(972) 697-5547

Dallas TX 75252

Swimming for LIFE, LLC

my teaching method

THE CHILD-CENTERED APPROACH

                                

                               THE CHILD COMES FIRST


                               TIME-FRAME IS FLEXIBLE  &  DEPENDS ON THE CHILD’S READINESS


GENTLE GUIDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT


HELP A CHILD ACCOMPLISH GOALS


PROGRESS AT CHILD’S PACE


FUN, PLAYFUL LEARNING


Why the Child-Centered Approach?
30+ years ago, as a new swim instructor, I remember a mother bringing her terrified 3 year-old son to my swim class. She explained to me that as a toddler her child had attended a survival swimming class that left him afraid and uninterested in the water. Every time she took him to a pool he wanted nothing to do with the water and he just sat on the edge and cried. Even today, I continue to meet more and more parents and children who experience traumatic and/or unproductive swim lessons. As a result, I am determined to offer loving, gentle, and successful child-centered, stroke-based methods when it comes to teaching children to swim.

My own personal experience has proven that babies and young children can effectively learn to swim without tears, fears, and especially without forced techniques. My passion for teaching is deeply rooted in my experience as well as annual aquatic research and training. The philosophical principles of Rob & Kathy McKay, the founders of the Lifestyle Swim School in Florida and authors of Learn to Swim, complement my own “personal child-centered teaching style,” which has been ingrained in me since I began teaching children to swim so many years ago.







God blessed me with two children who love the water and swimming. They grew up teaching and coaching with mom. They, along with my husband, support my work and ministry. I long to share my knowledge and experiences with every parent I co-teach, wanting them to understand that there are alternative methods and philosophies available when it comes to teaching infants and toddlers how to swim. I continue to provide a true, life-long swimming experience that every child and family in the Dallas area deserves. 

Welcome to Swimming for LIFE!


My name is Jerilynn C. Putnam a.k.a. Coach Jeri and water and teaching are two of my greatest passions. For 30+ years, I have been teaching and coaching swimming in some form or fashion. In addition to teaching swim, I am also a full-time Staff chaplain at a local children's hospital.

I attended the University of Dallas in Irving, TX and embraced a liberal arts education and semester in Rome which inspired me to pursue a bachelor's in Theology. My YMCA Aquatic work experience and undergraduate degree quickly encouraged me to pursue a master’s in Theology and an additional master’s in Pastoral Ministry at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, TX. I taught sophomore and junior theology at Jesuit College Prep in Dallas; homeschooled our two children for 10 years; completed my first CPE Unit at Children's Medical Center of Dallas; taught middle school religion & social studies at OLPH; and, most recently, I finished two back-to-back CPE Residencies at Children's Medical Center of Dallas. All in all, I find water to be a reoccurring theme in my daily life, my studies, and our human heritage that promotes nourishment, ritual, invigoration, relaxation, play, therapy, imagination, health, exercise, and fun.

​Throughout my academic studies and teaching experiences in the water, on the deck, and in the classroom, I was taught, and agree, that learning is a process, not a product. Whether it is a swim skill or one’s spirituality, learning and growth occur when we are open, receptive, relaxed, and ready. Teaching takes patience, practice, and a great deal of time! Such philosophy is what I have always and continue to advocate when it comes to teaching children to swim --  it is a process that is child-centered and provides a fun, warm, and loving environment which includes child-readiness and the best age-appropriate skills and techniques.

As a parent, I whole-heartily believe we are our child’s first teacher, and it is my goal to guide the parent’s in my parent-child swim experience to be the best teacher they can be for their child. And when it comes time for me to teach your child independently, I want you to know that I will teach your child with the same mutual respect, trust and confidence I give my own (now adult) children. Most importantly, by teaching your child to swim in a supportive and caring environment, I intend to provide your child with the desire to learn about water confidence, safety skills, and competitive strokes for LIFE.