What will my child learn in 5 TKR lessons?

Your child will learn to hold their breath, put their face in the water, and swim both to the steps and wall of the pool. The final stage is learning what to do if they fall into a body of water; they learn to turn back to where they fell in, kick their feet, reach for the edge or steps, and climb out.

Why is the system so successful?

We have been successful because we teach with tender loving care and great patience; we are consistent and persistent, we build their skills on a gradual basis in the 5 days so the child becomes comfortable in the water.

At what age do you start teaching children?

We will begin instruction as early as ten months of age, although it is never too late to start. As soon as a child can crawl, they need to know how to swim. Statistics reveal that children under the age of 3 do drown and need to develop skills to increase their chances of survival should an incident occur. We teach children of all ages about water safety and provide swim programs designed for adults.

Why should we be concerned about teaching our child to swim?

• Drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in Florida.
• 75% of victims are ages 12 to 25 months old.
• 65% drown in the family pool.
• 33% drown in a neighbors’ or relatives’ pool.
• For every child that drowns, 4 are hospitalized for near drowning.
• 77% were missing less than 5 minutes.

Why should you use our program?

Our program is state and nationally certified equivalent to the American Red Cross and YMCA.  We have a professional team of positive, loving instructors committed to solving childhood drowning.  It is always a good idea to choose a licensed program with a proven system for success, plus a program with liability insurance and extra certifications.

Should children learn to blow bubbles before they are old enough to learn strokes?

It is essential that until your child is going to learn strokes, you never allow them to blow bubbles.  The reason for this is that their lungs act as balloons and help keep them afloat.  By blowing the air out and making bubbles will cause them to sink, making it harder for them to try and save themselves.

What should you know about the person/school you chose for your child’s lessons?

Ask questions when interviewing different swim schools.  See if they are certified, are they insured, how much experience they have had teaching the age group of your child and what age groups do they teach.  Are there classes offered for private lessons and group lessons.  Which method is the parent comfortable with for their child?

What is the philosophy of Baby Otter Swim School?

Your child’s instructor should have more than a lifeguard certification.  The instructor should have a national certification where they have learned the proper techniques to teach swimming or water safety.  Baby Otter Swim School has its own state and national certification. Our Turn, Kick, Reach (TKR) program teaches a child to save themselves if they should fall into the water.After that we start teaching beginning strokes and many more advanced levels all the way to the swim team. The instructor should also be certified in CPR.

Should I visit the pool where the lessons will be held?

We highly recommend that you visit the pool where your child is going to swim.  Is the pool clean, is it properly supervised with lifeguards, and is it a safe environment?  Is the staff courteous and helpful?

What type of swim lessons is most beneficial for a child’s first experience in the water, group or private?

As our philosophy states, we highly recommend private swim lessons for your child’s first experience.  After their private lessons of Turn, Kick, Reach, we suggest that you place your child in a group class with other children that have completed the TKR classes.  Look up under programs and you will see what your child will be learning.  After the TKR group class we suggest that a private class in beginning strokes is essential.  Again, look up under programs exactly what your child will be learning.  We start with 5 days of level 1.  Once this is mastered you can sign your child up for another 5 days of Level 2 and then the same with Level 3.

Which swim programs are qualified to teach toddlers?

You need to ask at what ages they start to teach children to swim.  If you have a toddler or a child that has never experienced lessons before, ask what specifically your child will learn.  When you call our office and inquire about lessons we explain exactly what your child will learn.  What exactly are you looking for your child to learn?