Lisa’s chlorinated backyard pool is at the neighborhood by Coit/Campbell (exact location and phone # will be sent upon session confirmation).
Instruction is 30 minutes long with a 5 minute “transition” period. Please arrive a few minutes early and wait patiently. At the conclusion of your swimming, please towel off your swimmer, grab a lollipop, and exit in a timely fashion. Everyone should get their whole 30 minutes swimming, and your kindness toward others is helpful.
As Texas weather is fabulously unpredictable, Lisa will make weather decisions close to the start time of your class. We use the Lightning app and we will not swim if storms are within a 10 mile radius. If the weather is questionable, texts are the easiest way to communicate, but please remember Lisa may have swimmers in the pool before your timeslot. If in doubt, show up! An option to reschedule to later that day, another day, or the Friday of your session, will be attempted (except for the Friday of Session 5). Best efforts will be made to reschedule. Refunds will only be administered for very rare weather and scheduling events. (example: weather is so bad that only one swim is completed for the entire week).
Summer 2024 swim instruction is available to ages 4+. Exceptions will be made for siblings of previous swimmers and very mature, potty trained 3 year olds. Younger children really do benefit from infant and toddler lessons and Lisa does not teach those. Lisa’s pool is deep and her instruction is geared for older children. She does NOT teach swim-float-swim, infant survival, or “self-rescue” lessons. If you desire those lessons- and they are wonderful!- Lisa has recommendations for you. Thanks for understanding… we hope to see your little ones come in as preschoolers, ready for some breathing and stroke instruction!.
Parents are welcome to wait on the deck unless it is causing distraction/emotional turmoil to your swimmer. Some kiddos love mom on the deck, some can’t function. We will know quickly. If you need to go elsewhere, come back with 5-10 min left in your session and we will make sure to show off some tricks for you… if that doesn't work, we will have a “show off” at the last session. We love a sibling but if they are a distraction, it’s a bummer. Only kids in instruction can be in the pool. We would rather you drop off a kiddo than have a sibling drama situation on our hands. Sibling groups of differing abilities and ages are fine!
We have a restroom inside but no availability for showering. Please arrive ready for swimming and change in your vehicle if you need a space for changing. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD VISIT THE RESTROOM BEFORE THEY SWIM. Not only does it keep our chlorine costs lower, it takes a significant amount of time to exit and go to the restroom. Our side yard is not a restroom, kiddos need to dry off and head inside. Lisa will not assist in restroom breaks. Please do not dress your child on the deck. There are teenage boys often in my home and we all value modesty. Public health codes prohibit changing any diapers on the pool deck.
A significant part of your child’s instruction is likely to be spent teaching their horizontal body position. Please be prepared to stop using flotation aides as your child progresses through swimming! Putting on anything-that-places-them-vertically-in-the-water (puddle jumpers, floaties) will VERY MUCH decrease their success. If you visit a lake or a water park where a floatation vest is required, consider the change to a standard life vest. All the Miller boys have been placed in puddle jumpers. This is a judgment-free zone from your years of keeping people at the pool. But, please be prepared to do the work of following through if you start swimming!! Click for more info.
Lisa is of the belief that kids work for candy. So do their siblings. It’s fine if you’d prefer your kiddo not to have candy! Otherwise, you are welcome to grab a dumdum for anyone after your timeslot. If something specific motivates your kiddo, Lisa is fully game for positive reinforcement. Usually we have something cool for you to see or video each day during the last 5 min vs a true “show off” day on the final class.
Please park in front of my house to be kind to my neighbors. Walk to the WEST/LEFT of my house (though our little side yard) and come in through the driveway gate. If Lisa is wrapping up a swimmer in the pool, you are welcome to have a seat! Please wait for Lisa to get in the pool first before your child approaches the water.
I have three boys who are all crackerjack swimmers and love to help out. They are 15, 12, and 9 and have years and years of swim team under their belts. You would not believe how much harder your child will work with a helper in the pool or someone to “play” with. I occasionally bring in older female swimmers to assist. My boys will observe, demonstrate, and encourage but not actually instruct. If your kiddo doesn’t like a helper in the pool, please let us know.
If there is something specific you have in mind, please let me know at the start. Great objectives are “we want to pass the swim test” or “I’d like her to put her face in without crying” or “she loves to jump into the deep end, can we help her be safe with jumping” or “he can swim but not like for real swim, and we need arms and legs and the real stroke.” If there has been water trauma or any diagnosis that is helpful for me to know, please communicate. Lisa love swimmers with all sorts of unique needs and a heads up helps us all.
Scared/nervous is normal and OK. We talk all the time about doing things that are hard or scary, and trying and trying until we feel even braver. You are welcome to help pump up your swimmer with these reminders. Your child can cry during instruction. We will cheer and encourage and reward… and sometimes be firm. If your kiddo is truly anxious or needs a specific type of feedback/motivation, it’s ok to call or email and let me know.
We may assign some things to practice- great things to do to get ready for swim include getting face/ears wet in the bathtub, practicing rolling from tummy to back, learning to hum, talking about laying flat on the water, talking about ditching your puddle jumper, and bringing awareness to breathing specifically through mouth & nose.