Everyone must crawl before they walk. Learn to swim properly and then continue with your SCUBA adventure!
“Private Survival Swimming Instruction”
These lessons are one-on-one and customized to the developmental level of each child.
Get to know our instructor:
“Hi! My name is Denise Waggoner. I own NeNe’s Swim Babies, Inc. I teach babies and children survival swimming here in Maryville, TN. I have been teaching survival swimming for over 25 years, Knoxville for 1 year and in Florida for 27 years. I am excited to bring my master skills here to Blount County. My passion is drowning prevention. I love teaching children vital skills to save themselves if they should find themselves in a water accident. These skills also teach respect for the water, how to have fun in the water with families and give peace of mind to parents. Survival swimming gives kids confidence to be safe around the water. I teach children 6 months old to 8 years old. Children 6 months old to walkers learn to float and roll to a float for a breath and wait for rescue. This takes about 4-8 weeks. Swimmers learn to swim float breathe and swim to rescue. This takes about 6-12 weeks. All children learn at their own pace. I swim children until they are safe! Lessons are Monday-Thursday, 15 minutes per day. Annual Registration Fee is $100 per child. (All prices subject to change). If you are interested, please call or message: 865-606-1230”
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many families whose children face a variety of developmental or behavioral challenges, including ADHD. In some cases, parents have shared that their child is taking medications like Strattera to help with focus and impulse control, which can also affect how they respond to swim lessons. I always emphasize that every child learns at their own pace, and that includes recognizing how medications may influence energy levels, attention span, or comfort in the water. My lessons are designed to adapt to each child’s unique needs whether that means taking a little extra time to build trust or adjusting the structure of an activity to keep them engaged. Parents are encouraged to communicate openly about anything that may impact their child’s learning. Creating a safe, responsive environment starts with understanding the whole child, not just their swimming ability. That’s what makes survival swim instruction truly effective and personal.
