Little Dippers Survival Swim

05/15/2026

💦 May is Water Safety Month 💦

One of my favorite books for little ones has always been Violet Finds Her Float.

I love it because it introduces really important ideas in a way children can understand: always ask before getting in the water, never get in without a grown-up, and learning that you are your own flotation device.

One of my favorite concepts from the book is learning to “find your float.” If a child feels unsure, tired, or needs a moment to breathe, they can roll onto their back, rest, breathe, and regroup.
Children learn that they can learn skills that help them stay calm and safe.

The book also opens the door for conversations about layers of protection:

💦 Locks on doors
💦 Keep doggie doors secured/closed
💦 Locked fencing around the entire
pool perimeter
💦 Designate a Water Watcher
💦 Survival swim and water
competency skills

One thing that has always been especially important to me: for young children and non-swimmers, keeping life jackets off in the pool and staying within arm’s reach helps children build a realistic understanding of their own abilities in the water while keeping a trusted adult close by.

I still have an old YouTube read-aloud of Violet Finds Her Float if anyone wants to watch with their littles:

https://youtu.be/ByaqW9fq8sY?si=fYvXBhsB5sp-qbq1

Happy Water Safety Month from Little Dippers 💙☀️

Mrs Heidi reads Violet Finds Her Float. This book familiarizes ch...

01/06/2025

Children on the Autism Spectrim Disorder (ASD) are 160 times more likely to drown than other children.
All children are ninjas and are 100% curious. BUT around 50% of children with ASD between the ages of 4–10 elope and wander , which is four times more than their typically developing peers.
Autistic children may not perceive danger as readily as their peers, and they may have impaired communication and/or social skills.
Non-Speaking, miniamly speaking, and unreliably speaking children also have Apraxia that creates a brain-body disconnect leaving their bodies unable to do what their brains are asking it to do. SURVIVAL SWIM LESSONS are the best swim lessons to make the connection through Purposful Motor creating new pathways to allow the body to gain muscle memory so in the event of an aquatic emergency, they are able to save themselves.

While these children may take longer to learn these skills, parents can partner together with the instructor to make lessons successful.

Little Dippers Suvival Swim speiclizes in Autism and purposeful motor. please reach out if you would like more information.
Enjoy this video of Issac, a 3 year old non-speaking ROCK STAR learning how to swim!

01/03/2025

It’s been a while since we last introduced ourselves. We recently relocated from Little Rock, Arkansas, and are excited to announce that we’ll be opening a new location soon in Yukon, Oklahoma.
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01/02/2025

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS, HAPPY 2025!
We sure miss our Arkansas swim family but we are excited for our adventure in Yukon, Oklahoma in 2025!

10/22/2024

“After I reminded him that he’s autistic and likes water, about like two minutes after that, they ended up finding him,” Calvillo said. The Dad said since he as one, they would work on floating when they were in the pool and that is what saved his life.
This is why survival swim lessons are so important. This is why you should find swim lessons that make floating and rolling back a priority.
Did you know that most autistic children, especially non-speaking children, have motor apraxia? This is a brain-body disconnect. This is when your brain CANNOT AND WILL NOT get your body to do what you want it to do. This is why SURVIVAL swim lessons are the very best for an autistic child. Survival Swim lessons work hard to form muscle memory to create a motor plan so these children won’t have to tell their body to do something that it might not.
ALSO children the water looks different children on the spectrum. They also see water as a sense of relief because it feels like a nice hug, providing pressure and sensory deprivation because there’s no sound under the water. Children who are sensory seekers, especially are drawn to water. Autistic children are. 160 times more likely to drown then they’re neurotypical peers.
I know I might tongue preachy or like I’m making brain body disconnect up, but I have my own nonspeaking autistic son and I see it on a daily basis.
This is the very best time of year to put your autistic child and swim lessons and the reason why is because it takes them just a little bit longer to create and solidify that Motor Plan.

The 3-year-old boy's parents are extremely grateful for the officer who saved him from drowning.

07/04/2024

Happy 4th of July from Little Dipperd Survival Swim!

06/10/2024

Thank you to everyone who chose Little Dippers Survival Swim as their swim school. We have loved being a part of your family and watching your Littles grow into amazing, safe, and confident aquatic problem solvers.
We are excited to let you know that we will be back periodically for 2 week refreshers! So keep a look out for information and dates.