Swim School Helpful Hints
Policies and Pool Waiver:
Make sure your have accepted all our policies online through the Customer Portal before you arrive for your child's first lesson. We cannot allow your child into the pool if this has not been completed.
What to Bring:
- Two towels: one to wrap up in at the end of their lessons and one to use when drying off from the shower
- A change of clothes
- After swim snack
- No goggles unless previously discussed with your instructor
- For swimmers under the age of four: Reusable Swim Undies are required regardless of potty-training status. Anyone enrolled in a Learn-to-Swim lesson package will receive a free pair of swim undies on their first day.
Let's Keep Tummies Feeling Great:
Please avoid eating a large meal, big snack, or lots of dairy right before lessons. it is common for children to swallow some air and some water over the course of their lessons. This combined with a full tummy of undigested food or milk will cause an upset stomach and in some cases, children may spit up or throw up.
Help us Stay On Time:
Once your child is changed and ready for their lesson, accompany them to the white bench at the east end of the pool, so their instructor knows they are here and ready to swim. Please greet your child at the end of their lesson in a timely manner so your child's instructor can provide you with a brief progress report and to help keep us on time for the next student's lesson.
Your are Your Child's Number One Fan: Clap, give Hugs, & High Fives!
Your positive support and encouragement of their efforts is the ultimate reward. Make your comments as specific as possible i.e. "I saw you peek into the water" or "Wow, you are working really hard on your float!".
Learn-to-Swim & Core Skills Development Students
Learning to Swim is Really Hard Work:
Crying is a great way to communicate, especially for young children who are learning emotional regulation and have limited verbal skills. Consistency and positive support are key to transitioning challenges into triumphs. We individualize our lessons to meet the needs of each student. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions about your child's lessons. We are here to help. Let's work together to make your child's experience a success!
Pretend Play is Aways a Great Way to Learn:
Young children use preted play to process what they have learned. When you observe your child pretending to be the swim teacher with their toys, this is a great opportunity to see where your child feels most confident and where their fears or discomforts lie.
Watch Other Lessons:
Narrating what others are doing and feeling can help young children see that their peers are experiencing the same struggles and successes as they are experiencing. As a part of the Swim School Family, we all have challenges and successes we can share.
Keep Up the Great Work:
Once children begin swim lessons, it is important to reinforce positive swimming behaviors. Swimming happens in the horizontal position and playing in the water happens in a vertical position.
There is a time and place for specific floatation devices. However, they are NEVER a substitute for direct adult supervision in the water. Ask your child's swim instructor what you can do to suppor their learning outside of swim lessons.
take your Child Swimming:
We offer a structured routine to practice very specific skills in controlled environment. Visiting other pools allows children to take safe risks with you right there to help them. this allows them to better understand their perianal strengths and where they are still learning in a real world setting.