Does my child need a swim diaper? All children under 3.5 yrs old are required to wear TWO SSF swim diapers available at the office window.

Can my child eat before a lesson? Please do not feed your child or give them milk or juice 1 hr before their lesson. If your child is frightened or cannot hold their breath, 3 hrs is preferred. When nervous they often swallow lots of air and sometimes water. When we have to deal with this, it takes time away from the children's swimming time.

Is it OK for my child to wear floaties/float bathing suit at home? We do not promote floatation devices of any kind. These products cause the children to be vertical in the water which is contrary to our method of teaching. They get used to that position and it makes it much harder for them to learn to be safe and efficient in the water.  When they are used to being vertical, that is what they will revert to in a panic situation and this will cause them to sink. However, we do consider the children’s safety of the utmost importance and understand that these devices are sometimes necessary. We strongly recommend practicing with your child horizontal in the pool as much as possible to overcome the negative effects.

How should I book my child's lesson? All lessons should be booked online. Please go to the “Rates & Scheduling” page and follow the step-by-step instructions. Please note that no lessons times are confirmed until we receive your payment and we must have your client conformation packet before your child may enter the pool.

Can I call to book my child's lesson? All lessons should be booked online. We will be happy to help if you have any problems with this or have additional questions, but sometimes it is difficult for us to respond to phone calls in a timely manner. In order to get the schedule you want for your child it is much more efficient to book your lessons online and email any questions.

I feel like my child is learning to slowly. What should I do? It is very important that you let us know ASAP if you are not happy with the pace of your child's lessons. We cannot adjust this if we do not know how you feel. Please email Sarah immediately if you have a concern. There are also feedback forms on the table which you can fill out and turn in to Sarah.

My child is learning, but dislikes coming to lessons. What should I do? Please let us know ASAP and be sure to use the “Helpful Hints” at home. Print out the page from our website and share it with your family and any caregivers. The mental reinforcement makes a critical difference in your child’s progress. Often the children are physically capable of swimming across the pool, but if they are not over the mental hump, they will not do it at other pools.

How frequently should I schedule my child's lessons? EACH CHILD IS DIFFERENT AND OUR PROGRAM IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO OPTIMIZE LEARNING. Please take your child's comfort level, personality and energy level into consideration when making these decisions.

If your child is frightened, we recommend scheduling lessons as consecutively as possible. Otherwise, it depends on how quickly you want your child to learn. Children learn with fewer lessons if the lessons are close together, however, we recommend starting as early in the year as possible because the longer the children have been in the water the more comfortable and excited they will be about summer swimming. If you practice the "homework" and hints at home they will learn more quickly. In the fall, winter and early spring, we generally recommend 3 lessons per week for the first 2 weeks. If you are practicing and the children are grasping the concepts, twice a week is sufficient. If you cannot start lessons until May or the summer, we recommend coming every day until your child is safe in the water. We also strongly recommend follow up lessons especially if your child starts swimming with his/her head up. Allowing your child to swim vertically nullifies everything we have taught them. Coming to see us even twice a month can further your children’s skills and maintain their water safety level.

Should I signup for 25 minute or 50 minute lessons? EACH CHILD IS DIFFERENT AND OUR PROGRAM IS SETUP TO ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO OPTIMIZE LEARNING. Please take your child’s comfort level, personality and energy level into consideration when making these decisions. Any child that is less than 3.5 yrs old, frightened or cannot hold their breath should start with 25 min. lessons.  Between 3.5 and 4 yrs old we recommend starting with 25 min. lessons and asking us after a few lessons if you would like to try 50 minutes. For 4 yrs old and up, we recommend 50 min. lessons for a child who has the necessary energy level and attention span.

What should I practice with my child to prepare for lessons? Please use the suggestions on the "Helpful Hints" page.

Will my child be able to swim after 12 lessons? Every child is different so we cannot comment on this until we know your goals and have had your child in the pool.