Meet Liz, The Much-Loved Swim Teacher + Supervisor at Aquabliss Frensham

How A Part Time Job Has Turned into A Passion + Career

Online media publication The Fold Southern Highlands caught up with Liz after her class [+ the super cute dinosaur and mermaid songs she sang with the preschool-aged kids] to chat about life as a swimming instructor, what she loves about it so much and got some awesome advice for parents on what to consider when selecting a swim school for their child. Read what The Fold discovered and enjoy their awesome photos!

Maybe it’s because we were at Aquabliss Frensham to catch up with Liz while she was finishing teaching a class of cute little preschoolers that were just all so adorable!

Or maybe it was because you can tell Liz really loves what she’s doing.

Maybe it was the chilled atmosphere of the parents watching, knowing their kids were in safe hands…. whatever it was, when we walked into the Learn to Swim school at Aquabliss, it made us want to sign up to become a swim teacher!

Liz has been with Aquabliss Frensham since 2016, when she stepped completely away from her previous career and skillset to become a Swimming Instructor.

Seven years later, she’s now Pool Deck Supervisor and has taught hundreds of children and adults to become more skilled and confident in the water.

1. Why did you decide to become a swim teacher? It’s quite different to your original career, isn’t it?

It is. I got a degree in Economics and Management in the UK and worked in a leadership role at a consulting firm before I moved to the Highlands.

I’d always enjoyed working with kids. When I was younger, I would go and do stints at Camp America in the summer camps in the States, and I really enjoyed that.

After I had our youngest son here in the Highlands, I was a stay-at-home mum for a while but was looking to do something while he was in preschool, so I started training here in 2015, became qualified and started working at Aquabliss Frensham in 2016.

I’ve been here ever since.

2. Were you ever a competitive swimmer?

No, never… I’ve always loved the water and being in and around it, but I was never a serious swimmer.

That’s what I liked about the opportunity to become a swim teacher.

You didn’t have to have that sort of background. You can transition from an office job or being a stay-at-home mum like I did, with the support of Aquabliss and training.

3. So, you started as a trainee and then worked/swam your way up, right?

Initially, I did a few mornings a week which was fantastic for fitting in and around family commitments and the kids.

As my youngest got older, I picked up a few more shifts and taught a number of different ages, from toddlers to teens to adults, gaining more qualifications around those areas.

I progressed into the role of Pool Deck Supervisor, which means I’m spending more time assessing the children in the classes, working out what milestones they’re achieving or what they need to work on to move up to the next level.

I communicate with the parents and also the other swim teachers, giving feedback about their performance or chatting about the children and what we need to do to help the kids improve.

I’m still in the pool, though!

I teach on Friday mornings and do a coaching shift on Tuesday afternoon. It’s important to keep practicing and learning, and I do love what I do too.

4. So, you’d definitely recommend becoming a swim teacher to someone who was thinking about it?

Absolutely.

If you’ve got a passion for swimming, working with people – especially children – and you’re looking for work that can fit in around your life, whether that be family, other work, uni or another job, it’s ideal.

Start with the first qualification, which is the basic Learn to Swim qualification and take it from there.

If you start working with Aquabliss while you’re training, currently they reimburse the cost of your qualification after a set period, and you get paid for your training hours too.

It’s a great way to earn and learn.

5. That’s a great benefit….

It’s not just that. Aquabliss Frensham is a great place to work.

You can feel it when you first walk in. It’s a great environment.

The teachers are happy and enjoying what they’re doing, so the kids and parents are happy too.

Everyone here is really passionate about their job.

They want to be here. They want to be in the water. They want to see the students’ progress. It’s very rewarding.

6. Well, you’ve been here seven years now so that’s saying something….

I’m now coaching kids in the main pool who, several years ago, I taught in the Learn to Swim pool.

It’s funny when I see families out and about shopping, and the little kids get confused as to why I’m not all wet and in the pool.

They seem to think I live in the pool, so they are shocked when they see me at the supermarket!

But one of the most important reasons I do what I do [and its why most of the teachers here are in the job too] is because we’re teaching people a really important life skill.

A skill that they may have to call on to save their own life – or someone else’s.

One of our teachers recently told me about a student of theirs who fell into a pool while the family was at a friends’ place.

He immediately turned around and got himself out. He was fine. And that’s because of the important skills we teach, especially to the little ones.

