Taylor Daniels and Kim Johnson teach lessons through Swim with Kim. Photo: Duane Tinkey
Writer: Abbey Tauchen
Drowning is the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 4 and the second-leading cause of unintentional injury death among children ages 5 to 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each year, more than 4,500 drowning deaths occur in the United States — an average of 12 per day. The American Red Cross reports that 61% of children, including many teens, cannot perform basic swim safety skills.
Kim Johnson and her daughter Taylor Daniels are on a mission to improve those statistics through their swim instruction program, Swim with Kim.
“Drowning is preventable,” Johnson said. “That’s why this is our passion.”
A family tradition of teaching
Johnson’s passion for swimming runs deep. Her parents were swim and scuba instructors who immersed her in water activities from a young age. She did the same for Daniels, her youngest daughter.
Johnson has been teaching swimming lessons for more than 40 years. Today, she and Daniels teach in the adjoining pools at their homes, which are next door to each other in Clive.
“I always say, ‘The Earth is 75% water. Can you swim?’” Johnson said. “Swimming is so important. It’s like learning how to cross the street.”
Tailored lessons for all ages
Swim with Kim welcomes children as young as 18 months old to help them become comfortable in the water from the start. Most courses are intensive, 50-minute sessions held daily for a week. Small group sizes ensure personalized instruction tailored to each child’s age and skill level.
“We treat each child as their own individual,” Johnson said. “We meet them at their level.”
The program focuses on teaching kids to swim independently without relying on flotation devices, which can create a false sense of security. “Kids need to feel the difference between jumping in with or without them,” Johnson explained.
Building confidence and respect for water
Parents like Liz Lidgett call the program the city’s best-kept secret. “Kim has been incredible for my kids,” she said. “She teaches them that water is fun but also something to respect.”
Lidgett noticed immediate improvements in her children’s skills after just four days. “They started saying, ‘We don’t get in the water without an adult,’” she said. “These are lessons parents try to teach, but sometimes it takes a third party for kids to really grasp them.”
Johnson and Daniels build trust with their students through honesty, patience, and fun. “We never trick or lie to the students,” Daniels said. “We make it enjoyable. It honestly never gets old seeing a child succeed.”
A lifesaving skill
Swimming is more than a recreational activity — it’s a lifesaving skill. The CDC reports that 40 million American adults don’t know how to swim, and 55% have never taken a swimming lesson. Johnson and Daniels believe it’s never too early to start. “Get them swimming at a young age,” Daniels said. “It can be scary, but when you look at the statistics, it’s truly a lifesaver. It’s a life skill they need. The earlier they start, the better.”
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