Cali Kids

Pyjamas and wellies in the water?! Whaaaa?!?! It must be safety week at Cali Kids!

If you ever fall in the water fully clothed, take off all heavy, easy to remove items (coats, boots, scarves, gloves) as quick as possible but keep on tight clothes and do a safety stroke.

I’m back baby!!!! 🙌 In the Basingstoke area that is at least!!! I’ll be managing lessons at Kingsclere CE Primary School this Summer term. Although I won’t be teaching myself all of the days you can be darn sure they will have that Cali Kids spirit and I wouldn’t settle for anything less. 🤗

Sharing is caring! 😉 😘

Swimming in the same waters as an Olympian!!! How cool!

Congratulations Tom Dean.

Our local Olympian won gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay team at the Paris Olympics.

Well done Tom and the rest of the team, we look forward to seeing how the rest of our local Olympians get on this summer.

Tommy’s story:

Tommy is a super sweet and cuddly 7 year old. He also happens to be Autistic with very limited verbal communication, mostly repeating. When I met Tommy his mum said she was about to give up on swimming for him. He had a bad experience and was now petrified of even touching the water. She was terrified he would drown one day. 😢

I’m not going to lie… Tommy was one of the most challenging kids I ever worked with in the water. For the first month of lessons he walked around the pool with his hands over his ears trying to take his shorts off and wouldn’t touch the water, with me and mum chasing after him. 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️

I had gotten to the point where I felt like I was stealing the money off this poor mum. 🤦‍♀️ But she had faith in me. 💪 And I had one more trick up my sleeve. I carried him calmly in a cuddle in the water. Zero expectations. Just building a bond. 🧘 (I am aware this technique is not for everyone!) Mum and I talked in lengths about this and she agreed she’d like me to try. I warned all the lifeguards and pool staff there would be a lot of crying and screaming, but I assure you he is in loving hands. The pool staff helped arrange it so I could have a different lane then I’m meant to for ease of access.

We got A LOT of stares. This happened for a few weeks. I would sing calmly and say reassuring things like “you’re okay”, “let’s have a cuddle”, “Ali’s here”, “Tommy’s okay”. And then one day he repeated “Tommy’s okay”. 😮 And then kept repeating it!!! ‼️ And the crying gradually got less and less each week. And we eventually made our way into “our” lane. And he eventually started smiling! ☺️ And then started repeating my songs! 🎵 Every time I pushed him to try something new, the woggle, splashing in, reaching for the wall, I would get the same intense response. And then a gradual shift to him accepting it and then enjoying it.

Picture 1 is a little boy walking round the pool with his hands over his ears… Picture 2 is the face of a little boy who is so proud of himself for swimming completely independently for the very first time on his own! And the bursting pride of his swim teacher too of course. 🥹

What is not pictured is mom’s tears of joy, all the regular pool patrons who continuously remark on the miracle 💥 they’ve witnessed in 16 months and the long life of safety around water Tommy and his whole family will now benefit from. 🏖️

As I said, I’m not gonna lie, Tommy was one of my hardest nuts to crack. I’ve never been so close to giving up. But this sweet boy 👦🏼 who gives me the best morning cuddles to start my day, and his mum, believed in my SEN swim teacher super powers when my own faith was faltering.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… if I teach a “typical” kid to swim I feel great. 👍🏻 When I teach a child with special needs to swim… I feel like I could move a bus! 🦸‍♀️ Thank you Tommy for reminding me to never give up on myself and that miracles 🤩 can happen when compassion and kindness are at the forefront of my teaching. ♥️

Please don’t give up on your SEN child’s swimming journey. Let me see if my super powers 🦸‍♀️ extend to your child. 🙏

📣 SWIMMING LESSONS AT KINGSCLERE CE PRIMARY SCHOOL 📣

💦 Thursdays 3:30-6pm
💦 June 20th - July 18th
💦 Ages 4-12
💦 Any ability
💦 £10 per lesson

Have oodles of fun while learning a life saving skill before summer begins. Lessons held with an experienced teacher and small class sizes in a well cared for outdoor school pool.

Don’t miss out! Spaces limited.

Book today: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/swimming-with-cali-kids-tickets-925204410297?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tyson’s Story:

Tyson is sweet and loving 🥰 5 year old who happens to have high anxiety Autism. When I met him 6 months ago mum was afraid he’d never learn to swim and it was becoming a huge safety concern. When we started lessons, he refused to dip a toe 🦶 into the shallow end. Going into the “big pool” was out of the question. Even walking back and forth at hip height was a big challenge for him. We took things very, very slowly 🐌 and used techniques like counting, breathing, routine and repetition to build upon each week. And today!!! He swam on a noodle all by himself. And we are all proud to say he now loves swimming. 🏊 A day mum thought may never happen for her son with Autism. 🙌

I’ve heard before parents exclaim “I think swimming is just one of those things I have to accept my child with special needs will never be able to do.” 🛑 But to them I say, “Let me have a crack at it!” 🙏 It IS a huge safety concern. It’s impossible to have eyes 👀 on them 24/7.

And maybe your child just needs a quiet pool, a teacher with a bit of understanding of their disability, a whole heap of patience 🧘‍♀️ and a determination to not give up on your child. Ever. 💪

Unfortunately lessons are cancelled today. There has been a shark spotted in the pool at Braywick Leisure Centre! So sorry for the inconvenience. A refund will be issued shortly.

I have an after school spot at 3pm on Wednesdays if anyone knows anyone who could get to the pool in time for that lesson????

Always put your kids in pink and orange if given the choice.