From bubbles to breaststroke: Backyard swim school opens in downtown Felton

Your child’s first swim lesson has the potential to shape their lifelong love of the water.

If you have a child who is new to swimming or feels anxious in the water, a group swim lesson shouldn’t be your only choice. The mere mention of swim lessons may trigger strong feelings for some parents who had a less-than-positive, or even traumatic, experience as a child.

Nervous swimmers have everything working against them in a traditional group swim lesson—the freezing-cold water, a vast dark pool, a waterlogged instructor, and a class filled with 10 other shivering children looking just as worried.

Every child learns differently and has big feelings toward the water, from hesitant newbies to wonderfully unique neurodivergent swimmers. The typical, one-size-fits-all swim lesson overlooks the individual needs of children.

This insight led me to create a new approach. I’ve established three successful backyard swim schools in Seattle, and we’ve recently expanded our vision to the San Lorenzo Valley.

With over two decades of experience as a Swim Instructor, I’ve opened the Little Fish Swim School in downtown Felton, adjacent to my hometown of Scotts Valley. Our concept is unique. We teach one-on-one in private backyard pools, creating a space as welcoming and familiar to young swimmers as being at a friend’s house or taking piano lessons down the street.

Scotts Valley is where I first fell in love with swimming as a kid. Mom was the unofficial swim instructor for everyone around, using the neighbor’s pool across the street. I remember endless afternoons splashing in the pool and countless trips to the beaches of Santa Cruz. Learning to swim was memorable for all the right reasons. It stuck with me and helped shape how I teach now.

It’s these positive memories I want to create for local families.

Students learn best when they feel seen, heard and supported. Our teaching methods are structured, so students find comfort in the familiar patterns of our lessons. This predictability cuts down on the jitters and encourages participation. Every lesson is tailored to meet the needs, pace and personality of your child.

Our pool is a toasty 89 degrees. Even the most hesitant swimmer will ease into a warm pool without a shiver. Your child has the entire pool to themselves during their one-on-one lesson with a professional adult instructor. Our 15-minute sessions hold their attention, filled with toys and games that leave them feeling accomplished and eager to return.

After teaching hundreds of little swimmers, here’s my top piece of advice for parents: have your child wear goggles—adult-sized goggles specifically. They’re comfortable and offer extra coverage, which helps a lot when your kiddo is getting used to the new feeling of water on their face. Think of the goggles as a superhero’s mask for your child, making them braver to explore underwater when they can see clearly.

If your child is in private lessons, suggest to the instructor to teach the breaststroke first instead of the usual crawl. This choice is deliberate because the bilateral movement in breaststroke connects the body with the breath, creating a proven calming effect. It’s a perfect way to calm their bodies and learn a new skill.

With a background in child development and as a Parent Education Instructor for North Seattle College, I bring a unique perspective to supporting parents through the ups and downs of parenthood. Drawing from this knowledge, I encourage parents to reflect on their swimming experience: What was it like when you learned to swim?

Many parents recall learning to swim as not-so-great. However, it’s important to distinguish between what you went through and your child’s experience. Facing the water, a nervous child has a golden opportunity to turn their fear into achievement and learn what it means to be brave. Don’t let your hesitations hold them back from diving into lessons. 

As you look ahead to upcoming pool parties, beach days or summer vacations, consider starting swim classes now. We teach one-on-one with children as young as 2-1/2 years old and offer caregiver/tot classes for the youngest set. Sweeping sails cover our pool, so lessons are comfortable, rain or shine. Your kiddo will have plenty of time to gain the confidence they need by spring. Find us at littlefishswimschoolcalifornia.net to schedule a lesson.

Some kiddos are just fine in a traditional group swim lesson, diving in without hesitation. As a parent, you are the expert on your child’s temperament and learning style. You can sense if they’re the type to join in or if they might shrink back, needing a gentler introduction to the water. If so, we’re here.

See you at the pool!

Emily Yabroff Bradley, as a Swim Instructor, Parent Education Instructor and mom of three wild boys, has a unique understanding of the needs of families—in and out of the water. Email her at [email protected], or visit littlefishswimschoolcalifornia.net, or call 310-849-3181.