Nicole Fairfield

Nicole Fairfield | Children’s Water Safety Author | Founder of Georgia Swim School | Advocate for #ZeroDrownings

Every movement in the water tells a story, a splash, a bubble, a brave little face leaning forward for the first time. For Nicole Fairfield, also known by her pen name Neva Nicole, these small moments carry life-saving meaning. She has spent more than twenty years teaching children how to move through the water with confidence, transforming swimming lessons into a foundation for safety, joy, and growth.

Nicole’s voice as an author comes from lived experience. At just three years old, she survived a near-drowning incident that shaped her mission forever. From that day forward, she understood that water safety for kids is not simply a skill, but a necessity. Through her teaching, her Georgia Swim School resources, and her children’s water safety books, she has built a message of hope and prevention: drowning is silent, but with awareness and practice, it is also preventable.

Today, Nicole stands as both an educator and an author. Her stories are not just bedtime reads; they are family water safety books designed to guide parents, instructors, and children toward the shared goal of #ZeroDrownings. For Nicole, writing is more than publishing. It is advocacy in its most heartfelt form.

The Personal Story Behind the Mission

Every advocate has a beginning, and Nicole Fairfield’s journey started with fear, survival, and a second chance. At just three years old, Nicole nearly drowned. Pulled from the water by her aunt, she was given the gift of life that could have ended in silence. That moment did more than leave a scar; it planted the seed for her life’s work.

Nicole’s family turned that frightening experience into vigilance. From that day forward, water safety became a constant presence in her home, shaping her understanding that swimming lessons are never just about fun; they are about survival. Years later, when she began teaching, Nicole saw echoes of her own story in the eyes of children facing the water for the first time. She knew the hesitation, the fear, and the courage it takes to try again.

Her books and programs are not abstract lessons; they are drowning prevention resources born from her own lived reality. Whether she is writing about teaching kids to float and blow bubbles or designing beginner swimming lesson guides for instructors, Nicole carries the weight of her story with her. It is why her mission is bigger than teaching; it’s about making sure every child has the chance to grow safely, confidently, and joyfully in the water.

Two Decades of Teaching & Advocacy

For Nicole Fairfield, teaching swimming has never been a summer job or a passing interest. Since the year 2000, she has devoted herself to guiding children and families through the water, building skills that last a lifetime. Over two decades later, her commitment has only deepened. As the founder of Georgia Swim School, Nicole has created a trusted space where families learn not only swimming skills but also the values of patience, safety, and resilience.

In 2005, she became a certified instructor trainer, equipping others with the tools and confidence to carry her mission forward. This step expanded her reach beyond the pool deck, turning her into a mentor for instructors who now use her methods in their own communities. She believes teaching children to swim safely begins with empowering the adults who guide them.

Her resources extend beyond the classroom and into the homes of families worldwide. From swim instructor teaching resources to preschool swim lesson resources, Nicole’s work blends education with compassion. Parents, caregivers, and teachers turn to her not just for swimming skills, but for a holistic approach to water safety. For Nicole, every lesson is another ripple in the global effort toward #ZeroDrownings.

Books That Save Lives: Nicole’s Author Journey

When Nicole Fairfield stepped from the pool deck to the page, it wasn’t a change of direction; it was an expansion of her mission. For years, she had been teaching children and parents the essentials of water safety face-to-face. But she realized that not every family could attend her classes, not every child had immediate access to a swim school, and not every community had the resources to build structured programs. Writing became her way of closing that gap.

Nicole began creating children’s water safety books that blended storytelling, colorful illustrations, and life-saving lessons. She wanted her books to be more than entertaining stories; she wanted them to become family water safety books that parents could read with their children at bedtime, turning learning into love. Through her gentle tone and clear guidance, she transforms intimidating first steps, like putting a face in the water, blowing bubbles, or learning to float, into joyful milestones.

Her work also extends beyond storybooks. With early learning swim activity books, interactive swim cards for children, and structured beginner swimming lesson guides, she has built a library of tools that meet families and instructors where they are. Each book is a carefully designed step forward, a bridge from uncertainty to confidence, from fear to freedom.

Nicole’s author journey is deeply tied to her advocacy. By writing, she multiplies her reach, ensuring that children far beyond Georgia Swim School can access the same lessons that have saved lives in her pool. Every book is a ripple of prevention, carrying forward her dream of a world where safe swimming is not a privilege but a standard. For Nicole, the written word is more than education; it is protection, prevention, and empowerment, a lifeline disguised as a story.

Book Spotlight – Joyful Waters Course Manual

The Joyful Waters Course Manual is more than a teaching guide; it is the heart of Nicole Fairfield’s mission to give every child a safe beginning in the water. Written for parents, caregivers, and instructors, this book blends years of practical teaching experience with a deep understanding of child development. It recognizes that swimming is not just about learning strokes but about building confidence, boundaries, and trust.

Inside, readers find structured preschool swim lesson resources, adaptable lesson plans, and clear safety practices designed for infants and toddlers. Nicole’s approach is rooted in compassion: she encourages gradual exposure to the water, patient reinforcement, and constant communication between adults and children. The manual goes beyond the pool; it teaches families how to carry water safety principles into everyday life, transforming baths, splash pads, and beach trips into moments of learning.

Backed by real-world application and collaboration with internationally recognized aquatic educators, the Joyful Waters program is built to be practical, effective, and life-changing. By giving parents and instructors evidence-based tools, Nicole ensures that children are introduced to water with joy and security. It is not only a guide to lessons but a pathway to prevention.

