Manda's Minnows

06/22/2026

Great information!

When a child experiences anxiety, it doesn’t just show up at home or school…

It can show up in the water, too.

And for many families, finding ways to help a child feel calm, regulated, and confident can feel overwhelming.

Big emotions

Difficulty with transitions

Sensory sensitivities

Fear of new experiences

Challenges with self-regulation

And when anxiety affects everyday activities, families often find themselves searching for support that goes beyond traditional approaches...

But the truth is:

✨ Anxiety is more than worry.
✨ Regulation comes before participation.
✨ Some children learn and grow best through movement and sensory experiences.

At Swim Angelfish, we see this every day.

Children working through anxiety.

Families looking for strategies that actually help.

And individuals discovering confidence in places they never expected.

One of those places is the water.

Because aquatic therapy offers something unique.

The water itself can provide calming sensory input, gentle resistance, freedom of movement, and opportunities to build confidence in a supportive environment.

That’s why aquatic therapy can help support:

✔ Emotional regulation

The sensory properties of water can help many individuals feel calmer, more organized, and better able to manage stress.

✔ Confidence and self-esteem

Success in the water often translates into confidence outside the pool.

✔ Body awareness and self-control

The aquatic environment naturally encourages focus, coordination, and regulation.

✔ Reduced stress and anxiety

Many individuals find the water soothing, predictable, and easier to navigate than other environments.

✔ Participation through connection

Therapeutic relationships built in the water often create opportunities for growth that may be difficult to achieve elsewhere.

And perhaps most importantly...

Aquatic therapy meets individuals where they are.

Not where someone thinks they should be.

Because progress isn't about eliminating anxiety overnight.

It's about creating opportunities for success, building trust, and helping individuals develop skills that support them both in and out of the water.

When the right support is in place, the water can become so much more than a place to swim.

It can become a place to grow.

Learn more about how aquatic therapy can support individuals experiencing anxiety:

https://swimangelfish.com/anxiety-aquatic-therapy-swim-lessons/

06/20/2026

I am sick to my stomach posting this....

Florida has now lost 56 children to drowning this year. Nearly 80% of those children were between the ages of 1 and 4, and more than three-quarters of the deaths occurred in swimming pools. The most common scenario was a child getting out of the home undetected. These tragedies are preventable when families use multiple layers of protection, including active supervision, barriers, alarms, and self-rescue swim lessons.

Under 1 - 1 1.8%
1 year olds - 21 37.5%
2 year olds - 13 23.2%
3 year olds - 3 5.4%
4 year olds - 7 12.5%
5+ years - 11 19.6%

Among the 43 pool deaths:
Family Pool – 25
Airbnb/Vacation Rental Pool – 7
Neighbor's Pool – 3
Community Pool – 3
Relative/Friend Pool – 3
Hotel Pool – 1
Apartment Pool – 1

Child Got Out of the Home Undetected
31 of 56 deaths (55%)

Examples:
Slipped out a back door
Followed sibling outside
Left during nap time
Wandered from home at night
Left through a doggy door
Left while caregiver was using restroom

This remains the most common circumstance.

06/19/2026

These moments are exactly why we love what we do. 💙🐟

This sweet girl is a little over 1 year old and only 4 lessons into her swim journey ~ and we couldn’t be more proud of her! She is already showing so much confidence in the water, she has breath control, reaching for the wall, holding on, and even starting to kick to help move herself forward. 💦

Every student learns at their own pace, and watching those little breakthroughs happen is the most rewarding part of what we do. Building trust, confidence, and safety skills from the very beginning is what it’s all about. 🛟

Keep going, little one — you are doing amazing! 💙

Looking for swim lessons? We have openings available to begin as early as 6/30/2026.

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www.mandasminnows.us

06/14/2026

Please watch this video!

06/14/2026

🛟 One of the most critical steps in learning how to swim… is learning how to safely get a breath. 🛟

Swimming isn’t just about moving through the water — it’s about knowing how to stay calm, control your breathing, and create a moment to breathe when you need it.

A student who can swim forward but cannot turn to their back for a breath or transition to a safe breathing position can quickly become overwhelmed. Learning skills like breath control, turning to float, and swim-float-swim sequences are essential parts of becoming a safe, confident swimmer.

At Manda’s Minnows, we teach the student in front of us — building skills step by step, creating confidence, and making sure our students understand how to use their swimming skills for safety. 💙🐟

Becoming a swimmer means knowing how to get a breath. Because the goal isn’t just to swim… it’s to swim safely.

Manda's Minnows

www.mandasminnows.us

06/13/2026

One drowning is too many and this week there have been at least 4 in a 48 hour period.

Our hearts hurt for these families!💔

REST IN PEACE: Reece Dowdy, 6, died on Thursday after drowning in a resort pool in Panama City Beach. He had just finished the first grade and was in town from Kentucky. https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/6-year-old-child-drowns-in-resort-pool-while-on-vacation-in-florida/

06/12/2026

🔆Look at this little one, showing off her “safe around the water” skills!!🔆

🛟 One of the most important skills young swimmers can learn is what to do after jumping or experiencing an unexpected fall into the water.

Learning to jump in, turn around, and float or swim back to the wall, teaches children how to create a moment of safety if they ever enter the water unexpectedly. It builds confidence, body awareness, and the ability to stay calm while they find their breath and prepare to get back to safety.

At Manda’s Minnows, we focus on real-life skills ~ because swimming isn’t just about swim development, it’s about safety first. 💙

Looking for swim lessons? Message us today!

www.facebook.com/mandasminnows

www.mandasminnows.us

06/10/2026

Please join us in congratulating Ms. Gigi!

Congratulations to one of the most
amazing people we know! 🎓💙

We are so incredibly proud of you and all that you’ve accomplished. Not only are you a GREAT friend, but you’re also a very special part of our Manda’s Minnows family. Your patience, kindness, and the way you connect with your swimmers is something truly special. 🏊‍♀️✨. We are so happy you’re part of our team!!

It has been so great watching you grow into the person you are today, and we know you have so many amazing things ahead of you. Congratulations on your graduation. 🎓

We hope you take a moment to celebrate how much you’ve achieved and how special you are to all of us!

We are SO proud of you! 🎉

06/06/2026

For many children with autism, water on the face can feel overwhelming due to sensory sensitivities, anxiety, and challenges with breath control. What helps one student, may not help another and that’s okay; learning to swim should be personalized.

At Manda’s Minnows, we break face immersion into small, achievable steps and help each swimmer build confidence at their own pace. Things like a firm wipe on the face after each attempt, can provide calming sensory input and help reduce discomfort from lingering water droplets.

For this student, successful facial immersion is a huge step and BIG goal (accomplished) and we are SUPER proud of him.

Every bubble, splash, and small step is a victory worth celebrating! 💙🐠🏊‍♀️

www.facebook.com/mandasminnows

www.mandasminnows.us

06/05/2026

☀️🏊 Looking for swim lessons this summer?

Manda’s Minnows is a highly recommended, locally owned and operated swim school with experienced, certified instructors who tailor each lesson to the individual student’s needs, skill level, and learning style.

We still have morning lesson openings and a few RARE evening spots available! Our remaining spaces are filling quickly, so now is the perfect time to get your swimmer registered.

Whether just getting comfortable in the water or ready to refine their skills, our personalized approach helps swimmers build confidence, improve technique, and stay safe in and around the water.

📅 Register today to avoid missing out on one of the few remaining spots!

💦 We can’t wait to see you in the pool this summer! 💦

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www.mandasminnows.us