Are you struggling with a child that is fearful of the water? Try out some of these tips to kick fear out of your weekly schedule and create a lifetime of water enjoyment!
LETTERS FROM ATLANTIS
Tips for Overcoming Fear of the Water

What sets us apart from the rest?
When in the course of business, we've all asked (or been asked) what sets one place apart from another. Here at Atlantis Swim Academy, we try to skip the fluff and highlight the real world ways we believe set us apart from the competition. We know you have many options, from a number of other area swim schools to community lessons, which is why...

Why is Your Baby Crying at Lessons?
We've all been there. You're at the supermarket, on an airplane or stuck in a car with a crying baby. Science shows us that Parents are put on heightened alert when they hear the sound of a crying baby, yes, ANY baby! This is because we are naturally primed to be concerned for the most vulnerable members of our families and communities and a crying baby alerts us to what could be a dangerous situation

Why we don't limit class space.
We have all heard (or said), "Go outside and play!", with the main point being that kids need plenty of space to run around and burn off energy. If we know that space is important with every outdoor or dryland sport, why should your swim lessons be any different? Here at Atlantis Swim Academy, we don't believe in restricting your child's movement.

What is the Right Age to Start Swim Lessons?

Why Our SPLASH Programs are integral to our students success.
We all know the drill. Many schools/groups engage in competitive activities but will award participation trophies instead of tracking who did the best. While in recent years this phenomenon has grown in popularity, it may not be the healthiest model for our children to follow.
Introducing healthy competitive activities allow our children to engage in important social behaviors such as taking turns, developing good sportsmanship and building grit. In fact, recent evidence has shown that HOW HARD your child works towards a goal is far more important than how strong or smart they naturally are. We are now finding that those that work harder can often accomplish more than their naturally stronger/smarter peers through the power of perseverance.
Our Bi-Annual Swim Competitions are perfect for our current swim students because it gives them a chance to show off their skills and work towards a goal. They will have the chance to compete with children of the same level, maybe even from the same class for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place trophies. We take pictures of the event as well for our finalists to recognize their achievements and share these precious memories. We recommend all of our students to take advantage of this awesome event. Click Here to learn more and register!

The Importance of Swim Lessons
While at a Family Expo, I vividly remember asking a gentleman with a young daughter if they were interested in swim lessons. His reply? "No thanks, my daughter doesn't know how to swim". Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
The statement above is repeated more times than many of us realize and often to the detriment of our own children. While we don't expect every parent to take swim lessons through every single level, we DO expect parents would think about the future safety of their children. Its a fact that swim lessons save lives and starting them earlier is not only better for them, but it is better for you.
Being in the swim school industry means we have heard family tragedies related to swim injury and death more than we can describe. The simple fact is that swim inuries are some of the most preventable types out there, especially for young children. Living in a State with a Plethora of Lakes, rivers, streams and ponds means that even though we are landlocked, we are also more vulnerable than other places in the U.S. We stress the need for swim lessons because beyond being a swim school we are first and foremost parents ourselves and never wish to see ANY child injured due to a lack of swim safety preparation.

While at a Family Expo, I vividly remember asking a gentleman with a young daughter if they were interested in swim lessons. His reply? "No thanks, my daughter doesn't know how to swim". Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
The statement above is repeated more times than many of us realize and often to the detriment of our own children. While we don't expect every parent to take swim lessons through every single level, we DO expect parents would think about the future safety of their children. Its a fact that swim lessons save lives and starting them earlier is not only better for them, but it is better for you.
Being in the swim school industry means we have heard family tragedies related to swim injury and death more than we can describe. The simple fact is that swim inuries are some of the most preventable types out there, especially for young children. Living in a State with a Plethora of Lakes, rivers, streams and ponds means that even though we are landlocked, we are also more vulnerable than other places in the U.S. We stress the need for swim lessons because beyond being a swim school we are first and foremost parents ourselves and never wish to see ANY child injured due to a lack of swim safety preparation.

While at a Family Expo, I vividly remember asking a gentleman with a young daughter if they were interested in swim lessons. His reply? "No thanks, my daughter doesn't know how to swim". Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!
The statement above is repeated more times than many of us realize and often to the detriment of our own children. While we don't expect every parent to take swim lessons through every single level, we DO expect parents would think about the future safety of their children. Its a fact that swim lessons save lives and starting them earlier is not only better for them, but it is better for you.
Being in the swim school industry means we have heard family tragedies related to swim injury and death more than we can describe. The simple fact is that swim inuries are some of the most preventable types out there, especially for young children. Living in a State with a Plethora of Lakes, rivers, streams and ponds means that even though we are landlocked, we are also more vulnerable than other places in the U.S. We stress the need for swim lessons because beyond being a swim school we are first and foremost parents ourselves and never wish to see ANY child injured due to a lack of swim safety preparation.

