INFANT AQUATICS WITH JULIE PARENT HANDBOOK
NEVER CONSIDER A CHILD WATER SAFE OR DROWN-PROOFED! ALL CHILDREN SHOULD BE CAREFULLY
SUPERVISED WHEN IN OR AROUND WATER NO MATTER HOW MUCH TRAINING THEY HAVE RECEIVED.
1. WHAT IS INFANT AQUATICS WITH JULIE AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SWIMMING PROGRAMS?
The primary focus of Infant Aquatics with Julie is to teach your child to become a productive swimmer or
floater in any depth of water. As a result of their instruction, your child will become a skilled survival
floater or swim-float-swimmer in just WEEKS, NOT YEARS. These skills will greatly increase your child’s
chance of surviving an aquatic accident, even fully clothed! We are different because we teach each
student with a gentle and encouraging approach, recognizing that each child is uniquely different. Your
child may learn one skill quickly and then it may take longer to acquire another skill. This is perfectly
normal for children. Like dance, sports skills or learning a musical instrument, learning to swim is a
process that must be nurtured and developed over time. It is a motor skill that will improve with
consistent exposure, repetition, and practice. Once a child has accomplished a skill, they will want to do
it again and again. They will feel secure, confident, and proud of their accomplishments. Rest assured
that acquisition of new skills and allowing your child to feel confident with their ability in the water will
be kept in balance throughout the learning process.
2. IF MY CHILD IS UNDER A YEAR OLD, WHAT WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LEARN?
Children between the ages of 6 to 12 months old are taught to roll over (from face down to face up) and
maintain a float position in the event of an accidental fall into the water. Teaching your infant to float
takes approximately 4-6 weeks (or about 16 lessons). Private 10-minute lessons are held 4 days per week,
Monday through Thursday. Fully skilled infants can maintain a float in a bathing suit or in clothing. Infant
Aquatics with Julie highly recommends survival training when your infant can roll well from belly to back
(face down to face up) and sit independently on dry land.
3. IF MY CHILD IS OVER A YEAR OLD, WHAT WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LEARN?
Children over the age of one year are taught to swim with their faces in the water, and when they sense
the need for air, to roll over to their back and float. After resting and catching their breath, they flip over
and continue to swim to the nearest point of safety. A child can perform this swim-float-swim sequence
to safely reach their point of entry into the water in a survival situation. Children can also perform this
sequence in their clothes. If a child does not see a way out of their predicament, they will roll over onto
their back and maintain a floating position. This buys the parent time in the event of an accident. This
same sequence is most often used for fun at the pool! The confidence and self-esteem of these young
swimmers is truly amazing! Teaching your 12-month to 6-year-old will take approximately 4-6 weeks (or
about 12-24 lessons). Private 10-minute lessons are held 4 days per week, Monday through Thursday,
for children under 4 years old. Private 20-minute lessons are held 4 days per week, Monday through
Thursday, for children over 4 years old.
4. ARE SWIMMING LESSONS FOR INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN SAFE?
YES! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends swimming and/or survival lessons for
children as young as 1-year old.
5. WHAT FURTHER LESSONS WILL MY CHILD NEED?
Learning lifesaving water survival skills is paramount. Keeping them up is equally important!
After the initial training, our 'graduates' move into Swim Academy for weekly lessons. Here, they
will maintain their skills (ensuring their skills are keeping up with their growing bodies as their centers
of gravity change) and also develop new skills, ultimately learning how to safely and confidently
become recreational swimmers. In the case of a water accident, the decisions your child will make
happen in a split second, and we want the skills that will save their life to become second nature.
6. WHAT IS THE COST OF LESSONS?
The one-time non-refundable registration fee is $125.00. This includes the required swim diaper and
wetsuit for all children, as well as one book (Ethan Saves Himself!) for the family. The cost of the lesson
is determined by session location and set prior to registration.
7. WHY ARE YOUR LESSONS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHERS?
These lessons are not more expensive. First, please remember that these are all private lessons.
Instead of your child being one of many, depending on the student/teacher ratio, our lessons are one-
on-one with your child and the teacher being the only ones in the water. Second, with our undivided
attention, your child will have a fighting chance to survive an accidental fall into the water, along with
the fundamental skills to safely enjoy the water in just 4-6 weeks. Most other programs don’t teach
survival floating at all and could take 3-6 years to teach basic swimming skills. No other program can
come close to what we can teach your child in a matter of weeks. We encourage you to shop around,
but compare the results achieved and the time frame involved, in addition to the price.
