A CIRCLE OF TRUST: BUILDING A “BONDING BRIDGE” WITH THE PARENT AND CHILD RELATIONSHIP IN THE EARLY YEARS.

It is an incredible honor to be an Aquatic Educator, a coach, a partner, that guides, teaches and supports the parent and child through their water journey during the early years.

It takes trust and communication to build the bonding bridge of a relationship. We are creating a circle of trust between us - the teacher, the parent, the child and the water. Building mutual trust among all four elements is essential. We can provide an intentional space for the parent that is as nurturing as they are with their baby.

First, parents must trust us. Only then can they trust the water and be able to offer their baby a regulated, calm, content and stimulating experience. The parent looks to us as the educator and authority. A strong Circle of Trust is also built when you communicate with the parents the reasons why you are teaching them what you are

BY DEBBIE SAYERS FOUNDER DOLFUN SWIM ACADEMY USSSA INFANT TODDLER COMMITTEE USSSA BOARD OF DIRECTOR

teaching. For instance, a special way you lightly support the child in the water gives the maximum potential available that the water has to offer. Such as a soft touch that allows the child to feel the flow and nurturing elements of the water, to feel the buoyancy-the lift of the water. This allows the elements of water to do much of the work and completes the communication between the child and the water thus completing the full Circle of Trust.

We create the safe and nurturing environment from which the parent can learn to swim with their baby. We are there to guide them to let go and let the baby lead the way. We can teach the parent to be proactive, respectful and responsive. When this is achieved, the baby learns to trust, explore, be curious and experience the full joy that the water journey provides.

The water allows for micro-dynamics to be experienced. They are the honest exchange, the communication that transcends between you the educator, the parent, and the baby. Trust is built as the parent goes through challenging moments, such as, teething, fevers, being tired, needing diapers changed, being hungry, and boredom. You will also go through the dance of learning as you go through challenging times together at the pool and will find solutions together. There are many attributes to being in the water. Being in the water can create an inner calmness, peaceful space, explorative environment, concern of the unknown, all while having FUN.

How a parent responds matters. We need to teach parents how to offer the method of giving their baby choices between this and that or saying “first this-then that” instead of them asking their child yes or no questions. For instance. “Johnny, first, we are going to pick up the balls and then put them in the basket”, in place of “Johnny do you want to put the balls in the basket”. Give parents the positive language skills that will cultivate the results you are desiring. Again, this will build a bonding and trusting relationship. This allows room for the baby to develop emotional intelligence which then builds long term self-esteem, a strong inner compass, and the ability to have the life-skills necessary to navigate life.

Tuning in and strengthening the family dynamic is imperative. Teach the parent to “tune-in” to their baby’s early communication skills when language may not be the first mode of communication. Learn how to read the body language of your baby. Are you honoring when the baby pulls back or turns away? Take your time to approach to child. Offer the child toys for sensory engagement and songs as you build trust between you. This can be transformative and foster a healthy and happy relationship that instills a sense of security between all of you. Babies deserve our respect. To keep integrity intact within the relationship, you and the parent will want to tune-in respectfully with understanding that baby is an equal partner in this experience and they are to be valued.

“Teach your children they’re unique. That way, they won’t feel pressured to be like everybody else.”

Cindy Cashman

Keep the baby’s wellbeing first and foremost in your mind. It is not a time in life to be making a checklist of what they can and cannot do as compared to charts or other children. It is not a time to be racing for achievements. While there are milestones that may guide you in what activities you are offering on a developmental level, the child does not need to be measured against them in classes. When babies’ emotional intelligence and well-being are discarded, rushing or pushing them through a class, you can damage and even reverse the trust circle.

They are precious little human-beings, building a Circle of Trust can set the stage for trusting relationships for a lifetime. Partnering with the parent and child through their water journey can become the catalyst to deeper and much higher life learning skills.

To elevate your Infant Toddler learning further, stay tune for the following:

Online Infant Toddler Instructor Education Course

(a required prerequisite for the following courses).

Classroom Infant Toddler Instructor Education Course

(often offered In-Person at conference)

Live Virtual Infant Toddler Instructor Education Course

A workshop style course with identical information that is taught in the Classroom Course. Available directly to each and every one of your existing or future Infant Toddler Instructors.

To register for these course

See https://www.usswimschools.org/usssaevents/

US SWIM SCHOOL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS: YOU CAN SAVE BIG ON MERCHANT SERVICE FEES WITHOUT CHANGING CREDIT CARD PROCESSING COMPANIES OR SOFTWARE

ATTENTION Members: We are NOT a credit card processing company. Without switching your current credit card processing company or integrated management software, Merchant Cost Consulting helps USSSA members reduce their credit card merchant fees expenses, audit their merchant statements, and share within the savings we are successful in negotiating for your business.

Members save more with Merchant Cost Consulting’s new strategic partnership with the USSSA! If you pay over $2,000 per month in merchant service fees, this may be something to look into. If MCC does not identify and/or find savings for your business you pay nothing AND keep your peace of mind that your business’s merchant fees are as low as they can be.

IT STARTS WITH A FREE ANALYSIS.

Send us the last three to six statements from your processor. We will find any hidden junk fees or exorbitant rates and estimate how much they can save you per month. If we can’t find savings, we will let you know. If we do, they can offer savings in three important categories.

1

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MCC can go back in time and get your fees and overcharges refunded. Typically, we can go back one to three months. This, alone, can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars in your pocket.

MCC will negotiate away any junk fees and overcharges with your processor to get your processing fees to where they should be. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month, depending on your volume and existing fees.

3

MCC will monitor your credit card statements as they come in over the future. The credit card companies are known to slowly creep back up their junk fees and processing rates and even add new ones. This is the area that often surprises people. Even those who have renegotiated rates with their processors often find savings. That’s why MCC monitors your account. When your processor raises rates, we call them to refund the rates and keep your costs rock bottom.