Children can start lessons as young as six months old.

Yes. I love teaching adults. It’s so rewarding to see people realize their potential. They often surprise themselves. Most adults start swimming by the end of the first lesson.

No. The demand for lessons is too high to give free trial lessons.

Yes. Parents are always welcome to watch the lesson, however in my experience, most children progress quicker when the classes are one-on-one. I think when there are more people present there is an increase in perceived pressure for the child that distracts from the lesson.

Additionally, there should be no other children in the backyard and or swimming pool during the lesson. My job is to teach your child one-on-one, and I cannot watch over other children simultaneously.

Great question. It depends on so many factors. I can give you a rough idea of how many lessons it will take based on my evaluation of their current skill and comfort level in the water after the first lesson. But I can guarantee they will swim. Everyone does.

While it differs from child to child these are my general recommendations:

Under 2 - At least 12 lessons.
2-3 - At least 8 lessons
4-6 - At least 8 lessons
6+ - At least 4 lessons
Adults - At least 4 lessons

I’ve had 2 year old students that can swim up to 30 feet full speed in one breath. But most 2 year olds, once trained, can swim up to 15 feet on one breath with just kicks and/or freestyle, climb out of the pool if they fall in, and float independently. A whole lot of fun! You can be having a blast with your child in the water in no time.

No. Your child is going to swim so fast the only thing you’re going to wonder is why you didn’t start sooner. There are no skill levels. I teach multiple skills throughout the lesson. We just learn how to swim, for real.

You can practice their breath control by prompting them to catch a bubble (themes go a long way with little ones) and check their nostrils to confirm they are holding their breath. 

You can put their goggles on in the shower. Definitely switch to showers if they are used to only taking baths. 

Blowing a feather or something ultra lightweight across a table with an exhale from their mouth or nostrils.

You can practice the skills we practice at swim lessons at home, however- do not attempt to submerge your child in the same way I do, and or past their breath control limit. Doing so can and will impact their confidence and may lead to a temporary regression.

They can practice their arms anywhere, and they can practice their kicking face down and face up in bed. Sounds funny, but it works!

No. Every lesson is taught one-on-one. However you can arrange for a group of kids to take back-to-back lessons.

No. I currently only offer sibling discounts for 2 or more siblings that are swimming back-to-back. If you swim 5 days a week or more, I also give a substantial discount.

I don’t recommend it. I recommend using a coast guard certified life jacket. Puddle jumpers train your child how to not swim. If you must use a puddle jumper, only do it when you have to, and always make it a point to take it off and practice real swimming before leaving the pool.

Sometimes a puddle jumper or a related floatation device is especially handy in pool party situations with many children. I'd rather the children be safe in the water instead of being turnt loose without any floatation- especially if they cannot swim across the length of the pool independently with repeating breaths. Still, I would recommend life jackets over a puddle jumper.

I teach treading water and freestyle with rollover breathing. I do not drown proof your child. Anyone who claims they can drown proof your child is lying. Accidents happen. My goal is to get your child to swim across your pool’s full length with repeating breaths as fast as I can. Once they perform that to my satisfaction, you need not continue swimming lessons. My goal is to teach your child how to swim, not to keep them in lessons forever. If you want to go further, I can get your child swim team tryout ready.

One of the reasons I need to know when you're going to stop swimming lessons is because I want the child to be as strong of a swimmer before I test their full ability to save themselves. I teach much more than falling in next to the wall and climbing out. Once a child is confident, I challenge them with great distance and plot twists to prepare for the most unfortunate situations- before I let them swim away. It's so important to me, after all the work I put into them, that I see what they can do before they are finished with their sessions. No other swim program I know of in Texas- and I know them all, does anything like this.

I also have a talk with them about important things to remember around bodies of water and I quiz them on what the proper response should be, in an emergency situation. These topics come up in my conversations with them throughout our lessons. It's more than the child themselves and their ability and personal safety; they need to be prepared for what they encounter in the real world, outside of my controlled environment, especially in regards to another child in distress and or danger. They need to know what to do, without hesitation.

Over the years I've gotten phone calls from parents thanking me for what I've done because they witnessed their child either save themselves and or make an important decision in regards to their safety in the water. That's why I feel like I can't stop doing this.

Never. Accidents happen–even with teenagers. We have to protect our children at all costs. Adult supervision is always required, even for children who are excellent swimmers.

No. I will never be the one to tell you to take your baby gate down. Even if your two year old can freestyle with side breaths across a 30 foot pool, I’m still not going to tell you to take the baby gate down.

Children must always be supervised while in a swimming pool. I think a child is a safe swimmer when they can freestyle with rollover breaths across a 25 foot distance with and without goggles.