8. WHAT IF MY CHILD CRIES DURING LESSONS?
It is important to note that there are different reasons for crying and different degrees of crying. A
certain amount of crying or complaining is to be expected from most beginners and is not cause for
concern. At first, your child may show some reluctance. A positive attitude from parents and caregivers
will go a long way in reassuring a reluctant child. You will see that as skills are developed, your child will
settle into the lesson routine and may very well begin to enjoy their newfound skills. We use a variety of
methods so that each child gains trust in the instructor and in the lesson process. We believe no child
should be subjected to a fearful or intimidating learning environment. However, it is unrealistic to say
that children never cry during swimming lessons. In some instances, babies may become tired or hungry
during the lesson and sometimes they may cry as a means of complaining about having to work in the
water. Frequently they cry because they are learning new skills that they have yet to master. These cries
are very different than a fearful cry and instructors are in-tune to those differences. It is important for
parents to offer enthusiastic support, not sympathy, for their child’s efforts and hard work.
9. WILL MY CHILD BE DROWN-PROOF?
No. Nobody can ever drown-proof your child. Be leery of any program that advertises they can.
However, children who possess basic survival swimming skills have a significantly higher chance of
surviving an accidental and unsupervised fall into the water. The goal of Infant Aquatics with Julie is to
provide your child with these life-saving skills.
10. DO YOU ALLOW THE PARENTS TO BE IN THE WATER DURING THE LESSONS?
Parents of 1-year-olds are invited and encouraged to be in the pool with children during initial lessons.
We have found that in-water participation with this age group gives parents valuable experience and
added comfort, while resulting in happier students who learn to swim in less time. I recommend that
parents wear a bathing suit and get in for the first day or two. One-year-olds seem to be more upset
about leaving their mothers than anything else, so if a parent is in the pool, it alleviates some of the
anxiety associated with being in a strange environment with a strange person. The same is not true,
however, for infants under 1 year and children over 2-years-old. Bringing a parent in the water with
younger infants (6-12 months) and children over the age of 2 typically impedes the learning process.
Teaching younger infants breath control with parents in the water is more difficult. It’s also challenging
to peel a two-year-old off the parent, so I usually recommend waiting until we get older children
swimming before bringing parents into the water.
11. WHAT IF MY CHILD IS AFRAID OF THE WATER?
Some of the more common causes of early fear of the water have to do with the way parents or
caregivers relate to children in and around water. Being involved in water activities before being
properly skilled, having parents who are afraid of the water and who have either knowingly or
unknowingly communicated this fear to their children, being raised in an environment that prohibits
childhood water play, whether as a result of lack of opportunity or parental actions, and experiencing or
witnessing a traumatic water incident can all cause very valid fears in young children. Because we
understand this, we commit to be relaxed, patient, and understanding toward your child, provide a
reasonable amount of control to a frightened child, and create a positive learning environment with
praise, toys and activities that promote the learn-to-swim process.
12. WHY DON’T YOU TEACH INFANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS?
Children under the age of 6 months are not developmentally mature enough to benefit from Infant
Aquatics instruction. If an infant cannot roll well from belly to back (face down to face up) on dry land,
they will not be able to perform that sequence in the water.
13. WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION?
If you believe your child has any medical condition that might reasonably affect their safe participation
in lessons, please explain the condition to Infant Aquatics with Julie PRIOR TO ENROLLING in lessons. If
you are aware of or suspect that your child has a pre-existing medical condition, written clearance to
swim from your child’s physician must be provided before lessons begin.
14. WHAT ABOUT FLOTATION DEVICES AND LIFE JACKETS?
Flotation devices give children a false sense of security and hold them in postures that are not
compatible with swimming skills. If a child wearing or using a flotation device learns that they can jump
into the water and go into a vertical posture allowing them to breathe, they are getting the wrong idea
about how to stay safe. Flotation devices are for children who cannot swim. Children who cannot swim
should not be allowed to learn that it is safe to play in the water while relying on a crutch. Life jackets
must be worn in a boat or around the water when there is the potential for an accidental submersion.
They are not a substitute for the ability to swim or for adult supervision.
