Swim Coach Captures Hearts For Helping Kids Conquer Fears With ‘Mermaid Mantras’

Aug 03, 2023

Swimming is an intense sport that requires the use of one's entire body. It also provides a lot of benefits to the body. Swimming enables one to maintain a healthy body and helps to strengthen the heart and the lungs. However, despite the immense benefits of swimming, between 2% to 3% of Americans have aquaphobia (fear of water), which prevents them from getting into the water to learn. Overcoming this fear can be quite daunting too. Meanwhile, the disorder is reported to be more common in children than adults. 

However, training a child to swim early has been proven to have many benefits. Learning to swim early commonly prevents drowning among children of ages 1 to 4, who die more from this than other causes per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Due to this troubling statistic, more parents are sending their babies to swim instructors to learn how to swim. However, a major challenge remains, which is ensuring that the kids overcome their fear of water. 

One swim instructor from Tampa recently went viral after he shared a trick from his book that helps little ones overcome their swimming fears. In a now-viral TikTok video posted on May 23, 2023, Tyler Reed shared his "mermaid mantras" to calm one of his youngest students and help her fight off her fear. The video warmed the hearts of viewers who couldn't resist smiling at the toddler's cute mispronunciation of some of the words and her bravery. Read on to find out what Reed said and more about the story. 

Tyler Reed, owner of Triton Aquatic Training, went viral when he shared a clip on TikTok and Instagram on May 23, 2023. The clip showed him reciting the "mermaid mantras" to a toddler who had just come out of the water and was close to tears. 

"Yes... swim lessons can sometimes be scary but when we say our motivational mermaid mantras out loud, we can do anything!" Reed captioned the video. 

The swim instructor maintained that it was his way of helping his youngest students believe in themselves. "I think a lot of people look at 2-year-olds and babies as children that are incapable of being able to swim or save themselves and I'm trying to kind of erase that psyche from them, that they really can do this," Reed told Good Morning America.

Reed's post quickly gained over 52 million views on TikTok. The clip also got many comments, with many praising the instructor for his ability to handle the toddler's tears. "I know how to swim but can you just give me this pep talk to please," a TikTok user wrote. A second user commented, "So much nicer than what my family always did 😅 they just threw us off the boat and let us figure it out." Another Tiktoker lauded the teacher, writing, "What a real hero you are to her!🤍."

Other users also applauded the toddler's bravery and articulation. A TikTok user, @Tonybagofdonuts93, commented, "I’m boobooful is literally where I lost it 😭😭 someone get me tissues." Another TikToker revealed their inability to swim, writing, "She is braver than me. I’m 43 and I still can’t swim 😭😭😭."

Reed's followers on Instagram also had a field day, as one fan wrote, "Tears today, Alive tomorrow! Awesome parents. Teach your children to swim 🏊🏻‍♀️." 

What do you think about teaching babies and children to swim as early as possible? Do you think more parents should start teaching their kids to swim early? What do you think of the "mermaid mantras"? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family members!