
12. Water Safety Without Panic: Swim Lessons, Floaties & What Parents Really Need to Know: With Ashley Yates, British Swim School Franchise Owner
From Between the Chaos & Calm: In the Middle of Motherhood by Between the Chaos and Calm: In the Middle of Motherhood with Gloria and Jenna
April 13, 2026 · 53 min · Season 1 · Episode 12
About this episode
The episode discusses water safety for children, emphasizing the importance of proper swim lessons and the risks associated with floaties.
“Just toss ’em in the water; they’ll figure it out!” This approach doesn’t work for every child, and it can create a panic response—a precursor to drowning. On the other end of the spectrum, habitually putting your little ones in a life jacket or arm floaties when visiting pools builds muscle memory around a vertical position, which is the drowning position. In this episode, we shed light on how drowning happens, what layers of protection are critical if floaties aren’t the best tool, and how to navigate the wide range of swim programs to find the right fit for your child and lifestyle. We also address a hard truth for those with particularly water-anxious children: avoiding the whole swim experience can make it much, much worse. Grab your coffee or beverage of choice and lean in as we interview water safety educator and British Swim School of Cypress Spring owner, Ashley Yates, who is also a mom of two. You’ll leave the conversation feeling less stressed, more informed, and better equipped for the warm-weather months—with more enjoyment and safety best practices in mind. Learn more about the British Swim School program here , find a location near you here , and follow Ashley's…
People in this episode
Hosts: Gloria, Jenna
Guest: Ashley Yates
Topics covered
- water safety
- swim lessons
- parenting
- drowning prevention
- child development
Keywords
- water safety
- swim lessons
- drowning prevention
- floaties
- parenting tips
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: British Swim School
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