15. WHAT IF WE ARE LATE OR MISS A LESSON?
Swimming lessons are approximately 10 minutes in length, four days per week, Monday through
Thursday, for children under 4 years of age, and 20 minutes in length, four days per week, Monday
through Thursday, for children over the age of 4. Since your lessons are short, it is helpful if you arrive
10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled time. This allows sufficient time to have your child ready to go
into the water (without rushing) at the scheduled time. If you are late, the instructor will try to fit you in
whenever possible, but your lesson time might be shortened. Consistency is a very important ingredient of the program.
Steady attendance will increase your child’s rate of progress. Because of heavy
scheduling, we are unable to offer make-up lessons. If you find you have a conflict on a certain day, it
may be possible to make advance arrangements with another parent to switch your lesson time.
Sometimes it may be possible to add you to the end of the instructor’s schedule. Please talk with your
instructor if this should occur.
16. WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR EATING/DRINKING/RESTING BEFORE AND AFTER LESSONS?
DO NOT FEED YOUR CHILD FOR FOUR HOURS BEFORE THEIR LESSON. DO NOT ALLOW FRUIT,
VEGETABLES, MEAT OR MILK PRODUCTS FOR SIX HOURS BEFORE THE LESSON. (THIS INCLUDES
FORMULA, MILK, EGGS, CHEESE, AND YOGURT). Breast milk, Rice Dream, toast, and cereal (without fruit
or nuts) may be given four hours before a lesson. Some children swallow a lot of air and some water
during the lessons. When the stomach is distended, the muscles tighten up across the abdomen, and a
child will burp. If there is food in the stomach when this happens, the food will come out with the air
and the child will split up in the pool. The pool filtration system will clear the pool quickly, so if this
happens to your child, do not be frightened or distressed. This happens to some children regardless and
is not anything to worry about but controlling feedings just before the lessons will help.
17. WHAT SHOULD I BUY PRIOR TO LESSONS AND/OR BRING EACH DAY?
Please plan to arrive about 15-minutes prior to your lesson and remember to bring two towels for each
child. The first towel is used to dry off immediately upon leaving the pool. The second towel is to keep
your child warm while they are relaxing after swimming. Reusable swim diapers are required for all children
under the age of 4 years (even if they are fully potty trained), as well as any child who is not 100% potty
trained, and are the only ones allowed in the pool. Our wetsuits are also required for all students under
4 years of age. A single wetsuit is included in the registration fee. I will bring the
ordered size on the first day of lessons. When your child outgrows it, additional wetsuits are available for purchase.
SUPERVISED WHEN IN OR AROUND WATER NO MATTER HOW MUCH TRAINING THEY HAVE RECEIVED.
1. WHAT IS INFANT AQUATICS WITH JULIE AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER SWIMMING PROGRAMS?
The primary focus of Infant Aquatics with Julie is to teach your child to become a productive swimmer or
floater in any depth of water. As a result of their instruction, your child will become a skilled survival
floater or swim-float-swimmer in just WEEKS, NOT YEARS. These skills will greatly increase your child’s
chance of surviving an aquatic accident, even fully clothed! We are different because we teach each
student with a gentle and encouraging approach, recognizing that each child is uniquely different. Your
child may learn one skill quickly and then it may take longer to acquire another skill. This is perfectly
normal for children. Like dance, sports skills or learning a musical instrument, learning to swim is a
process that must be nurtured and developed over time. It is a motor skill that will improve with
consistent exposure, repetition, and practice. Once a child has accomplished a skill, they will want to do
it again and again. They will feel secure, confident, and proud of their accomplishments. Rest assured
that acquisition of new skills and allowing your child to feel confident with their ability in the water will
be kept in balance throughout the learning process.
2. IF MY CHILD IS UNDER A YEAR OLD, WHAT WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LEARN?
Children between the ages of 6 to 12 months old are taught to roll over (from face down to face up) and
maintain a float position in the event of an accidental fall into the water. Teaching your infant to float
takes approximately 4-6 weeks (or about 16 lessons). Private 10-minute lessons are held 4 days per week,
Monday through Thursday. Fully skilled infants can maintain a float in a bathing suit or in clothing. Infant
Aquatics with Julie highly recommends survival training when your infant can roll well from belly to back
(face down to face up) and sit independently on dry land.
