Protecting Autistic Children: Why Swimming Skills Are Essential w/ Carrie Meadows
Neurodivergence Series
Equipping parents during their child’s academic years to bring learning to daily moments.
The Parenting IQ Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual resources to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit www.christianparenting.org
On today’s episode…
In this conversation, Dr. Kelly Cagle and Carrie Meadows discuss the critical importance of swim safety, particularly for autistic children. Carrie shares her personal journey into swim instruction, driven by her experiences as a mother of a neurodivergent child.
Insights
Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Kelly Cagle and Carrie Meadows discuss the critical importance of swim safety, particularly for autistic children. Carrie shares her personal journey into swim instruction, driven by her experiences as a mother of a neurodivergent child. They explore the unique challenges faced by autistic children in learning to swim, the sensory benefits of water, and the importance of tailored teaching strategies. Carrie emphasizes the need for water acclimation from a young age and discusses the emotional and physical benefits of swimming for children. The conversation concludes with practical advice for parents and resources available for teaching swim safety.
About Carrie Meadows
Swim Instructor
Carrie Meadows is an experienced swim instructor with over 20 years of expertise, certified through the Australian Swim School and USwim. She has taught hundreds of children and adults of varying abilities, from 6 weeks old to adulthood. Specializing in teaching neurodivergent children and those on the autism spectrum, Carrie brings a compassionate and skilled approach to the pool. With a background in both the classroom and competitive swimming—having swum since the age of 4 and competed in triathlons as an adult—Carrie is dedicated to helping every child not only learn life-saving water safety skills but also thrive in the water by building confidence and self-esteem. She is passionate about equipping children and parents with the necessary strategies and skills to survive a water-related accident, ensuring they are prepared to handle emergency situations. Carrie wholeheartedly believes that every child can learn to swim and that water safety is essential for all families.
Learn more about Carrie Meadows here
Takeaways
Carrie's journey into swim safety was inspired by her neurodivergent daughter.
Teaching swimming to autistic children requires a tailored approach.
Building trust with children is crucial for effective learning.
Water provides sensory benefits that can soothe and regulate children.
Parents can start water acclimation as soon as their child is cleared from the OB.
The speed of learning to swim often depends on a child's comfort with water.
Safety measures around water are essential for all children.
Swimming is a vital life skill that can prevent drowning.
Parents can teach their children to swim with the right guidance.
Carrie offers consultations to help parents teach swim safety.
HEY THERE! I’M DR. CAGLE… DO YOU NEED HELP WITH CREATING GREAT HABITS???
Parenting is hard work. It requires tons of boundaries, daily consistency, so much awareness, as well as lots of patience, grace, wisdom, and filters. Combine that hefty list with all of life’s demands and others’ voice may become louder than yours in your child’s life, increasing their anxiety, fears, and doubts.
Healthy parenting is about seeing yourself as your child’s #1 teacher, saying the right words (or nothing at all) at the right time, and having the right tools to be intentional and impactful. Guessing your way through life, which is what most parents do, is a recipe for failure, but following the lead of someone who has two decades of research-based information and fully understands the demands of parenthood is a recipe for a full life— for you and your child.
With a PhD in education, I’m here to teach you how to use daily moments are learning opportunities so you raise confident and competent lifelong learners that thrive in an ever-changing world.
Additionally, I offer workshops and keynotes on various topics to parents, educators, students, and business leaders— because the need to understand, support, and empower learners is everywhere..