Saving themselves becomes second nature.

That’s the most rewarding part.

7. Wow, you’re right. When you put it like that, it has so much more meaning.

And of course, there’s the fun stuff too…. a baby covered his ears while I was singing in the pool, which caused us all to have a good laugh.

The preschoolers sing a song at the end of their class before they jump in the water and turn back around to get to the edge, and they get to make up whatever they would like to sing about. They sing about the funniest things. One preschooler started singing about eyeballs! That age is so much fun.

8. What advice would you give to parents about choosing a swim school for their child?

I’m going to list these as they’re all really important points:

Culture - is it a welcoming environment for students, teachers, parents, everyone?
Check the student-teacher ratio - that’s very important for safety.
Is there continual assessment and opportunities for progression based on skills?
A year-round program [with opportunities for make-up lessons] to keep students learning consistently and confidently.
Read online reviews and ask friends and family who already go to that school.
Check the cleanliness of the pool and the rest of the facilities, like bathrooms.
Does the school have a well-designed program with key learnings identified at each level that will encourage your child to progress and help unlock a lifelong love of swimming?

9. Thanks Liz! To finish off, what do you love most about your job?

I can’t choose one!

I enjoy seeing the preschoolers’ happy faces in the water and splashing around with babies and their carers, laughing and singing songs together.

Watching the progression of children is fantastic. I’ve had children who were three when they started with me, and now they’re swimming 50 metres at our Dolphin level.

Working with the parents and receiving positive feedback and gratitude from them. It really feels like a team effort when we’re all working towards giving the kids these vital life skills – I love being part of that team.

It really is a fun, challenging and rewarding job that makes a meaningful difference.

Amazing, thank you so much, Liz!

Interested in becoming a swim teacher?

Okay, if anyone is keen to look at becoming a swim teacher, get in touch with the Aquabliss Frensham team on 4872 3672 or visit this page here.

Interested in enrolling in learn to swim lessons?

And if you’re looking for swim school for your child or for yourself [yep, they do adult swim classes too!], you can contact Aquabliss Frensham here to start the enrolment process.

And if you aren’t living in the wonderful Southern Highlands, Aquabliss have swim schools in other areas too, have a look here.

Thank You to The Fold Southern Highlands

Aquabliss would like to thank the whole team at The Fold Southern Highlands for this great article and photos. Thank you for highlighting the importance of learning to swim. And thank you for promoting how easy it can be to become a swim teacher. A job where every swim teacher can help to save a life in every single lesson they teach. How rewarding is that!

News

Speaking From Experience About Newbie Teachers

Being a great swim teacher isn’t just about having lots of experience in the pool and being newly trained provides some significant benefits. Here’s why we don’t underestimate a newly qualified swim teacher.

Identifying what matters most

An effective swim teacher doesn’t need heaps of actual swim teaching experience. They don’t even need to be a great swimmer. And the finite technicalities of how kids learn to swim, that swim science, is something we can teach newbies, and usually very easily.

It’s having the relevant soft skills that’s critical – those soft skills are what matter the most.

Some of the soft skills we look for when recruiting include the ability to connect with children, empathise with them, motivate them. People with a passion for teaching as well as learning.

We hire people who’ve had their patience tested. We want effective communicators and problem solvers. People who love kids and can earn their trust. Those who can negotiate with children without getting into a tug-of-war.

Experience from outside the pool

It might surprise some parents that those all-important critical soft skills don’t have to be cultivated in the pool.

Some of our newly qualified teachers are parents/grandparents; many are older brothers and sisters. A lot of our new swim teachers have worked endless hours in child-related roles, from child-minding gigs or scout leaders, to working at sports or school holiday camps. Some of our young student teachers are at university, training to be primary/secondary school teachers or doctors, undertaking “on-the-job” training as part of their studies.

All these paid or voluntary roles provide heaps of teaching opportunities and lots of time to practise relevant soft skills, meaning our newbies are swimming with experience!

Off the starting blocks

A newly trained teacher has a lot to offer your little fish:

Fresh learnings

They’ve just completed their training, so everything learnt is fresh in their memory.

Most up to date

They’re up to date with the latest swim industry teaching techniques, research and best practices.

Creative & innovative

They’ve just been exposed to many other enthusiastic newbies, all sharing their latest ideas. This can help breathe new life into, or help revitalise, an existing curriculum.

