Full Circle Swim School

At the end of the day, if a child finds their way into the water alone and without a device, even for just a moment, it’s the skills they do or don’t have that will mean the difference between life and death.

We are thankful for another FULL & amazing season! Signs up for 2024 will begin in March!

Why Kids With Autism Love Water:

They seek the pressure around their bodies (Hydrostatic Pressure) that gives sensory seekers comfort.

Breaking surface tension can be very rewarding because it gives them input into their muscles and joints. It’s like getting a hard hug all over their body.

Some children enjoy the experience of water in their mouths.

The water has an overall calming effect on children who have Autism because it creates an environment with slow, soft and repetitive movement.

Being under water reduces the impact of the noises around them.

Tips for parents to prepare kids for lessons:

Prepare laminated visuals and/or social stories for kids about what they can expect at swimming lessons before they go to actual lessons. Share swimming lesson expectations and pool rules with them in this way as well.

See if the teacher will send a photo of themselves and the pool so that your child can adjust to what to expect.

Ask your instructor if they can meet with your child before lessons start, to help your child familiarize themselves with their teacher.

Ask your instructor if they would allow your child to take a tour of the pool before lessons to help ease this new experience.

People with autism often have poor generalization skills. They may exhibit swimming skills in one pool, but not in another. Have your child spend time in different swimming environments to be certain that they have enough skills to stay alive in the water.

Key Benefit of survival swim lessons for kids with Autism:

One on one instruction.

Short but consistent lessons.

Instructors are trained to work with kids who are on the spectrum.

Children do not graduate lessons until they can float unassisted with street clothes on. Since children with Autism are most likely to drown during a non swim time, this is of huge importance for them. Clothes can add up to 20 pounds of weight in the water!

These lessons provide progressive behavioral supports (similar to ABA in that they work based on “chaining of skills”) that help children on the spectrum be able to survive an unexpected fall into the water or finding themselves in the water alone.

Extra Water Safety Tips for Parents Who Have Kids with Autism:

Place alarms or chimes on doors, always be sure to lock access points around pools, and place “Stop” signs on all doors and windows leading to the outside.

Consider a locating device if your child is prone to wander and there is water nearby.

Alert your neighbors of your child’s tendency to wander so that they can have extra eyes out for your child and ask any with pools to please keep their gates closed and locked.

Create the routine of asking before entering any water.

Benefits of Swimming for Children with Autism:

Aside from drowning prevention and water safety, parents report other good side effects from learning how to swim, including improved speech and cognitive processing.

According to the Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation (ASDF), swimming can help children on the autism spectrum improve coordination, social skills and self-esteem.

Swimming provides an excellent opportunity for parallel play and for a child to be in the play environment but to interact at a level that is comfortable for them.

Swimming can reduce stress and anxiety in children with Autism.

As the summer heats up, be sure to secure your kiddie pool and drain after each use!
Always watch kids around water.

Welcome! Full Circle Swim School, LLC offers private one-on-one swim lessons in Titusville, FL. We have 2 instructors in 2 different locations. Certified & Insured. Results Guaranteed. Over 28 years of combined experience & thousands of happy students taught!
Jordan Johnson is located off Park Ave near the YMCA and can be reached through messenger or email ([email protected]) https://www.facebook.com/JordanJohnsonSwimInstructor/
LaJeana Maxwell is off Carpenter and can be reached through messenger or email ([email protected]) https://www.facebook.com/lajeanam1

Update: To inquire about scheduling/pricing please choose an instructor/location & message or email them directly. Thank You! :)

Full Circle family and friends…..

One of our sweet swim families just received devastating news that their 6 year old daughter has an inoperable and incurable cancer (DIPG). We have one of the best communities that will support this family. They will be staying home with Addi and making all her dreams come true! Let’s show our love by donating and praying for complete healing!!You’ve got this sweet girl!

medical bills and Addi’s wishes, organized by Abby Beck Giambanco Hi, my name is Abby and I have started this for my best friend Tiffany and family… Abby Beck Giambanco needs your support for medical bills and Addi’s wishes

Full Circle Swim School's summer season is coming to an end. We are looking forward to enrolling new (and returning) students next season. If you are interested, please contact us in late March to begin the registration process! The new spring season will begin in April.

