Frequently Asked Questions

(I LOVE QUESTIONS, ASK AWAY! These are some that come up a lot)

How would you describe your teaching style?

I’m technical but fun! I care about the proper way to do a thing and believe if a student is taught proper mechanics from the start they will be much more comfortable. I treat every student with respect no matter their age and believe people should always be addressed directly (even babies). I will explain what we’re going to try to do before each step and check in with the student to be sure they’re comfortable with the pace. I believe the most important element of learning a new skill is understanding, I will not simply put anyone through the motions, I want them to know WHY it works this way.

Where do you teach?

Anywhere you’re willing to host. I live in Atwater Village and travel 5 miles in any direction at no charge. Outside of that area I charge $.55/mile in each direction. This is a trip fee and if multiple lessons are booked at one location only ONE trip fee will be assessed per date booked. I do not currently own or lease my own location.

What Makes you different from other in home options?

I’m a college educated, empathic, creative and kind mom. I am uniquely talented at explaining how swimming works and going with the flow. I’m professional but also good at helping people relax and I’m fun!

How long before my child is watersafe?

Please, please, please stop saying that. Watersafe isn’t a thing. Olympic swimmers aren’t watersafe because water is a hazardous environment. Even very strong swimmers under the age of 5 should always be within arm’s reach of a parent or caretaker. Even very strong swimmers age 6 and over should have eyes on them at all times. Even adults shouldn’t swim alone. I take safety very seriously and am always happy to discuss the timeline for swim goals.

Ok, so how long before my child will swim?

This depends so much on each individual child. Most children over 3 are swimming a bit within a few lessons. Most students (even adults) will require several months of practice to be truly proficient at navigating this new element.

What age do you recommend students start?

This depends on personal goals and patience with your child acquiring new skills. The older a student the faster they will learn (generally). 2 years is a good age to introduce breath control and swim mechanics (kicking and paddling) but many students have a lot of fear of being dropped at this age so the process takes much more time. A 3 or 4 year old is able to grasp the new concepts quickly but may have built up anxiety about going underwater.

Do you teach babies?

I do work with a few babies, I am happy to do an assessment lesson with you and your baby (a parent or caretaker must always be in the water with new students under 3), I love babies and have taught babies in the past but this process is very slow. I teach babies similarly to how I teach other ages, by explaining to them what we’re doing and how the water works. This is not a typical mommy & me class.

Do you teach adults?

YES! I love working with adults just as much as I love working with kids, my oldest student was 82 when I taught her. If you’re an adult who wants to learn I can’t wait to work with you!

Do you teach strokes?

YES! I teach front crawl (typically called freestyle), breaststroke, backstroke (elementary and back crawl) and butterfly. I also teach floating, basic diving, flip turns and treading.

How many lessons do I have to book?

As many or as few as you’d like. You can literally book one at a time and pay as you go (all lessons must be paid in full at least 24 hours in advance) or you can set up the whole summer at once. I understand that life requires flexibility and am happy to customize your schedule.

Can I reschedule lessons once they are set?

YES! I am happy to be flexible. I understand that kids get sick, weather gets bad and things come up. There is a $25 fee to reschedule a lesson if I am already en route to your house. I handle all reschedules on a case by case basis. While I am very understanding I do reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee if reschedules become excessive.