New perspectives

New teachers often have a new way of looking at things, which they can use to identify gaps that sometimes veteran teachers can’t see. A fresh set of eyes.

Highly motivated & energized

They’re highly motivated to prove themselves. With bucket loads of enthusiasm and energy, helping to inspire students, sometimes in ways veteran teachers can’t.

No bad habits

It happens in all industries and to the best of us. Someone can have a ton of experience, but they can also have their fair share of bad habits.

Quality control

Aquabliss would never allow an unqualified teacher to be solely responsible for a class.

Our teachers are independently trained and accredited by leading industry associations such as AustSwim or Swim Australia, who are highly regarded within the swim industry.

In addition to the compulsory practical in-water training, we also provide extra training to teachers to ensure they know the ins and outs of the Aquabliss swim curriculum.

Plus, regardless of swim teaching experience, a Pool Deck Supervisor monitors every lesson. Yes! Every. Single. Lesson!

Whilst the Pool Deck Supervisor stays dry poolside, newly qualified teachers will sometimes have a “Floater” in the pool with them. A very experienced teacher, providing the newbie teacher with access to actual hands-on in-water experienced help, if needed.

So, rest assured, your child will be in good hands, and sometimes more than one pair!

Trainee pipeline

As a swim school, we aren’t just focused on teaching students how to swim well. We’re also committed to supporting the learn to swim industry by helping to get new teachers qualified. They do a great job, and we need more of them.

We look forward to you supporting the swim industry too, by celebrating our new teachers and appreciating the strengths they bring to the pool.

Contact details

Visit your nearest Aquabliss Swim School or contact us to enrol in one of our swim schools.

Visit our Jobs & Training page if you, or someone you know, are interested in becoming a swim teacher at Aquabliss.

Kids Learn to Swim

The Life Cycle Of Swimming Lessons + Key Milestones Your Child Should Be Achieving

Online media outlet, The Fold Southern Highlands spoke to learn to swim expert Jessica Toomey about how to measure your child’s progress in the pool.

Swimming and kids go hand in hand, and for good reason. Enrolling kids in swimming lessons has them moving, making friends and splashing around having fun.

While these are all fab reasons to keep your kids in the pool, it’s super important these lessons focus on the main purpose, learning vital safety skills.

Good quality swimming lessons should be making sure your kids are progressing and hitting the right milestones for their age or skill level. They also help your kids respect the water and gain skills to be safe while they’re in there.

Kids learn best when they’re having fun, often not realising how much they’re learning! And sometimes parents don’t understand all the learnings going on behind the scenes, or should we say, behind the splashes.

So, The Fold Southern Highlands spoke to Jessica Toomey, Aquabliss Area Manager about what to look for amidst all those splashes, when checking in on your child’s abilities in the pool and monitoring their development to make sure the swim school they attend is providing the best education for them and the most value for you.

Here’s what Jessica had to say when being interviewed by The Fold….

BABIES :: 6 to 30 months

“Because fear of water is a learned response, it’s really important that a child develops water familiarisation skills early,” says Jessica.

“This allows a bub to master other water skills faster.”

“Over time, we teach the little ones what to do if they fall into a pool. We teach them not to panic, how to turn themselves around, regain their body position and make their way back to the side of the pool or find something to hold onto.”

So, when you’re bonding in the pool with your baby [maybe for a lesson or just a dip], check to see if they are holding their breath and opening their eyes underwater.

When they are on their backs floating, see if they can recover and if they can front glide 1 metre towards you or another adult.

Also, see if they can submerge themselves aided and unaided.

If they are doing these things, then you know their lessons are on the right track.

Jessica points out that at Aquabliss, they never force a child’s head underwater or try to trick them.

“Our teachers are skilled at reading a child’s face and body language, only safely submerging a child’s head when the child, and you as the parent in the water with them, feels ready.”

Fear of water can be a real thing for babies when first learning to swim, so by not forcing them to submerge, they are building trust with their teachers and developing more confidence in the water – just what they need!

TODDLERS :: From 30 months old

Ah toddlers, don’t they just love exploring and getting into mischief?

Tooootally not stressful for the onlooking parents [yikes!] and obvs even more nerve-wracking when there’s water involved. So, it’s really important your toddler tykes are getting the most out of every swimming lesson they attend.

