Additional information
by Michael Godleski (Author)
Water confidence doesn't begin at swim lessons.
It begins at home.
Prepare2Swim: Ready Go is a parent-guided introduction to early water confidence for babies and toddlers - designed to support children from their very first bath through early pool experiences, long before formal swim lessons begin.
Written by veteran swim instructors and parents Michael and Dale Godleski, this book focuses on something more foundational than strokes or drills: how children learn to feel safe in water - and how a parent's presence, pacing, and emotional regulation shape that relationship from the very beginning.
With over 25 years of experience teaching children and guiding thousands of families, the authors present a calm-first framework rooted in child development, nervous system regulation, and practical water safety principles.
This is not a competitive swim manual.
It is not a checklist of drills.
Instead, it helps parents understand:
- How babies and toddlers build trust with water
- Why early exposure must be predictable and calm
- How back comfort and breath regulation support safety
- How to prevent fear before it forms
- Why regulation always comes before skill
The opening section speaks directly to parents, explaining the developmental science behind early water learning. The illustrated story that follows is designed to be read together and revisited over time - helping children become familiar with water in a way that feels intentional, calm, and safe as they grow.
This approach supports families from infancy through the preschool years - whether you're holding a baby in the tub or guiding a toddler at the edge of a pool.
Optional QR codes are included for families who want additional guidance, but the book stands fully on its own.
Parents describe it as calm, practical, and reassuring - especially for families introducing babies and toddlers to water for the first time.
The impact of these early foundations often becomes clear years later - when swim lessons feel easier, confidence builds faster, and fear never had the chance to take hold.
Because water safety doesn't start at the pool.
It starts with you.
