Finding the Right Swimming Classes for your Family

Which Swimming class is right for us?
Swimming is a life skill. So how do you wade through your options and which is right for you? It is important to do your research, ask lots of questions and if the fit isn't right, find another option. There are other options out there for you. This newsletter has my tips to finding quality swimming lessons outside of Kristin Epley Active Care.

To group or not to group?

If your child is 24 months and under, parent and me groups are the best way to positivity introduce your little one to the joys of water, along with the beginning foundation of safety.  If your child has no water anxiety, can focus in a group setting, and implement instruction well, a group or semi-private setting is for you.  If your child has a lot of water anxiety, gets distracted easily,or has special needs, the semi-private or private lesson setting is for you.

Finding the right swim company

Quality is a huge factor when you are going to make a commitment to  swimming lessons. Here are a few suggestions.  Steer clear of  companies with high staff turnover rates.    Many companies are quick to hire staff and send them out with little to no company training. Although these companies have affordable rates, they might not be committed to the success of your child in comparison to a small company with one or two coaches.  Look for a company that has a handful of coaches. Check to see if they have a bio. Ask how long the current coaches have been coaching with the company. This will speak miles about the company and how they treat their staff.  Make sure that the same instructor will instruct your child for every lesson.   This will ensure that you get consistency and progress.  Many companies will argue that every coach is trained the same way and can recognize where a child is at to progress, but I think this is incorrect.  Every child is massively different and many can "put on the show" to not do the work or have considerable anxiety and fear issues.  Instructors need to have an understanding of how your child learns and communicates, so they can achieve swimming success at the fastest rate. It will also be the most cost effective. Beware of the companies that rely on the heavy use of  swimming devices  Swimming devices are flippers, personal floatation aids, kick boards, and noodles. Heavy use of these items gives the child and parents a false sense of progress and security. This, in my opinion works completely against safe swimming.  It is better if a swim school tells you. "I don't use any devises." or  "Attimes I use a kick board or a noodle." You want the answer for any swim devices to be sparingly.  If used correctly and sparingly, swim devices can properly aid your child's progress.   But many schools lean on these devices to show faster progress. I have worked at a school in my past that has told me, "Put the big flippers on the child so the mom will be impressed with her son's progress." Again, in my experience, this gives a false sense of progress and can lead to a child and parent making poor water safety choices due to false security.     Look for a company that focuses on back swimming  The younger your child the more imperative this is. Children can breath on their back and are safe on their backs.  A two year old still has a very large head in proportion to their body. To lift their head to breath can leave the child stuck in a vertical position.  If taught to float and roll on their back, they will be able to rest and take in as much oxygen as they need.

Interview your Potential Company

How long are your lessons?  How many children are part of the lesson? Will my child get instruction from the same instructor?How long have your instructors been with your company?What are your goals for my child? Hoften do you practice back floating? What do you consider to be pool safe? How do you achieve pool safety?  How often do you practice back floating?  Do you use swimming devices and which ones? How much of the lesson will use swimming devices? How long is it going to take my child to swim? What if my child has water anxiety? What are the steps you take with a child that has anxiety? How do you teach a child with special needs?

Other swim companies I suggest

One with the Water-  One with the Water®, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is the best swim school in Los Angeles because we can teach anyone to swim.  Typical swim teams & instructors use a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn't always   work for children with unique physical, cognitive, or visual challenges.    Our lessons focus on safety, fun, & improved abilities. We introduce all    kids to a swim team atmosphere to prepare for more advanced team swimming.   Coach Kenneth is a certified coach (Disability Level 3 & Masters Level 2)  with the American Swim Coaches Association. He has completed training sessions on working with kids with Autism and special needs.  Got Bubbles- Brian Lasky, For the past 22 years, has successfully taught thousands of students from 18 months to 70 years old the life skill of swimming. He provides a straight forward, no-nonsense approach that time and time again provides a 100% success ratio, regardless of age.   He uses a method that has been perfected by his mentor, Tom Bradbury.  Since 1957, Tom has taught over 87,000 students around the world the life skill of swimming.