival: 8-10 minutes, 4 days a weeks for 4 weeks.
- Toddler Survival: 8-10 minutes, 4 days a week for 6 weeks.
- Youth Survival: 20-minutes lessons at 2 days a week for 6 weeks or 4 days a week for 3 weeks (your instructor will work with you to determine which schedule is best for your child)
Once little ones are walking, they can learn to swim-float-swim. This teaches children to swim on his/her tummy, roll over to get air, flip back to swim, and propel themselves to the nearest exit.
Our lessons are typically on weekdays from Monday thru Thursday, and are held at the location that is most convenient for you—whether that’s at your home, a predetermined public pool, or our location in Farragut.
Upon signup, we’ll work with you to determine the days, times, and places of your child’s lessons.
Our Adaptive Aquatics program is designed to teach life-saving skills to children of all ages and abilities and help them embrace their natural affinity with water in a safe and beneficial way. While a traditional swim class will not usually be equipped to teach children with disabilities or on the autism spectrum, the Swim Float Swim class in an effort to suit the individual needs and abilities of each swimmer, we create a calming, patient and reassuring atmosphere.
Each of our instructors has successfully completed intensive training in Survival Swim Development and demonstrated the ability to teach infant and children swimming and survival skills. Their individual certification training consisted of over 100 hours of in-water practice teaching, as well as academic study in the areas of child development, behavioral psychology, and infant physiology. Their certifications are through the Survival Swim Development Network.
Collectively, our instructors have 58 years (and counting) of experience in teaching children how to swim. You can learn more about us on our Instructors page.