“Nothing beats supervision around water for minimising the risk of drowning but giving toddlers the skills to get themselves out of a situation will also help,” Jessica says.

So, what should these skills look like when they’re in the pool?

Starting out they should be able to push and glide, front and back float for around 10 seconds, paddle and kick 3m to their teacher.

They should also be able to back float, recover and paddle 3m to a platform.

Once they have the hang of these techniques, then the lessons should become more advanced. This should include mastering skills like torpedo kicking and learning basic strokes.

If you notice during lessons that your toddler is not hitting these milestones, not moving forward or achieving key water safety benchmarks, then have a chat with the swimming teacher or school to work on any challenges the child or the school is facing.

(Added side note from Aquabliss: your go to person is the pool deck supervisor.)

KIDS :: K-6

“The K-6 age group is what I refer to as the golden years when learning to swim,” says Jessica.

“These are the age groups that make big leaps in their swimming skills and ability as they become more comfortable in the aquatic environment.”

So as your kidlets become more sure of themselves, you should start to see big jumps in their progression as they smash through those milestones.

Next time you’re at a lesson with them, pop down your phone and take some time out to see how they’re faring.

Can they float on their front and back for 10 seconds?

Are they able to board kick?

Can they float, recover and swim 3m to their teacher?

If you find they’re not achieving these things within a reasonable timeframe then it might be worth having a chat with the school.

“A good swim school will adjust your child’s lesson to suit their abilities and will probably come to you before you go to them,” Jessica points out.

“At Aquabliss we understand no two children are ever the same. We recognise that, so we have a very flexible teaching approach.”

Nice!

So hopefully, that’s helped take some of the mystery out of understanding where your kiddo should be at with their swimming skills and water safety benchmarks, plus guide you to ensuring they’re getting the most out of every lesson they attend.

Thinking of Swimming Lessons?

What about if your children haven’t had lessons before? Are you thinking of signing ’em up but haven’t actually got around to it? Maybe you’re worried they might be behind on their progress.

“Don’t worry,” says Jessica.

“If your child has never been enrolled in swimming classes, we have a very strong teaching methodology in place that adapts to the confidence, experience, age and skill level of each individual child.”

“Private swimming lessons might also be a catch-up option, and once they’ve hit some key milestones and their confidence builds in the water, they can move across to group lessons.”

Perfect. Thanks, Jess!

If you’re not sure how your child is going in the pool, or you’re a bit uncertain about their progression, get in touch with the Aquabliss team.

Their swimming programs are professionally developed for all ages and skills. They have a proven track record of providing quality lessons with highly skilled teachers and a family-friendly atmosphere. Sounds good!

Thank You to The Fold Southern Highlands

Aquabliss thanks The Fold Southern Highlands for their article on the importance of swimming lessons.

News

Increasing make-up availability & your chances of booking one

How does having more make-up spots to book into sound?

Great uh, more opportunities for your child to catch up on a missed swim lesson!

Plus, we’ve got the inside scoop on improving your chances of grabbing one of these valuable spots.

In our previous blog introducing make-ups, we explained what make-ups are, why we offer them (not all swim schools do) and why we limit the number of make-up lessons that can be taken in a year.

Plus, we covered the topic we get asked about the most – why make-up spots are subject to availability.

Because that’s such a regular question, in this blog, we’re reaching out to explain what you can do to increase the number of available make-up spots. Yes you have that power!

We can’t ever guarantee availability, but we can guarantee, with your help, that the number of available spots will increase.

However, before diving into that, it’s important to revisit why we can’t guarantee availability.

Why is that important?

Because understanding how make-ups become available in the first place is key to increasing their availability.

Why make-ups are subject to availability

Make-up spots are vacant spots in other classes, when a class is not fully booked, or a parent has cancelled a swimming lesson (sickness, holidays).

Therefore it’s impossible to anticipate how many vacant spots might become available that can be booked for a make-up lesson.

Plus, not all available spots will be suitable for your child.

This is because of the further limitation that a make-up lesson can only be booked into a class that is an equivalent level to your child’s regular class.

There’s no point placing any child in a class below or above their skill level because they won’t be catching up on anything.

And you won’t be getting value for money, which defeats the purpose of having make-ups in the first place, to minimise some of those out-of-pocket expenses.

