How to Find a Good Swim School for Your Child

A good swim school could be the key to your child's lifetime relationship with water activities.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Swimsuits
• Swimsuits For Children
• Swim Lessons
• Swimming Goggles

1. Find the swim schools in your area. Look in the phone book, on the Internet, and ask your friends who have children. Some public pools offer swimming instruction, as do some youth clubs and community centers.
2. Call swim schools to find out locations, hours, and fees.
3. Visit the swim schools that seem right for your location, time constraints, and finances. Try to arrive near the end of swim class.
4. Watch how the teachers interact with the children. Are the kids having fun? Are they learning to swim? These two aspects are equally important.
5. See if the pool facilities are clean and safe.
6. Talk with other parents as they pick up their children - ask them how they feel about the school.
7. Talk with the instructor(s) that you like the most. Ask which classes they teach and what your child would learn.
8. Enroll your child in the swim school of your choice.
9. Attend the first lessons, but do not interfere.
10. Make sure your child attends regularly, to keep up with the rest of the class.

Tips & Warnings

• Take note of the safety aspects of the school. All instructors are required to have safety certifications, but some are more responsible than others.
• If, during the first day of class, you realize the school is not what you were looking for, politely ask for your money back and go somewhere else.
• Watch your child's first lesson. If you don't like or trust the instructor, do not continue with the lessons.
• Never leave a child unattended near a swimming pool.