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.

Parent Child
6 Mos. – toddler

Little ones along with a parent or caregiver, will be introduced to the aquatic environment – splashing, bonding, and making new friends. This program is an optional precursor to our survival lessons and gets your baby comfortable with our instructors and pool.

Class Details: 25-30-minute group class of 5. Mon/Wed or Tue/Thur days per week, for 3 weeks.

Infant Survival
6 Mos. – Walking

Through short, repetitive lessons infant are taught to roll over from a face-down position onto their back and float.

Class Details: 8- to 15-minute private lessons, 4 days per week for 6 weeks.

Toddler Survival
Walking

Children are taught the “swim float swim” technique: swimming on their tummy, rolls over to float, flip back and kick to the nearest exit.

Class Details: 15-minute private lessons, 4 days per week for 6 weeks.

Youth Survival
Ages 5-6 years

Older children capable of longer classes master the “swim float swim” technique.

Class Details: 30-minute private lessons are 4 days a week for 3 weeks. Your instructor will work with you to determine if the longer lessons is best for your child.

Stroke Development
Ages 5+

In this class children learning proper breath control, freestyle, backstroke, kicking, core rotation and turns in preparation for swim team.

Class Details: 30-minute private lessons, 2 days per week, for 3 weeks. Offered case-by-case for individual students.

Fun Group
Ages 2–4

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, once a week.

FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS

Click on each toggle to learn more about Baby Otter and our lessons.

Our lessons are for children 6 months and older. Contact us today and we’ll work with you to figure out which class is a good fit.

Toddler and Youth is $840 plus a non refundable $50 registration fee.

Stroke Development is $420 plus a non refundable $50 registration fee.

Infant survival is $840 plus a non refundable $50 registration fee.

Each of these courses are private one-on-one classes.

Parent Child Mon/Wed or Tue/Thur $210.00 (6 group classes) or M-Th $420.00 (12 group classes), plus a non refundable $50 registration fee.

Scholarships If you or someone you know is in need of a scholarship please visit HopeFloats.Foundation to learn more.

Survival Swim Lessons require a high level of commitment and consistency and it is important that you plan your schedule lessons when travel/appointments will not keep you from attend all scheduled classes.

While each child learns at their own pace we do ask that you commit to a session. The duration of each of our classes is as follows:

  • Infant Survival: 8-15 minutes, 4 days a weeks for 6 weeks.
  • Toddler Survival: 8-15 minutes, 4 days a week for 6 weeks.
  • Youth Survival: 30-minutes lessons, 4 days a week for 3 weeks.

While most children learn in the approximate weeks, we encourage maintenance lessons to practice their skills as they grow. Like any other sport, it needs to be practiced to be retained.

We use a gentle approach in teaching survival skills to all ages. Our lessons are private one on one allowing each student to receive undivided attention and encouragement to progress in these skills.

For an infant who is not yet walking, we teach them to rollover from a face-down position onto their back to relax, breathe, and float until help arrives.

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 on weekdays from Monday thru Thursday.

We use a private, heated, saltwater pool in Farragut.

Upon signup, we’ll work with you to determine the class time for your child’s lessons.

Swim Float Swim training focuses heavily on water safety and survival, and we believe that every child should have the opportunity to benefit from these fundamental skills and enjoy water in a safe and comfortable environment, including children with disabilities and on the autism spectrum.

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.

PARENTS & LOVED ONES TRUST BABY OTTER.

Wonderful teachers, excellent teaching technique. We cannot say enough good things about Lynn and the Baby Otter Survival Swim Academy teachers.

“-Heather Phipps Smith

Help protect the lives of the little ones you love.

Drowning is the #1 cause of death among children 1-4 years old. Survival swim lessons reduce the risk by 88%.