New activities can be nerve-racking. Follow these steps for a smooth transition.
- 1.) Make Sure Your Child Knows What is Going to Happen
Talking to your child beforehand goes a long way in mentally preparing them for their first lesson. Often, the environment is totally new and all the excitement and noises can make your child nervous or anxious. Explain to them the what, when, where and whos of their first lesson as opposed to just showing up and putting all the pressure on them to figure it out. - 2.) Always come prepared!
There is nothing so joyous as buying a brand new swim suit or goggles when you have several pair at home already! Taking time to prepare for your lesson before you leave will make for a much more stressfree time while at our facility. If you DO forget your equipment, no worries! Our fully stocked ProShop has all the high quality gear you need including Goggles, Swim Suits, earplugs, swim diapers and more! - 3.) Plan on being 10 minutes early.
Nothing says fun like showing up to your lesson 10 minutes late! Seriously though, leaving earlier will make your drive time more relaxing and will help with unexpected traffic delays. We don't allow makeups for lateness so its better to prepare a little extra buffer time to ensure you can make each and every lesson. - 4.) You don't have to sit on the Deck!
Sometimes, when children have separation anxiety, seeing their parents closeby can cause tantrums or meltdowns due to anxiety. When you give your child space it will seem hard but is usually the best course of action so that our teachers can do their thing. Much like dropping children off at pre-school only to have them cry, it is sometimes a necessary part of your childs swim safety journey that will lead them to more independence. If it becomes too much of a distraction lesson after lesson we will be sure to bring it up with you and find a solution! - 5.) Take lots of photos and video!
Filming and photographing your childs swim safety journey is not only allowed but is ENCOURAGED! These are precious moments that make any parent proud! Share them with friends and family and be sure to mention they learned their skills with Atlantis Swim Academy!

Theres a reason they say, "Practice Makes Perfect".
Main benefits of swimming Twice a Week:
- Double the Health Benefits: Swimming has been linked to increased brain development, learning potential, social skills, heart health & more!
- Makes Swimming Natural: Repetition, repetition, repetition! Repeating the small moves makes learning the big moves easier! The more often you do something, the more natural it becomes for the student.
- Muscle Memory & Increased Retention: When you repeat swim strokes it builds muscle memory, which results from a physical movement being repeated until it can be performed without conscious effor, just like riding a bike!
- Double the FUN: Our classes make learning to swim fun for our students and more social contact with kids of similar ages helps children develop important social skills.
- Develop Skills & Progress FASTER! Normally it takes many months to move between levels. By taking lessons twice a week, you can reduce this timeframe.

Prepare for Your FIRST Lesson
- 1.) Make Sure Your Child Knows What is Going to Happen
Talking to your child beforehand goes a long way in mentally preparing them for their first lesson. Often, the environment is totally new and all the excitement and noises can make your child nervous or anxious. Explain to them the what, when, where and whos of their first lesson as opposed to just showing up and putting all the pressure on them to figure it out. - 2.) Always come prepared!
There is nothing so joyous as buying a brand new swim suit or goggles when you have several pair at home already! Taking time to prepare for your lesson before you leave will make for a much more stressfree time while at our facility. If you DO forget your equipment, no worries! Our fully stocked ProShop has all the high quality gear you need including Goggles, Swim Suits, earplugs, swim diapers and more! - 3.) Plan on being 10 minutes early.
Nothing says fun like showing up to your lesson 10 minutes late! Seriously though, leaving earlier will make your drive time more relaxing and will help with unexpected traffic delays. We don't allow makeups for lateness so its better to prepare a little extra buffer time to ensure you can make each and every lesson. - 4.) You don't have to sit on the Deck!
Sometimes, when children have separation anxiety, seeing their parents closeby can cause tantrums or meltdowns due to anxiety. When you give your child space it will seem hard but is usually the best course of action so that our teachers can do their thing. Much like dropping children off at pre-school only to have them cry, it is sometimes a necessary part of your childs swim safety journey that will lead them to more independence. If it becomes too much of a distraction lesson after lesson we will be sure to bring it up with you and find a solution! - 5.) Take lots of photos and video!
Filming and photographing your childs swim safety journey is not only allowed but is ENCOURAGED! These are precious moments that make any parent proud! Share them with friends and family and be sure to mention they learned their skills with Atlantis Swim Academy!