Swimcerly,
FCSS Staff

Super excited to be sporting some new gear for lessons! Big shoutout to Ms. LaJeana for doing all the legwork & getting these made for us!!
Which do you like best? Pink? 💖 or Blue? 💙 Comment below!

Layers of protection 🥰

-Supervision-69% of child drownings happen when the children aren’t meant to be in the water. They often happen after swim time is over. They sneak back to the water because they don’t want to be done swimming. Supervision is critical during swim time, but also after swim time is over.

-Locks and Alarms-Should be on all windows and doors leading to water, including dog doors and perimeter fences. Locks should be high up, so kids can’t reach them.

-Pool Safety Fences-5ft high, non-climbable, mesh-paneled fence around your pool that completely surrounds the pool with a self-closing, self-latching and locking gate.

-Survival Swim Lessons-Skill your kids in the water! Don’t rely on flotation devices, because if/when they sneak back to the water, they won’t have those on. Give them survival swim lessons instead, so they can save themselves if they ever were to sneak back to water without you. Always maintain one-on-one touch supervision with non-swimmers in and around water.

-Don’t rely on rules alone to keep your kids from going to the water. Young kids break rules when they really want something. They don’t have the brain development to have good impulse control skills yet. Teach them never to go to water without you, but don’t rely on that to save their lives.

-Take all toys and fun things out of the water after every time they are used. Kids are already attracted to water. These things make it even more of a temptation for them, especially if they see a favorite toy in the water.

-Learn and practice CPR. Always have at least one person who knows CPR with you at swim time.

PSA: Ms. LaJeana will be starting her last round of NEW students for the summer season next week! It’s not too late to get on her fall maintenance schedule though (only for students who have already completed survival lessons) If your child completed lessons this summer & you would like to be on a weekly maintence schedule for the fall please reach out to her directly! 📲

🍁Fall/Winter maintenance lessons are a great activity to keep your child’s survival skills intact as they grow & change! These are weekly lessons for children who have already completed basic training. More exciting details on this soon!

All new student inquiries, please contact Ms. Jordan 😎 via messenger or [email protected]

Thank you! 💦

The only “favor” this device can do is to keep a kid afloat after an ACCIDENTAL fall in… in which case a life jacket is better anyways. Wearing this in-water at swim-time doesn’t solve any problems in the long run and it can create plenty of other issues. Hold your non-swimmer in the water. If your child can not be safe in the water, put an approved device on while you are poolside before and after swim time.

The unseasonably warm weather has everyone wondering..."When does swim start again??" ☀️😎
Lessons will officially begin in APRIL 💙 Over 20 years of experience have taught us that this is the most ideal time to start the season, with consistent air & water temperatures to prevent weather cancellations. Consistency is key for program success! 🙌

In the meantime, keep your little ones safe with LAYERS OF PROTECTION!
#1 CONSTANT ADULT SUPERVISION 👀
We cannot emphasize this one enough!! The pool is not a playground! You wouldn't let your little one in play in the street, think of the pool the same way! Any child who cannot swim or float should never be in the pool without an adult within arms reach.

#2 ASSIGN A WATER WATCHER 👀
A water watcher is an adult who is designated to actively supervise children in or near the water. They do nothing else, no phone, no food/drink, no conversation with others. We suggest that this is done in 15-30 min shifts & the designated adult wears a lanyard during their time. Think of it like an unofficial lifeguard.

#3 Door Alarms/Locks & Pool Fences 🔔🚧🔒
While physical barriers are not always 100% child-proof, they are a helpful layer in defense of access to the water.

❌Not on the list and NEVER a substitute for supervision & other layers of protection: flotation devices. ❌ These devices, such as floaties, water wings, puddle-jumpers & noodles, give children a false sense of security in the water- making them more likely to venture towards the pool alone! They create bad posture (head up/feet down aka "drowning position") AND increase the time your child will need in lessons to break these habits. (Wearing a life jacket on a boat or in deep water is completely necessary & different than recreational pool floats)

If you have questions or would like more information, please reach out to either LaJeana Maxwell or Jordan Johnson directly via messenger.