Why we can’t guarantee a make-up with your child’s regular teacher

We know there’s often a special bond between student and teacher. But for the same reasons we can’t guarantee the availability of make-up classes, we can’t guarantee a make-up lesson with your child’s regular teacher.

We cannot control when your child’s regular teacher might have a spare spot in an equivalent class level. Who knows when a child might get sick, and we don’t control when parents take their kids on holidays.

Increasing the availability of make-ups

By now, you’ve probably worked out how important it is to cancel your child’s regular swimming lesson if they can’t make it, rather than just not show up.

Your cancelled lesson becomes a make-up spot available for another parent to book into.

Every week our booking system records “no-shows”, kids we expected but didn’t attend.

And we see a considerable increase in no-shows during school holidays.

If we think your child is attending their class, we can’t offer that lesson to another swimmer for a make-up lesson, and we don’t like seeing empty spots go to waste.

So, here’s the key point….

More make-up lessons will become available when parents remember and find the time to cancel their child’s learn to swim lesson, especially when holidays have been booked in advance or when a child’s sickness is not last minute.

So please, jump online and cancel your child’s swimming lesson when you know they can’t make their regular class.

Even if you’ve missed the cut-off deadline or you’ve already reached your quota, because cancelling allows another parent the chance of using your spot for a make-up.

It’s easy to cancel a lesson

We understand parenting is frantic sometimes, and things can happen last minute, so you can’t always notify us by the deadline. But we also know that some of those no-show spots could have quickly been cancelled via our online portal, especially most of the no-shows appearing in our booking system during school holidays.

Watch this 1-minute clip to see how easy it is to cancel a lesson ONLINE.

If, for some reason, you can’t get into the system online, then just contact us.

The cancellation deadline

And if you’re wondering what the deadline is, we publish that information in one spot, here on our T&Cs page. Just in case the quota and expiry dates have changed by the time you read this article.

Remember - no make-ups for no-shows

It’s often said that you don’t get something for nothing. Just like your child who must put in time and effort to learn how to swim, you must put in time and effort to have a make-up voucher added to your account from your allowed quota.

But you don’t have to do as much as your little swimmer! You just have to notify us of your child’s absence by the due deadline. If you don’t, you won’t be eligible for a make-up for that cancelled lesson.

This is an important point to repeat.

Even if you’ve already maxed out your own make-up quota, or you’ve missed the deadline, please still cancel.

Whilst you won’t be entitled to a make-up voucher, you can still help out another parent by allowing them the opportunity to book a make-up lesson into your cancelled spot.

Please don’t let a swimming lesson go to waste that another parent can use.

How to improve your chances of finding a make-up spot

So here it is, the inside scoop.

Our best tips on how to grab a make-up spot.

1. Book ONLINE!.
Our best and bigger tips!

If you wait to contact us, or we can’t attend to your query immediately, someone else has more time to book into what could have been your spot!

Watch this 1-minute clip to see how easy it is to book a make-up lesson ONLINE.

2. Be flexible. Consider booking a make-up with a different teacher. And if we have another swim school close by, we might even be able to slot you in there. Our teachers teach the same curriculum across all our swim schools.

And a different teacher can be a great thing! Kids need to learn to cope with change, a fresh set of eyes can sometimes spot something others have missed and a fresh perspective can spur things along.

There’s more about the benefits of having a different teacher in this blog. And we’ve got some great hints and tips here to help you manage your little one if they’re ever concerned about having a different swim teacher.

3. School holidays. Take advantage of when others are away and be thankful to those diligent parents who have cancelled their child’s learn to swim lessons in advance. (Oh, and please be one of those diligent parents helping someone else out whenever you’re away on holidays – thank you.)

4. Cooler months. Whilst we advocate swimming all year round, in our toasty indoor pools, with water temperatures up to 32 degrees, some parents cease swimming lessons over the cooler months. So, make-up availability can be higher during those months. And fitting in those make-up lessons over winter can be a great way to start boosting skills for summer! (Remember it takes time to learn how to swim.)

5. Keep checking ONLINE. We regularly receive lesson cancellations because family life is busy and sometimes things just don’t go according to plans. So, you never know when a slot might become available.

6. Keep checking right up to the cut-off time. Kids can get sick at the last minute, and some parents hold off cancelling until just before the deadline, hoping for a miraculous recovery. So, keep checking ONLINE.

