Hero Stories: Kathleen McMordie Helps Teen with Down Syndrome Overcome Fears

The world is a big place. It is especially intimidating to those with special abilities and their families, as they seek ways to help their children to overcome and reach beyond their boundaries. Swim lessons are a popular choice because the activity is beneficial to the body, mind and preservation of safety. However, not all children are so eager to jump into the water.

For teenagers who have Down syndrome, such as Alex, the swimming pool can be a very scary place. The water is an unknown space, and they do not trust their bodies to perform in the right way. It takes a special instructor to turn swimming from a fear to a passion. Through Adaptive Aquatics swim lessons in Katy, Texas, Kathleen and the swim instructors at Texas Swim Academy are doing just that.

Learning to Survive

Fourteen-year-old Alex’s parents had tried to introduce him to swimming several times before. They knew that learning to swim was both an essential skill as well as a therapeutic activity that could help their son to thrive. Despite good instructors, Alex was continuously held back by his fears until his parents brought him to Texas Swim Academy. Here, Alex has far exceeded expectations. He looks forward to his biweekly lessons and continues to learn new techniques in the water.

Adaptive Aquatics Swim Lessons in Katy, Texas

Through Adaptive Aquatics swim lessons, the heroes at Texas Swim Academy are showing both children and parents that they are capable of meeting and exceeding their goals in the pool. Swimming lessons are a skill that can be applied to multiple areas of life and create a positive influence that help children like Alex to overcome challenges.

If you would like more information on Adaptive Aquatics swim lessons in Katy, Texas, visit our page or contact a representative with Texas Swim Academy today.

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Drowning Prevention: The Importance of Swim Lessons for Your Child

The topic of drowning is uncomfortable and somber, but it is important to discuss, especially if you have children who are ever around the water. It only takes a few inches of water and less than a couple of minutes for a child to lose consciousness. Drowning does not just happen in the summer either; it can occur year-round. With professional swimming lessons, your child would learn drowning prevention and how to stay safe in the water, all while developing a lifelong skill.

Beating the Statistics

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), around 10 people die every day from drowning. Of those 10 people, two are children who are 14 years of age or younger. As a result, drowning is the fifth most common cause of death by an unintentional injury, the second most common for children aged one to 14 years old.

One of the saddest and most unfortunate parts about these statistics is that unintentional drowning is preventable with the proper training. The CDC states that research has proven that formal swimming lessons decrease the chances for young children to drown. If you are a parent, especially one who owns a home with a swimming pool, you should consider the benefits of enrolling your child in professional swim lessons.

Kameron’s Story

It was an ordinary, sunny Sunday afternoon at the Stewarts’ home where friends and family had gathered to celebrate Yves Stewart’s birthday. Mouth-watering barbecue was being passed around, kids were splashing about in the pool and everyone was having a great time. Because there were several adults at the party who knew how to swim and even perform CPR, Yves rightly felt confident enough to briefly step into the kitchen and fix a plate of food.

Before anyone could realize it, Yves’ youngest son Kameron had removed the flotation devices from his arms and tried to jump into the pool like the bigger kids. The next few moments were some of the most frightening minutes in Yves and Larry’s lives. Watch video below to listen to them retell Kameron’s story:

Swim Lessons in Katy, Texas

At Texas Swim Academy, located in Katy, Texas, we teach children of all ages how to stay safe in the water. Kameron and his parents can attest that, through practice and time spent with well-informed and experienced instructors, your child will have the knowledge and skills they need to survive in the water. Our indoor facility also has heated pools, so no matter what the temperature is outside, we can be learning how to swim.

Do you want to learn more about the importance of learning drowning prevention? Our instructors at Texas Swim Academy are gentle and patient when it comes to teaching small children how to swim. If you want to enroll your child in swim lessons, contact us today to learn more about the classes we offer for Katy, Cypress and Houston locals.

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