Book Spotlight – I Can Float & I Can Put My Face In

Every child’s swimming journey begins with small but powerful milestones. Nicole Fairfield captures these tender first steps in her beloved books I Can Float and I Can Put My Face In. Each title transforms an intimidating skill into a celebration, helping children build courage and confidence at their own pace.

I Can Float introduces children to the idea of trusting the water to hold them up. Floating is not just a skill; it is a foundation of survival. By showing little readers that floating can be fun, playful, and safe, Nicole eases them into one of the most essential habits of water safety. With repetition and encouragement, children learn that floating is their first tool for independence and calm.

I Can Put My Face In highlights the brave moment every swimmer remembers, the first time their face meets the water. For some children, this step can feel scary, but Nicole uses colorful characters and encouraging language to show that it’s not just possible, but exciting. The book reassures children that they don’t have to rush, but when they’re ready, that splash becomes a victory worth celebrating.

Together, these two books are swimming confidence books for kids, guiding families through the most memorable first lessons with love, patience, and joy.

Book Spotlight – I Will Wait

Patience is not always easy for children, especially when they see the sparkling water in front of them. Nicole Fairfield’s I Will Wait transforms this essential safety habit into a story children can love and remember. The book follows relatable characters as they learn the importance of waiting for a parent, caregiver, or instructor’s permission before entering the water. By turning a lifesaving rule into a simple, repeatable phrase, Nicole gives families a tool that works both at home and at the pool.

The story is written in a warm, encouraging tone that invites children to see themselves in the characters. With colorful illustrations and gentle repetition, it reinforces boundaries in a way that feels safe and empowering. Parents and instructors can use the book as a natural conversation starter to explain why rules exist, turning moments of eagerness into moments of learning.

This book is more than a reminder; it’s a parent guide to swimming safety, providing families with language to explain why water can be unpredictable and why waiting is a form of respect and protection. By blending storytelling with practical application, Nicole ensures that the simple phrase “I will wait” can one day save a life.

Book Spotlight – Swim with Me: Swim Cards Pack One & Pack Two

Nicole Fairfield knew that sometimes families need more than a story; they need a tool they can carry right into the water. That’s why she created her Swim with Me: Swim Cards, a hands-on resource designed to guide children step by step through essential swimming skills. Built for both parents and instructors, these cards turn lessons into interactive, playful experiences that children can touch, see, and follow with excitement.

Pack One introduces the foundations: blowing bubbles, getting faces wet, floating, kicking, and gliding. Each card shows the skill in a simple, visual way that children can understand. Parents can laminate them, bring them to the pool, and use them as part of structured or casual swim time. By giving kids a sense of choice and progress, Pack One makes water safety less intimidating and more fun.

Pack Two builds on those early steps, adding progression in floating, gliding, arm strokes, and retrieving toys. It encourages children to push themselves a little further, while still feeling safe and supported. Nicole’s approach emphasizes patience and celebration, reminding families that confidence grows when children are allowed to explore at their own pace.

Together, these interactive sets stand as beginner swimming lesson guides and interactive swim cards for children, making them invaluable tools for any parent or swim school looking to nurture confidence in the pool.

Book Spotlight – My First Swim Adventure & Georgia Swim School Coloring Book

Stories and activities are at the heart of how children learn, and Nicole Fairfield knows that engagement makes safety memorable. With My First Swim Adventure and the Georgia Swim School Coloring Book, she brings water safety into playtime, turning every page into an opportunity for growth, joy, and trust.

My First Swim Adventure follows Amauri’s journey through her very first swimming lessons. Written with warmth and empathy, the story reflects the real emotions children feel when facing a new pool, a new teacher, and the challenge of trying something unfamiliar. By blending narrative with safety practice, like holding onto the wall, blowing bubbles, and floating, Nicole shows children that courage grows step by step. Parents reading alongside their children find encouragement too, gaining insight into how to support their little ones with patience and consistency.

The Georgia Swim School Coloring Book adds creativity to learning. Packed with illustrations and interactive activities, it allows children to reinforce what they’ve learned about safety through coloring, games, and fun exercises. It’s more than an activity book; it’s a tool for early childhood educational books that blend art with essential lessons.

Both resources remind families that learning water safety doesn’t have to be rigid. It can be fun, playful, and deeply meaningful.

To learn more about Nicole Fairfield’s work, visit our Books section for her full collection.

The Legacy of Nicole Fairfield | Neva Nicole

Every great mission outlives the moment it began. For Nicole Fairfield, Neva Nicole to her readers, the goal has never been only about books or swim classes. It has always been about protecting lives, shaping habits, and making water a place of joy instead of fear. Her journey from a near-drowning child to a seasoned instructor, author, and advocate is more than a career path; it is a calling.

Through her children’s water safety books, her Georgia Swim School resources, and her Navigating Neva podcast, Nicole continues to multiply her impact. Families who may never step foot in her swim school still find guidance through her writing, podcasts, and educational materials. Instructors across the world benefit from her swim instructor teaching resources, while parents lean on her family water safety books to set boundaries that can save lives.

Her voice carries far beyond the poolside. By tying personal story to professional expertise, Nicole has become a leader in the global #ZeroDrownings movement. She reminds us that water, while powerful, can be embraced safely when respect, patience, and vigilance are practiced.

Nicole Fairfield’s legacy is not just in the children who learn to float, or the parents who teach “I will wait,” but in the countless futures changed because she chose to turn her story into action. Her work is proof that advocacy, when born of love, can ripple endlessly, touching lives one splash, one page, one child at a time.

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Want to hear Nicole share her insights and stories firsthand? Tune into her podcast, where she dives deeper into water safety, child development, and the joy of swimming.

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Nicole Fairfield