3. IF MY CHILD IS OVER A YEAR OLD, WHAT WILL THEY BE ABLE TO LEARN?
Children over the age of one year are taught to swim with their faces in the water, and when they sense
the need for air, to roll over to their back and float. After resting and catching their breath, they flip over
and continue to swim to the nearest point of safety. A child can perform this swim-float-swim sequence
to safely reach their point of entry into the water in a survival situation. Children can also perform this
sequence in their clothes. If a child does not see a way out of their predicament, they will roll over onto
their back and maintain a floating position. This buys the parent time in the event of an accident. This
same sequence is most often used for fun at the pool! The confidence and self-esteem of these young
swimmers is truly amazing! Teaching your 12-month to 6-year-old will take approximately 4-6 weeks (or
about 12-24 lessons). Private 10-minute lessons are held 4 days per week, Monday through Thursday,
for children under 4 years old. Private 20-minute lessons are held 4 days per week, Monday through
Thursday, for children over 4 years old.
4. ARE SWIMMING LESSONS FOR INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN SAFE?
YES! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends swimming and/or survival lessons for
children as young as 1-year old.
5. WHAT FURTHER LESSONS WILL MY CHILD NEED?
Learning lifesaving water survival skills is paramount. Keeping them up is equally important!
After the initial training, our 'graduates' move into Swim Academy for weekly lessons. Here, they
will maintain their skills (ensuring their skills are keeping up with their growing bodies as their centers
of gravity change) and also develop new skills, ultimately learning how to safely and confidently
become recreational swimmers. In the case of a water accident, the decisions your child will make
happen in a split second, and we want the skills that will save their life to become second nature.
6. WHAT IS THE COST OF LESSONS?
The one-time non-refundable registration fee is $125.00. This includes the required swim diaper and
wetsuit for all children, as well as one book (Ethan Saves Himself!) for the family. The cost of the lesson
is determined by session location and set prior to registration.
7. WHY ARE YOUR LESSONS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHERS?
These lessons are not more expensive. First, please remember that these are all private lessons.
Instead of your child being one of many, depending on the student/teacher ratio, our lessons are one-
on-one with your child and the teacher being the only ones in the water. Second, with our undivided
attention, your child will have a fighting chance to survive an accidental fall into the water, along with
the fundamental skills to safely enjoy the water in just 4-6 weeks. Most other programs don’t teach
survival floating at all and could take 3-6 years to teach basic swimming skills. No other program can
come close to what we can teach your child in a matter of weeks. We encourage you to shop around,
but compare the results achieved and the time frame involved, in addition to the price.
8. WHAT IF MY CHILD CRIES DURING LESSONS?
It is important to note that there are different reasons for crying and different degrees of crying. A
certain amount of crying or complaining is to be expected from most beginners and is not cause for
concern. At first, your child may show some reluctance. A positive attitude from parents and caregivers
will go a long way in reassuring a reluctant child. You will see that as skills are developed, your child will
settle into the lesson routine and may very well begin to enjoy their newfound skills. We use a variety of
methods so that each child gains trust in the instructor and in the lesson process. We believe no child
should be subjected to a fearful or intimidating learning environment. However, it is unrealistic to say
that children never cry during swimming lessons. In some instances, babies may become tired or hungry
during the lesson and sometimes they may cry as a means of complaining about having to work in the
water. Frequently they cry because they are learning new skills that they have yet to master. These cries
are very different than a fearful cry and instructors are in-tune to those differences. It is important for
parents to offer enthusiastic support, not sympathy, for their child’s efforts and hard work.
9. WILL MY CHILD BE DROWN-PROOF?
No. Nobody can ever drown-proof your child. Be leery of any program that advertises they can.
However, children who possess basic survival swimming skills have a significantly higher chance of
surviving an accidental and unsupervised fall into the water. The goal of Infant Aquatics with Julie is to
provide your child with these life-saving skills.
10. DO YOU ALLOW THE PARENTS TO BE IN THE WATER DURING THE LESSONS?
Parents of 1-year-olds are invited and encouraged to be in the pool with children during initial lessons.
We have found that in-water participation with this age group gives parents valuable experience and
added comfort, while resulting in happier students who learn to swim in less time. I recommend that
parents wear a bathing suit and get in for the first day or two. One-year-olds seem to be more upset
about leaving their mothers than anything else, so if a parent is in the pool, it alleviates some of the
anxiety associated with being in a strange environment with a strange person. The same is not true,
however, for infants under 1 year and children over 2-years-old. Bringing a parent in the water with
younger infants (6-12 months) and children over the age of 2 typically impedes the learning process.
Teaching younger infants breath control with parents in the water is more difficult. It’s also challenging
to peel a two-year-old off the parent, so I usually recommend waiting until we get older children
swimming before bringing parents into the water.
