I wanted to share this conversation because Selena Willows brings something very specific to the table: she has built a proven 100-minute swim program, and her way of explaining child learning, confidence, and swim progress is worth listening to. From my point of view, this episode matters because we did not just talk about skills. We talked about what happens underneath the skill. We covered: - why children need ownership: “I did that.” - the difference between competence and confidence - why a child can physically swim but still panic - how to decide when to proceed, pivot, or pause - crying, discomfort, trauma, and nervous system regulation - why fear is communication, not manipulation - how parent anxiety and past water experiences affect learning - why swim curriculum needs to be examined through child development, emotional readiness, and modern learning science My biggest takeaway: A child does not just need to perform the skill. They need to believe the skill belongs to them. That is where confidence transfers beyond the lesson — into a different pool, with a different adult, in a real-life moment.https://youtu.be/gi3PL3Xn78k?si=Ru2-bpiRBU6i8Bfh

In tonight's episode of Navigating Neva, Selena discussed how swim skills can become unintentionally gatekept when “prerequisites” turn into rigid myths. A thoughtful episode for swim instructors, aquatic professionals, parents, and anyone ready to rethink how we teach swimming with more awareness, flexibility, and respect for the individual swimmer. https://youtu.be/yKyiUuh3hk8

Check out tonights special with Ailene Tisser from Swim Angel Fish as she talks about autism and water safety! https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KqLrNF90IpvvThAEqmok3?si=Haj8Op8hQLueZ8S3AVK3-w

On this episode of Navigating Neva, Wes and I sat down with Walt Scott, Izzy’s father and founder of the Izzy Scott Foundation, to talk about the 3rd annual SPLASH Summit, how it began, the vision for the foundation, and the work behind Izzy’s Law in Georgia. This conversation matters. It is about grief, yes — but it is also about leadership, advocacy, education, and what it looks like when a family chooses to turn heartbreak into action that may save lives.https://youtu.be/c-q5T_ewewc

I understand Infant Swimming Research but I have never seen a training where they throw the baby in the pool and then touch the baby shoulders and submerge them underwater, then put their wet jacket over their face. It was just to much- and back to back…