FAQ

Infant/child survival swim is specifically designed to teach your child the skills they need to independently survive in the water in case of accidental submersion.

• Traditional swim lessons often focus more on stroke development and improving technique for sport/recreational use.

• SEAL Team Survival Swim uses specific techniques based on the principles of psychology, physiology, and motor learning to teach your child to survive in the water, including rolling onto their back to float and swim-float-swim sequences.

• SEAL Team Survival Swim does not rely on the use of flotation devices, as the goal is to teach your child to swim independently.

• SEAL Team Survival Swim works to gradually acclimate your child the water, building their comfort and confidence over time.

There is an age requirement of at least 6 months old and a developmental milestone requirement of independent sitting. These requirements are for safety reasons, and also assure that your child has the appropriate muscle strength to rollback to float.

Each daily lesson is 10 minutes or less. Short duration, high frequency practice is the best way for your child to learn a motor skill.

The number of lessons required depends on the individual child's developmental level and progress, but typically, it takes about 4-6 weeks for children to master skills.

At minimum, your child will learn to hold their breath underwater, roll to their back, and float unassisted. If your child is developmentally ready, they will learn how to swim a short distance underwater, roll to their back to float, and turn to swim - they can repeat this sequence until they reach a way out of the water, or maintain a float until help arrives. Your instructor will continually assess your child’s developmental readiness and teach the appropriate skills at that time.

All lessons at SEAL Team are one-on-one to ensure individualized attention and instruction, and maintain the highest safety standards.

Absolutely not. Your child will learn without the use of flotation devices. These devices give children a false sense of security and teach them the wrong information about their buoyancy.

In addition to the 1:1 instructor-to-student ratio, Kristine is highly trained and certified in CPR and first aid to assure your child’s safety. The pool area is sanitary and kept clean at all times.

It is important to first note the difference between fear and uncertainty. Lessons are in a new environment, with a new person, often at the time that your child may be experiencing emotions around separation. It is important to let your instructor know if your child had a negative experience in the water so that she can adjust lessons accordingly. Kristine has experience successfully teaching children who have drowned, siblings of drowning victims, and children who have had negative aquatic experiences.

Parents are encouraged to watch lessons from a designated viewing area, but are asked not to interfere or distract the child or instructor during the lesson.

Parents do not regularly get in the water. At some time during the course of lessons, the parent may be encouraged to participate in lessons in the pool so that they can learn how to safely interact with their child without compromising the integrity of their skills

We can schedule a parent lesson(s) to offer specific guidance on how to reinforce the skills learned in lessons. You should not try to simulate what you see during lessons, and should not practice skills until you have participated in a parent lesson.

These skills are highly retained due to the quality and structure of the instruction. After lessons are complete, your instructor will make a recommendation for when you should return. You have the option of scheduling 1-2x/week maintenance lessons, or alternately, wait a period of time ( 6 months - a year) and schedule a refresher (Daily lessons for 2 weeks) to practice skills in your child’s bigger body.

Kristine’s education and experience as a Doctor of Physical Therapy makes her the highest qualified instructor to teach children with various degrees of developmental abilities. Upon registering for lessons, your child’s health history will be reviewed. If necessary, Kristine will communicate with your child’s pediatrician or other healthcare provider to ensure your child receives safe, effective instruction based on his/her unique learning style and condition.