11. WHAT IF MY CHILD IS AFRAID OF THE WATER?
Some of the more common causes of early fear of the water have to do with the way parents or
caregivers relate to children in and around water. Being involved in water activities before being
properly skilled, having parents who are afraid of the water and who have either knowingly or
unknowingly communicated this fear to their children, being raised in an environment that prohibits
childhood water play, whether as a result of lack of opportunity or parental actions, and experiencing or
witnessing a traumatic water incident can all cause very valid fears in young children. Because we
understand this, we commit to be relaxed, patient, and understanding toward your child, provide a
reasonable amount of control to a frightened child, and create a positive learning environment with
praise, toys and activities that promote the learn-to-swim process.
12. WHY DON’T YOU TEACH INFANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 6 MONTHS?
Children under the age of 6 months are not developmentally mature enough to benefit from Infant
Aquatics instruction. If an infant cannot roll well from belly to back (face down to face up) on dry land,
they will not be able to perform that sequence in the water.
13. WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION?
If you believe your child has any medical condition that might reasonably affect their safe participation
in lessons, please explain the condition to Infant Aquatics with Julie PRIOR TO ENROLLING in lessons. If
you are aware of or suspect that your child has a pre-existing medical condition, written clearance to
swim from your child’s physician must be provided before lessons begin.
14. WHAT ABOUT FLOTATION DEVICES AND LIFE JACKETS?
Flotation devices give children a false sense of security and hold them in postures that are not
compatible with swimming skills. If a child wearing or using a flotation device learns that they can jump
into the water and go into a vertical posture allowing them to breathe, they are getting the wrong idea
about how to stay safe. Flotation devices are for children who cannot swim. Children who cannot swim
should not be allowed to learn that it is safe to play in the water while relying on a crutch. Life jackets
must be worn in a boat or around the water when there is the potential for an accidental submersion.
They are not a substitute for the ability to swim or for adult supervision.
15. WHAT IF WE ARE LATE OR MISS A LESSON?
Swimming lessons are approximately 10 minutes in length, four days per week, Monday through
Thursday, for children under 4 years of age, and 20 minutes in length, four days per week, Monday
through Thursday, for children over the age of 4. Since your lessons are short, it is helpful if you arrive
10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled time. This allows sufficient time to have your child ready to go
into the water (without rushing) at the scheduled time. If you are late, the instructor will try to fit you in
whenever possible, but your lesson time might be shortened. Consistency is a very important ingredient of the program.
Steady attendance will increase your child’s rate of progress. Because of heavy
scheduling, we are unable to offer make-up lessons. If you find you have a conflict on a certain day, it
may be possible to make advance arrangements with another parent to switch your lesson time.
Sometimes it may be possible to add you to the end of the instructor’s schedule. Please talk with your
instructor if this should occur.
16. WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR EATING/DRINKING/RESTING BEFORE AND AFTER LESSONS?
DO NOT FEED YOUR CHILD FOR FOUR HOURS BEFORE THEIR LESSON. DO NOT ALLOW FRUIT,
VEGETABLES, MEAT OR MILK PRODUCTS FOR SIX HOURS BEFORE THE LESSON. (THIS INCLUDES
FORMULA, MILK, EGGS, CHEESE, AND YOGURT). Breast milk, Rice Dream, toast, and cereal (without fruit
or nuts) may be given four hours before a lesson. Some children swallow a lot of air and some water
during the lessons. When the stomach is distended, the muscles tighten up across the abdomen, and a
child will burp. If there is food in the stomach when this happens, the food will come out with the air
and the child will split up in the pool. The pool filtration system will clear the pool quickly, so if this
happens to your child, do not be frightened or distressed. This happens to some children regardless and
is not anything to worry about but controlling feedings just before the lessons will help.
17. WHAT SHOULD I BUY PRIOR TO LESSONS AND/OR BRING EACH DAY?
Please plan to arrive about 15-minutes prior to your lesson and remember to bring two towels for each
child. The first towel is used to dry off immediately upon leaving the pool. The second towel is to keep
your child warm while they are relaxing after swimming. Reusable swim diapers are required for all children
under the age of 4 years (even if they are fully potty trained), as well as any child who is not 100% potty
trained, and are the only ones allowed in the pool. Our wetsuits are also required for all students under
4 years of age. A single wetsuit is included in the registration fee. I will bring the
ordered size on the first day of lessons. When your child outgrows it, additional wetsuits are available for purchase.