Wood School of Swimming

FAQ’s

So, where have you been?

Between the challenges of running a small business and having dermotologists tell me that I needed to get out of the sun, I was thinking it was time to retire from the swimming business. Well, I tried retirement but found that I still did a lot of thinking about swimming and decided to see if I could find an indoor pool to teach at. Fortunately, Sky View High School is allowing me to rent their pool. Many thanks to them!

Why are swimming lessons so important?

Water activities are Americans' #1 form of recreation. Swimming is a vital life skill. For people ages 1-24, drowning is second only to motor vehicles accidents as the cause of unintentional injury or death in the U.S. It is essential that everyone knows how to swim well enough to save themselves and someone else. Everyone, at some point in their life, will encounter water and wish they knew how to swim. Swimming lessons are some of the most important lessons you will ever purchase because, unlike music and other sports, swimming lessons may be the only lessons that actually save a life!

What swim program do you teach?

I have been affiliated with several different swim programs. In my opinion, there is not one perfect program. Because I don’t work for a swimming facility that tells me what I have to teach, I have the freedom to pick and choose the concepts that I agree with. This, combined with my competitive background, coaching and stroke technique knowledge, gives me the freedom to create my own teaching style. I have come to understand that competition is not for everyone but safety and having FUN in the water is! I continue to emphasize technique, or what I call “Swimming Secrets”, since technique is what makes swimming fun and easy.

What is the youngest age you teach?

I like my youngest swimmers to be four years old. I'll tell you why. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that, “children are generally not developmentally ready for formal swimming lessons until after their fourth birthday.” Throughout my years of teaching I have discovered this to be true. Age four seems to be the magic number to start kids in swimming lessons. They have developed motor skills appropriate for swimming and are able to follow simple directions. They are also more willing to leave mom or dad for a short time. This does not mean that you should wait to introduce your child to the water until they are four! Learning about the water should start long before formal lessons. I have always put my own children in the water at 6-9 months old just to play with them. I do not believe in the radical dunking of children in the name of drown proofing. I do believe in play, play, play long before age four, always with 100% fun, and always under very close parental supervision. You can email me and request a free copy of my E-Book, "Teach Your Child to Swim!" for ideas of what you can work on with your child when you take them to the pool!

Do children pass or fail?

No! I have abandoned swim programs that require instructors to “fail” children. This is a huge stress to some kids. I try to eliminate as much stress as possible. I simply expect them to do their best and progress at their own pace. Swimming is a lot like learning to read. Everyone can learn to do it, it just takes some of us longer to grasp than others. Just as there is “reading readiness” there is also “swimming readiness.” It is important that children have early exposure to water but not be forced to do something that they are not ready to do. This will only create fear and resentment. It is also important that we never make children feel like they are failing at swimming. Swimming is just too important to do that to them. It is more important that they know that they are doing well and are just progressing in a swim class. I don’t want my students concentrating so hard on a certain skill that they must “pass off” that they forget to have fun or don’t learn the other skills that are so critical to swimming.

What do you offer different than other swim teachers?

I always try to offer a more personal, less intimidating atmosphere to learn in. I will always have only one class in the pool at a time. Having only one class in the pool at a time limits the amount of waves, splashes, noise and other distractions. I also have an extensive background in the sport of swimming and water safety. I have been a U.S. swim coach, U.S. Swimming Stroke and Turn Judge, US Swimming Official, Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor, and a Waterfront Director and unlike your average teenage swim teacher, I have 4 kids of my own! Now what teaches you more about working with children than being a mom:)?

How do I know what level my child is?

Age and motor skills have a lot to do with what class your child will be in. Generally ages 4, 5, and 6 are Beginning. Ages 7, 8, and 9 are Intermediate. Advanced students are those who have a good understanding of freestyle (front crawl), back strokes, and have a good swimming foundation. This rarely occurs before age 8. Of course, there are exceptions to these ages and levels, depending on the amount of water experience your child has had. Please refer to the prerequisites for the classes. They must have these skills prior to entering the class! It is also important that you call to register, because I will ask you questions about your child to help assure proper placement in a class.

What is your cost?

Cost for fall/winter swimming lessons is $40.00 for 4, one-hour lessons.

When is my payment due?

Payments/ donations may be made on the first day of class.

Can parents stay during lessons?

Yes! Many parents say that they learn a lot about swimming just by watching. This also helps you to know what to practice with your child the next time you take them swimming. The bottom line is you know your child the best and you know if they would perform their best with or without you being there. Younger children always feel more at ease with a new task when parents are in close proximity. Also, it is great for a child to look up at mom or dad for a big reinforcing smile or a quick thumbs up! If you choose not to stay, children need to be picked up promptly after lessons. We cannot be responsible for children before or after their scheduled lesson times.

What about Goggles?

Most swimming instructors have a strong opinion about goggles. Mine is this: Closing your eyes when swimming is not an option. If you are swimming very far, you need to see where you are going to avoid injuring yourself or someone else. It really helps to learn to swim if you have a good fitting pair of goggles. That means they seal around the eyes and they don’t fill up with any water (for children, I like the "Speedo Junior" line of goggles, Speedo Jr. Hydrospex and Speedo Jr. Boomerang are my favorites). Some children can open their eyes while swimming, but the water distorts their vision and can sometimes cause irritation. Goggles really do help. Often, it is the sensation of water on or in the eyes that can make it difficult for one to swim with their face in the water. Invite your child to see a clear new world under the water with a good pair of goggles.

What is your swimming background?

My love for swimming began as a child living in Southern California where I would swim almost every day of summer (mostly to stay cool). I was raised in a family of competitive swimmers, but swimming did not seem to come natural to me. At one point I was convinced that I was not meant to be a swimmer. With a lot of encouragement from family and the help of great coaches, I found success in competition and fell in love with the sport of swimming. I loved discovering how to swim faster and easier. This began my fascination with stroke technique and hydrodynamics. I never liked to be told what to do in swim practice. I always liked being told why we did certain things in practice. I have tried to carry this over into my teaching. I decided that I had a lot of sympathy for struggling swimmers and I had developed an eye to recognize how to improve strokes. This is what really started me on the way to teaching and coaching. I wanted to help others understand the importance of swimming as well as how to swim more efficiently. I have now taught and coached hundreds of children for 17 years. I have been a U.S. swim coach, U.S. swimming stroke and turn judge and official, lifeguard, water safety instructor, waterfront director and have owned my own swim school.

Swimming Merit Badge Information