7. Back-to-back lesson. For older kids, who usually have a longer concentration span, you might even be able to sneak in a back-to-back lesson. So, whilst your fish is in the water, it’s easy to check ONLINE to see if there’s a free spot straight after their regular class.

Please pay it forward or give it back

If you don’t cancel your child’s lesson by the deadline, you won’t be entitled to a make-up lesson, but you won’t be the only one missing out.

If you’ve already enjoyed a make-up lesson, give back to the system by cancelling your child’s swimming lesson when they can’t make it.

Even if you’ve used up all your make-up allocation.

OK, so cancelling won’t give you another make-up lesson voucher, but we know you’ll feel great about helping someone else out.

And if you’ve never booked a make-up before, pay it forward when your child can’t make their lesson. Allow someone else to use your regular spot. Because one day YOU might be the parent looking to book a make-up lesson.

Not currently swimming with us?

Please take a look at our programs or contact us. We’d love you to be part of our extended Aquabliss family.

News

An Introduction To Make-Up Lessons

Reduce some of those out-of-pocket situations when your child can’t make their regular swimming lesson (sickness, holidays).

Our make-up system can sometimes help swimming lessons fit into your schedule when plans need to change.

And when you cancel your child’s swimming lesson early enough, you’re giving another parent the time and opportunity to use your cancelled spot for their child’s catch-up lesson. Thank you!

Sorry if you thought this blog was about waterproof makeup. For tips on pool-proof make-up, research what synchronised swimmers use. There are some fascinating articles out there!

Defining make-ups

Make-up lessons, or “make-ups” for short, are catch-up swimming lessons your child can enjoy

Later in this blog, we’ll cover why those provisos are important.

Not every swim school provides make-ups

Some swim schools follow the educational school or kindergarten business model, where fees are paid in advance, and no refunds or make-up classes are offered for non-attendance.

Why we offer make-ups

At Aquabliss, we understand that sometimes things get in the way of swimming lessons, such as holidays or medical appointments.

And to secure your regular spot, you’ve paid for those learn to swim lessons in advance, so you hate throwing that money away when your little fish can’t make it to the swimming pool.

We get it. Especially if you’re doing the right thing and keeping your child at home when sick – thank you!

So, we offer make-ups because we want to work with you, as much as we possibly can, to accommodate these special circumstances. If we can, we want to help ease your stress and prevent your child from falling behind.

Afterall, we believe every swimming lesson counts towards making a safer swimmer.

But there are limitations to our make-up system. We don’t (and can never) have an endless supply of make-up spots available and consequently you don’t have an endless supply of make-up vouchers.

So read on to learn what those limitations are and why.

Make-up lessons are limited & they expire

There’s a limit to how many make-ups each swimmer can qualify for each year. And this is based on the number of times a week a child is booked in for regularly scheduled swimming lessons.

For e.g., learn to swim well with lessons twice a week, the maximum make-ups that can be taken in a year is doubled.

The main reason for a quota, and an expiry date that prevents unused make-ups from being rolled over, is because the number of make-up lessons is dependant on (and limited to) the number of vacant spots in class.

Also, learning to swim takes discipline, and we know that kids learn best when they attend lessons regularly. And if we didn’t limit the number of make-ups, there’s a risk that some parents might be tempted to skip a few more lessons here and there.

This is evidenced by swim school industry research which shows that schools that allow make-up lessons have more missed classes. Swim schools that don’t, have lower absences.

The quota and expiry date

We publish that information in just one spot, here on our T&Cs page. Just in case the quota and expiry dates have changed by the time you read this article.

Why make-up classes are subject to availability

It might seem strange that we offer a quota of make-ups per year, but we can’t guarantee you will be able to use them.

Read on to understand why.

A make-up lesson is only possible when there’s a vacant spot in another class. And that class needs to be equivalent to your child’s level.

There’s no point placing any child in a class below or above their skill level because they won’t be catching up on anything. And you won’t be getting value for money, which defeats the purpose of having make-ups in the first place, to minimise those out-of-pocket expenses.

A child placed in a lower-level class for a make-up lesson will likely get bored as they’ve already learnt those skills, and some bored students can sometimes be disruptive.

If a make-up lesson is booked into a class above a child’s level, they’ll likely be out of their depth (no pool pun intended!) and there’s a risk they can lose their confidence, become overwhelmed and even be stressed. Plus, the regular students in that class might lose valuable learning time if the teacher must spend more time with a nervous newbie.

