Clearwater Florida Pool Homes - Safety Tips
Pools & Kids that can't Swim Don't Mix
Whether you have a Clearwater pool home or not if you have kids then teaching them how to swim should be a priority in the Tampa Bay area. Unfortunately drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5 in Florida.
We don't have a pool at our home and so as life would have it our youngest son has avoided becoming a proficient swimmer - now this is hard for me to believe since I've been swimming since I was 2 years old and swam competitively into High School.
It just kind of happened and then before we knew it he had a "phobia" of putting his head under water. He would even voice that he thought he would drown. (it broke my heart) When I had approached taking lessons he would become hysterical and obviously terrified. I asked around to find a good swim teacher. The same name kept coming up..Mollie Brauer, owner of Making Waves Swim School
As life would have it - several new friends moved into the neighborhood and they all had pools - so now my youngest was being left out because he couldn't be around these pools (with all the other kids) since he couldn't swim. This forced me to face his fears with him and enroll him in private swim classes with Ms. Mollie. He may have been one of her toughest students yet because at his age his fears were real and hard to overcome - the first lesson he screamed for his life - she calmy and patiently engaged him - with clever activities and a even-keel disposition. She just has a calming presence (even for the nervouse Mom sitting on the edge) and she encourages and motivates the kids to keep going one step further. It was truly amazing to watch.
Ok, so as far as results go - she had him putting his head underwater and beginning to swim on his second lesson. The results we absolutely amazing and the thing I appreciate most about Ms. Mollie is that she is so caring and sensitive yet firm. She never yelled just encouraged and praised his progress, while acknowleding and not just dismissing his feelings or concerns. Mollie kept working within his capabilities and building his confidence and trust. Below you will get to hear him talk about his experience in his own words (after just 6 lessons) - and trust me he tells things like they are!
I have some video of her teaching him, however, they are not loading properly but I hope the pictures will give you a sense of what it was like.
We have several private swim schools locally that just throw kids in the pool until they "just learn to swim" - while they are effective, personally, the way she connects with her students is quite impressive and was the kind of experience we wanted for our son. If you're lucky enough to have her teach your kids - I promise you won't be disappointed.
Sean Swimming
Swimming Phobia to Fish Swimmer - thanks to Ms. Mollie Brauer
Here's what he had to say after his 2nd lesson with Ms. Mollie
What a difference only 6 half hour lessons make - everyone's happy, now that's success.
Pinellas County | Hillsborough County Swimming Lessons
- Mollie Brauer, Owner and Certified Swimming Instructor
- 1628 Scott Street Clearwater Florida 33755
- www.MakingWavesSwimming.com
- Private classes or Group Lessons
- Ages 6 months to Adults
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Sally - I can't tell you how stressful it is to have a child who's afraid and to hear them crying and so afraid and to see someone work with them in a gentle dignified way and still get phenomenal results - I admire her gift with children and her "loving" teaching style from someone who's had lots of swim coaches in my life.
When I asked him after the first lesson if he trusted her he wisely said, "Yes but I've only known her for a few days" - that's how insightful kids are and she understands that and works to build that trust - doesn't just assume it.
Great lesson...and in only 6 lessons! That is fabulous!!
It must feel great to have both boys swimming like FISH!!
Cyndee, a man in Cape Coral found a 3 year old walking in a median at 4:00 a.m. on his way to work. My first thought, besides thank GOD an honest man found her, was she could have fallen into any canal or pool and that would have been IT!
I moved to a canal when my kids were little. I told them we weren't allowed to move to the new house until the could swim the length of an olymic pool. (which is a little longer than our canal was) They did it and we moved in. Kids take to water like fish, but you got to get 'em in it.
Cyndee, Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story.
I'm so glad your son has gotten past his fear and learned to swim so quickly. Miss Mollie sounds like a real treasure. The videos are adorable...your son is quite the little spokesperson !
Jo
Cyndee, this is a heartwarming post. I'd love to know how you did the client videos; they are very effective!
Mike in Tucson
Cyndee,
Exellent post!! I have two children and I am very strict when it comes to swimming pools. I hear all of these warnings everywhere and yet children are still drowning, something has to be done and you wrote about a great start!!!
Thanks for this :0)
Tom Weiss
Great article, Cyndee. Good information for parents' whose kids need to learn about swimming. The teacher sounds like a gem. Thanks for this important post on safety.
Jeff
Mana - I think he's adorable too - but I'm partial (LOL) - you don't know how I struggled to find a good solution to a bad situation. The local recreation centers and YMCAs offer lessons and I found they weren't equipped to handle a child that was afraid.
Don't get me wrong - I would also hate to have my child distracting or monopolizing the teacher or staff on the one hand or being left our on the other - so the one on one swim class or one on 2-3 group lessons is a perfect solution.
The other great benefit is that meeting for lessons 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week he was swimming in just 2 weeks - that also worked better for my schedule much better than weeks and months on end that other options entailed and he could see results quickly which really spurred his confidence.
Hi Cyndee,
This is such a wonderful post on such an important topic. I'm giving you a 5 for this. I hope your videos are watched all over the globe. Pool safety is crucial for us all.
Cyndee,
My son had an unnatural fear of swimming too - now he complains if we don't take him to the neighborhood pool! Swimming is so much fun and I am glad you found a great teacher for your little ones. It would be a shame if they didn't enjoy the waves along your great Clearwater beaches.
Awe this is SOOOOOO great!!!!!!!!!! I am SO glad Sean can swim now! I never got the under water pictures of baby, but I took someone with an underwater disposable, but never developed them let alone posted them. LOVE THE DIGITAL CAMERA MOVIE UNDER THE WATER THERE!!!! How awesome is that!!!
Go Sean!!!!