How to Choose a Swim School

Sending your child to swim school allows him to learn proper swimming techniques from trained professionals and have fun in the process. Choose the best swim school for your child by focusing on school atmosphere, instructor certifications and specialty class options for your child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Find a swim school by checking out your local business directory or perform an online search to see what swim schools are in your area. Ask around to see if any of your friends or neighbors has attended a swim school in the area.
2. Visit the school and ask for a guided tour of the facility. Observe the cleanliness and overall feeling of the pool and locker room areas and pay attention to the average class size.
3. Check the license and certification requirements as well as the average years of experience for the instructors at the school. All swim instructors need to be CPR certified as well as certified in water safety.
4. Ensure your child is comfortable with the school and instructor. Ask her questions about the school and how she feels about taking swim classes at that facility. Bring your child along on the tour to make sure she sees everything you do.
5. Ask if the school allows a trial class for your child. Participating in a class is the best way to know if the swim school is a good fit for your child.
6. Confirm whether the school offers adult classes if you are interested in learning beginner or advanced swim techniques. Some schools offer parent-child classes for younger children so you can both enjoy the water.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a school that offers warm water for swim classes. Warm water makes you more comfortable and your child more apt to enter the water for swim class.
• Trust your instincts. If anything at the school gives you pause or your child is not completely comfortable, move on to the next school.