So, here’s a critical point……

Because we can’t control when a parent decides to enrol, seizing an unsold spot, or when a child can’t use their spot (sickness, on holidays etc.), it’s impossible for us to guarantee how many make-ups will be up for grabs each year.

It’s a challenging balancing act, and the supply and demand can also be impacted by such things as staff shortages, business peaks and lurgy seasons like the flu.

So, we encourage you to only miss a lesson when it’s absolutely unavoidable.

Increasing make-up availability and hints on how to grab one

You can help increase the number of make-up spots available. This blog explains how and has some great hints and tips on improving your chances of grabbing one.

Not currently swimming with us?

Please take a look at our programs or contact us. We’d love you to be part of our extended Aquabliss family.

Kids Learn to Swim

Swim Cap Control & Care

How do you control a swim cap, and maybe your child, when putting one on your little swimmer? These valuable tips will help you master the art, along with some great advice on how to care for them too – the swim caps, we mean, not your kids!

Some of these tips relate only to silicone or latex caps, but if you’ve got an early learner wearing a lycra one, read on because it won’t be long before you want to change to a silicone (or latex) swim cap. Why?

Because as soon as your little fish starts to move through the water, that looser fitting lycra cap will begin to slip off – taking with it any goggles your child might be wearing. (This blog explains why silicone caps are the most popular with parents and are Aquabliss’ first choice.)

Some "dry" runs first

Well, not exactly “dry” as it’s best with wet hair (and we will explain why later).

Complete some dress rehearsals at home before your poolside debut. Make a game of these rehearsals; add some time trials. Practising will also help stretch the cap a little bit too.

No sharp objects

No jagged or sharp fingernails. Use your fingertips, not your fingernails. Beware of jewellery that might damage the swim cap, such as rings or bracelets. Earrings, too, if your child wears their cap over their ears.

Wet hair first

Water smooths dry hair by lubricating it, providing a smoother surface for the cap to slip over.

There’ll be less friction and resistance between the cap and the hair – and hopefully less friction and resistance between you and your child!

Tucking in stray hairs will also be easier to grab and tame because the water will hold the hair strands together.

For long hair

Tie up in a tight bun or ponytail and position the gathered hair, so it doesn’t interfere with goggle straps. That position might be higher or lower than usual, and practising at home will help you work out the best position.

Most goggles have a split strap so you can position one strap on either side of the bun or ponytail.

Avoid using elastic bands, especially with a silicone or latex cap. The materials can rub together, creating tension, which can be a bit uncomfortable.

We know it sounds obvious, but don’t use sharp pins to secure long hair.

We’ve seen caps damaged because some parents have been on automatic pilot when carrying out poolside hair maintenance or have forgotten to take out sharp pins from that morning’s styling session.

The look and fit

Latex and silicone caps, when new, will have a crease. This crease goes from the middle centre of your child’s forehead, over the top of their head, to the middle of the top of their neck. Think about where a shark fin would sit on your child’s head.

The crease does not go from side to side/ear to ear.

Looser-fitting lycra/nylon caps can have different panel constructions, sometimes aligned with different patterns or colours, which should guide you regarding the front and back.

Here’s one of our students modelling an Aquabliss branded lycra cap – cute, uh!

Position the front of the cap on/more towards the middle of your child’s forehead, not on the hairline. This will help prevent stray hairs from escaping at the hairline boundary and help the cap stay on when swimming and diving in the pool. Tuck away any stray hairs.

For latex and silicone caps, it’s best to smooth out any creases. Wipe out any coneheads! Press the cap down, and mould it onto the head to get rid of any air pockets that might allow the cap to move.

What about ears? Under, over, halfway? This is a personal preference and can depend on the size/style of the cap. But make sure your child can hear the teacher clearly!

How to put a swim cap on your child

The methods below work best because you do the more challenging part of stretching the cap over the head.

Before you start, gently stretch the swim cap to help loosen it.

And have an agreed countdown prepared. You will want to complete the manoeuvre in one swift go, and if your child isn’t ready, you might knock them off their feet!

Most parents find it easier to put on their child’s swim cap from forehead to back, but it’s not one rule for everyone.

