Deborah Cushman Aquatics

I charge $50 per half hour, including transportation and all equipment for all ages. I WORK MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY AND SUNDAY, BARRING PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED APPOINTMENTS.

Building trust always comes first in any learning relationship, especially in the water, where fear often comes into play. Making a lesson fun as well as a learning experience is also important. But keeping things positive and rewarding is critical. Some days it may be one stroke, but multiple activities around that stroke. There should always be multiple activities -- keep busy, allow time for breaks that are fun but may have a "hidden" skill. Gauge attention physical and mental capacity for lessons carefully. Have fun! make sure your student is as well. Be safe. Remember to debrief at the end of the lesson so the student has a concept of what they have achieved and if there is an adult "in charge," it's good for them to know as well. You may assign "homework" in the bathtub or in the pool with family.

I was an American Red Cross-certified lifeguard for more than 20 years and have been an American Red Cross-certified Water Safety Instructor for that long as well. I have also been an Aquatic Director. I am certified in CPR and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer. I am also a healthcare writer and bring that to bear on my lessons when appropriate. I make that knowledge age-accessible. Anatomy, neuromuscular memory, physics and more all play an important role in swimming.

I was originally a sailing instructor and lifeguard at a summer camp on the ocean. I specialized in teaching beginning sailors and truly enjoyed seeing kids develop confidence and a love of a sport.

I teach children and adults to swim. I also teach adults who have long avoided swim lessons because they are afraid of the water and people with special needs.

I worked with an adult swimmer who needed both skills and was afraid of the water. I worked with her for 4 weeks, once a week, and got her swimming the front crawl, the backstroke, the elementary backstroke and the breaststroke. She also perfected streamlining. But as important, she learned to "play" underwater. She had never been underwater before, due to fear. I used a hula hoop and rings.

Teaching swimming is a serious business, both safety and skill are a concern - the more experience, the better. Everyone should learn to swim -- the younger the better. They should learn to respect the water, not to fear it. Good teachers work hard planning a lesson from the beginning when I review with an adult or the adult student what I plan for the lesson that day until I provide the recap of the lesson, the view toward the next lesson and what the student and or supervising adults can do to help the learning process along. Think about equipment. It's meant as a tool, not a crutch. My car is loaded all summer all summer to provide each student just the right gear.

How old is your potential provider? How experienced is your potential provider? Do they have references? Are they certified by an international body such as The Red Cross? Does your candidate have experience with the very young? With adult new swimmers? Do they genuinely value patience and respect? Do they genuinely understand that there are those for whom swimming may not come as easily and for whom celebrations of all kinds of achievements must be made in a meaningful manner? Do they understand the value of "joy" in teaching and that there is no place for anger on the part of an instructor? Teaching swimming is a gift -- to help give lifetime "happiness" and a lifesaving skill.