We were lucky to catch up with Kaylee Kennedy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kaylee, appreciate you joining us today. undefined

The most innovative thing I’ve done in my career is starting Watermellow Swim School, a fully online swim school for babies. The idea for Watermellow was born during the lockdown, a time when traditional in-person swim lessons came to a sudden halt and my business as I knew it was on pause. I realized that families with small babies were missing out on critical opportunities to introduce their children to the water at a young age, which is such an important developmental stage.

In response, I started live-streaming free swim lessons on instagram, teaching parents how to safely and effectively introduce their babies to water at home—starting in the bathtub. The response was overwhelming. Parents from around the world tuned in, eager not only to keep their children engaged during lockdown but also to play an active role in teaching their babies to swim.

These early sessions showed me that there was a real demand for this kind of parent-led, guided approach. Parents didn’t just want lessons—they wanted the tools and confidence to teach their children themselves, especially during a time when access to pools was limited or nonexistent. It also highlighted an underserved audience: families living in areas without access to swim schools or public pools.

From there, Watermellow was born. I developed an online curriculum based on our pre-existing curriculum, Swimful, designed specifically for parents and caregivers to teach their babies (ages 3 weeks to 36 months) to swim. The lessons start in the bathtub and gradually progress to the pool, focusing on trust, confidence, and skill development. The program empowers parents to be active participants in their baby’s aquatic journey, building stronger bonds while laying the foundation for water safety and swimming skills.

What makes Watermellow so innovative is its accessibility. By leveraging the power of online education, we’ve been able to reach families across the globe, including those in remote areas or communities without access to pools or traditional swim lessons. It has also fundamentally shifted the way parents think about swim instruction, showing them that they can play a direct role in their child’s water education.

Starting Watermellow was a big leap into the unknown, but seeing the impact it’s had on families worldwide has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. It’s a testament to how innovation doesn’t always have to involve flashy technology—it can be as simple as meeting a need, rethinking traditional approaches, and empowering others to learn and grow in new ways.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Kaylee Kennedy, and I am the founder of K&K Swim School and Watermellow Swim School. Swimming has been a lifelong passion for me—one that began in childhood and grew into a career focused on empowering individuals and families to develop confidence, joy, and a love for the water.

At K&K Swim School, we specialize in private, one-on-one swimming lessons for individuals of all ages and abilities. We offer lessons using our unique curriculum, “Swimful”. This curriculum emphasizes purposeful and mindful swimming, with a strong focus on breath control, natural buoyancy, and personalized progress. Our approach prioritizes personal growth over traditional pass/fail systems, ensuring each swimmer’s unique journey is supported.

In addition to K&K, I founded Watermellow Swim School during the pandemic as a fully online swim school for babies. Watermellow focuses on teaching parents and caregivers how to teach babies (ages 3 weeks to 36 months) to swim. Lessons begin in the bathtub and progress to the pool, fostering a nurturing and developmental experience. Our online resources empower parents to be active participants in their baby’s aquatic journey, emphasizing trust, comfort, and skill development from the very first moments in the water.

What sets both schools apart is the intentionality behind our methods. Whether through personalized, in-person instruction at K&K or the parent-led, online approach at Watermellow, our mission remains the same: to inspire a love for the water while building confidence and connection. We solve common frustrations, like fear of water, lack of progress, or difficulty accessing swim lessons, by offering tailored solutions that meet families where they are.

I’m incredibly proud of the communities we’ve built. K&K Swim School has grown to serve families in 16 cities across Canada, while Watermellow has reached families worldwide, enabling them to introduce their little ones to swimming safely and confidently.

We believe that our work goes beyond teaching swimming. It’s about fostering lifelong skills, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the water. Whether you’re a family looking for one-on-one lessons in Alberta, Saskatchewan (and soon to be Quebec), or a parent seeking guidance to teach your baby at home, our schools are here to support and inspire your journey.

Our tagline, “Challenge. Grow. Inspire.,” perfectly reflects the heart of both K&K and Watermellow. We’re dedicated to helping swimmers and families not only excel in the water but also carry those lessons of confidence, joy, and growth into every aspect of life.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Our reputation within the market has been built on a foundation of strong relationships and customer care. From the very beginning, we’ve prioritized a personalized and supportive approach to swimming instruction, and that commitment is reflected in every aspect of our business.

The nature of our lessons is a key factor. The personalized format allows us to connect with each swimmer and their family individually. Instructors tailor each session to the swimmer’s unique needs and learning style, creating an environment where progress feels unique and specific to them. Our instructors take a couple minutes at the end of each lesson to debrief what was taught, building a stronger client-instructor relationship.

Our focus on a strong customer care team is another major contributor to our reputation. We understand that swimming lessons are not just about the time spent in the pool—they’re about the entire experience. Our dedicated customer care team plays a crucial role in ensuring that experience is positive and impactful. By consistently gathering feedback from our clients, whether through direct conversations, surveys, or our progress-tracking tools, we’re able to adapt and improve continuously.

Families know that their voices matter to us. Whether they have questions, concerns, or ideas, we listen and respond with solutions tailored to their needs. Our reputation has grown because of the relationships we’ve nurtured—both in the water and beyond.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Our most effective strategy for growing our clientele has been our referral program. Word of mouth has always been one of our most powerful tools, and we’ve built our business around creating experiences that naturally encourage families to share their positive experiences with others.

Swimming is a deeply personal journey for many families, and trust plays a huge role in choosing a swim school. When a parent recommends us to their friends or family, it comes with a level of credibility and confidence that no other marketing strategy can replicate. That’s why we’ve put so much emphasis on ensuring every swimmer and family has an exceptional experience with us.

Our referral program is designed to reward that trust and encouragement. Families who refer others to us receive discounts on future lessons, creating a win-win situation. Not only does it help us grow our community, but it also strengthens the bond we have with our existing clients, showing them how much we value their support.

The success of this strategy also ties back to our personalized approach and excellent customer care. By building strong relationships and delivering consistent, high-quality lessons, we make it easy for families to advocate for us. Happy clients naturally become ambassadors for our brand, sharing their stories and experiences within their networks.

In the end, our growth has been fueled by genuine relationships and trust. The referral program amplifies that by making it easier and more rewarding for families to spread the word about K&K Swim School. It’s a strategy that reflects who we are as a company—community-focused, relationship-driven, and always appreciative of the people who help us grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kkswimschool.com & https://watermellow.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knkswimschool/ & https://www.instagram.com/watermellow.swim/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kkswimschool & https://www.facebook.com/watermellow.swim
• Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/k-&-k-swim-school

Image Credits

Images by Karim Zayed