Also, Kathy, I teach completely differently for the following reasons. There are two groups of "swimmers" - those that wear goggles and do laps head down, and those that swim head-high, utilizing either breast stroke, side stroke, backstroke, or head-high crawl. Recreationally speaking at the ocean, lake or river, the majority of people swim head high, as it is safer, and more social. Therefore, I start swim lessons with kids or adults completely differently, and I think it highly benefits the confidence of both kids and adults. that is, I start in shallow water, approximately chest deep for the person, and we work on "Aqua-Dynamics" (hand and foot dynamics and biomechanics), which are the principals of water safety and self-lifesaving. And it may surprise you that this is the best way to start - teaching the principles of "lift" - that is - HOW TO SCULL WITH THE HANDS AND CREATE "LIFT", and HOW TO EGG_BEAT WITH THE FEET TO CREATE LIFT, (which is a breaststroke kick alternating cyclically. I teach this before teaching locomotion, because it is what will save their life. Once they are comfortable "treading water" and efficient and effective at it, then learning locomotion is a piece of cake. start first with hand sculling only, before teaching egg-beat, because one can stay head-high easily in deep water with simply the hands. Once they are finding success sculling and it is automatic, then teach them the mechanics of egg-beating with the legs and feet for added lift. When they are proficient with egg-beat, they can stay head-high with simply the egg-beat and not using their hands. then when they combine the two, they become fearless in the water. Transitioning to breast-stroke for locomotion forwardly is very easy for those that can tread water already. and then after teaching breast-stroke do I teach the side stroke, again which is a head-high stroke. Then you can teach the crawl. Locomotion styles, in all 6 strokes, breast, side, free, back-elementary / back-crawl, butterfly, all transition more quickly if the person is first comfortable in the water. Even if they never graduate beyond Breast and side stroke, they can both save themselves and even help others too. Hope this give you a fresh take on natural progression for most people.

teaching toddlers up to about age 5 is a bit different. Toddlers and young children have a natural head weight ratio much higher than that if kids ages 6 and above. For young toddlers, swimming underwater is very natural and even advantageous in those early years. Especially if they have started out that forst year with dad or mom going underwater. kids in those early years swim naturally like guppies underwater, and coming up for air when needed. Once their body starts to grow, at age 6 and up, they can learn to tread water , to rest and float, and to practice strokes.

Very Inspirational Nicole ! I want to learn more from you. The vision I have is to build a swim school network around "family swimming". I believe the key will be programming that is so much more engaging and tradition making for the whole family, as well as programming that attracts grandparents, parents, teens, children, boys and girls, men and women more equally and welcoming as a family. My experience today is that even at the "family YMCA" the programming is still very much segregated by degree of ability or by gender. We are missing an organized family activity that can bridge generational, and capability groups.

this will be perfect Nicole!!! I can't wait! Each speaker will have about 15-20 before opening up to Q&A. or the format can be interactive the entire time which ever you chose. let me know if you will need any overhead projection etc.