Child facing toward you

Standing in front of your child, hold the back section of the cap, gently stretching it wide enough for your child's head
Get your swimmer to place their fingers under the cap's front seam and hold it against their forehead where they/you want the front of the cap to finally sit
Ask them to look down or bow their head slightly, as this will help capture all the hair in one motion
Gently stretch the cap up and over their head in one quick, fluid motion, down towards the nape of their neck, tucking in the hair as you go if you can

Watch the video to see how easy it is and quick too! Well done Jess!

Play Video

Child facing away from you

Don’t forget to check and adjust the cap making sure the cap fits snugly, is comfortable, and is not too tight. And tuck away any stray hairs using fingertips, NOT fingernails.

And if you want to have some fun… try the challenge in this next clip (and keep an eye out on our social media pages for the bloopers!)

Play Video

Removing the cap

Easy! Place your finger under the front seam, stretch the cap away from the scalp and lift.

Because latex caps are very tight fitting, there might be slight tugging at your child’s hair. If this is an issue, consider a silicone cap.

Cap care

Maximise the pool life of your swim cap with proper care.

Keep away from sharp objects

Take care when putting away your swim cap, especially if there’s anything sharp in your bag.

Be careful of sharp or jagged nails when handling a swim cap, and beware of jewellery that could damage the cap, such as rings, bracelets, and your child’s earrings.

Don’t use hair pins to secure long hair; remember to take out any already in your child’s hair.

Rinse in freshwater

Do this as soon as possible to remove pool chemicals or salt water which, if left on the cap, will erode the material.

Dry and store in a cool, dry location

Don’t leave a silicone or latex cap in the sun or a hot car as the cap can become misshapen, the material can deteriorate, and even melt!

Some people dust silicone and latex caps, inside and out, with talcum powder, baby powder or corn starch to absorb residual moisture in which damaging bacteria can grow. This also helps keep the cap soft and prevents wrinkling and sticking. And can prevent the cap from pulling on hair when taking it on and off.

But don’t use too much; otherwise, your child will look like they’ve got a bad case of dandruff!

Next Steps

Don’t have a swim cap?

We sell them, and that’s also handy if you forget to bring one.

All our swim schools stock silicone Aquabliss branded swim caps because these ones are the most popular with parents. The silicone is high-grade and has extra stretch, and some schools also sell lycra and latex caps.

Not sure which type of cap is the best for your child? Our ultimate swim cap guide will help you choose which one is best for your swimmer.

Not currently swimming with us?

You’ll find more information about our programs on our website or contact us.

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Author: aquabliss_admin

How A Part Time Job Has Turned into A Passion + Career

1. Why did you decide to become a swim teacher? It’s quite different to your original career, isn’t it?

2. Were you ever a competitive swimmer?

3. So, you started as a trainee and then worked/swam your way up, right?

4. So, you’d definitely recommend becoming a swim teacher to someone who was thinking about it?

5. That’s a great benefit….

6. Well, you’ve been here seven years now so that’s saying something….

7. Wow, you’re right. When you put it like that, it has so much more meaning.

8. What advice would you give to parents about choosing a swim school for their child?

9. Thanks Liz! To finish off, what do you love most about your job?

Interested in becoming a swim teacher?

Interested in enrolling in learn to swim lessons?

Thank You to The Fold Southern Highlands

Identifying what matters most

Experience from outside the pool

Off the starting blocks

Fresh learnings

Most up to date

Creative & innovative

New perspectives

Highly motivated & energized

No bad habits

Quality control

Trainee pipeline

Contact details

BABIES :: 6 to 30 months

TODDLERS :: From 30 months old

KIDS :: K-6

Thinking of Swimming Lessons?

Thank You to The Fold Southern Highlands

Why make-ups are subject to availability

Why we can’t guarantee a make-up with your child’s regular teacher

Increasing the availability of make-ups

It’s easy to cancel a lesson

The cancellation deadline

Remember - no make-ups for no-shows

How to improve your chances of finding a make-up spot

Please pay it forward or give it back

Not currently swimming with us?

Defining make-ups

Not every swim school provides make-ups

Why we offer make-ups

Make-up lessons are limited & they expire

The quota and expiry date

Why make-up classes are subject to availability

Increasing make-up availability and hints on how to grab one

Not currently swimming with us?

Some "dry" runs first

No sharp objects

Wet hair first

For long hair

The look and fit

How to put a swim cap on your child

Child facing toward you

Child facing away from you

Removing the cap

Cap care

Next Steps