Discover Joyful Waters
“Child-Led, Trauma-Aware Swim Education for the Next Generation.”
Get Certified
Become a Joyful Waters Instructor through our self-paced certification program. The $150 package includes the course manual, workbook, leader guide, and written exam, with the option for hands-on training workshops .
Shop Swim Materials
Explore our resources on Amazon: the Joyful Waters Course Manual for instructors and the 6-Week Parent Journal for families leading lessons at home.
Learn About Our Philosophy
Joyful Waters is a child-led, trauma-aware swim approach that builds safety, trust, and confidence through joyful play.
About Joyful Waters – The Philosophy
I began Joyful Waters with foundations in American Red Cross and Worldwide Swim School training, but I wanted more. I sought out an aquatic tutor in the UK, put the approach into practice, piloted it with families, and then rewrote it to fit our culture. The result is a child-led, trauma-aware swim program that grows safety, trust, and confidence through joyful play.
Core principles:
- Child-led exploration
- Social-emotional development
- Consent and trust
- Trauma-aware instruction
The calm, confident alternative to drown-proofing.
Joyful Waters is trauma-informed, child-led, and emotionally acceptable. It’s about more than swimming — it’s about soothing the nervous system. Whether you think of it as co-regulation between parent and child, helping babies and families settle their responses, or simply being trauma-free, it all comes back to the same goal: water safety built on trust, comfort, and joy. Joyful Waters is the other option to ‘drown-proofing’ — one that nurtures confidence instead of fear.
Fill out an application: b685fb75-ff2a-4fad-8d9c-13487606f8fb
Joyful Waters Instructor Certification – $150
Take the next step in your aquatic journey with our flexible, self-study certification program.
Course Manual – purchase your copy on Amazon
Workbook & eBook – provided upon registration
Leader Guide – included with certification package
Written Test – complete after your self-study to earn your official Joyful Waters Instructor Certificate
Optional Workshops – hands-on, in-water training for those who want live practice and direct feedback
This one-time investment gives you the tools, structure, and recognition to confidently teach Joyful Waters while joining a growing community of trauma-informed, child-led swim educators.
Teach & Register Participants
Sign the Instructor Agreement to teach the curriculum as written.
For each student taught, submit a Participant Registration Form + $10 fee (not per lesson, just per participant)
FAQ
What age is Joyful Waters for?
Joyful Waters has two core stages:
First Splash: 6 months to crawling — gentle introductions to water comfort, bonding, and trust.
Aqua Explorers: Crawling to 24 months — building confidence, early movement, and safe exploration.
The program continues to support toddlers and preschoolers as they grow, always at their own pace.
How is this different from survival swim programs?
Joyful Waters is trauma-informed, child-led, and emotionally safe. Instead of forcing skills, we focus on co-regulation, trust, and joy — helping children and parents feel confident and connected in the water.
Can I get certified without a pool?
Yes! Certification starts with self-study, so you don’t need a pool to complete the program. Optional workshops offer hands-on, in-water training but are not required.