For a child, learning to swim can feel like an adult learning to skydive. Some parents don’t realize this and unknowingly look to throw the child in the water, or force a child into learning in this foreign place where normal rules of gravity are suspended. Swimming is learning to balance oneself in a new environment. A good instructor will gently bring the child outside his comfort zone each lesson, but not so far as to invoke fear. The gradual path is most often the most successful in this arena.
Floaties – These devices actually retard a child’s progress for proper swimming. Though parents use these with good intentions, the problem lies in that floaties are designed to keep the child vertical in the water, and a bent leg kick is then developed to navigate around the pool. When floaties are taken off, the child instinctively tries to kick the same way, and this kick forces her down under water and even greater fear sets in. Children who’ve not used floaties tend to learn about two to three times faster than the floaties kids. Not surprisingly this disclaimer is never found on the carton of floaties at the store.
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Keep the water temperature warm. 86 degrees minimum, 90-94 ideal, says the United States Swim School Association, an organization of over 250 swim schools nationwide. Because of the liquid medium, a pool feels about 20 degrees cooler than air temperature to a child. A 90 degree pool is like 70 degree air. The focus should be on learning well, and shivering and blue lips make for less effective retention.
Regarding distractions, the noisier or more stimulus in the environment, the less learning. This is why some parents opt for in-home lessons rather than public lessons. On one hand, public lessons can be a great social scene for both parents and kids, and this works for some; for others, however, trust of the water is built more easily in one’s own pool. Simply asking the child their preference may be the key.
During lesson time make sure things are kept fun and playful. Children’s attention spans are short, and water toys and skills work wonders for the lesson. In much of good teaching, it’s 75% enthusiasm and 25% educated skill. Finding a good personality match between child and teacher can catapult learning forward.
ALL children in lessons learn to swim eventually; just as all children learn to walk, some a little sooner, some a little later, but all do. Enjoy the process, enjoy the child’s achievements. A new arena of play is opening up for them and the whole family to enjoy. Bring water learning forth in trust and the rewards will last a lifetime.
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Question: How soon should my child learn and what can they learn?
Infants before the age of 12 months can be taken in the water. Make it a fun experience, and keep the water nice and warm, 90-94 degrees. These little ones lose body heat up to four times faster than adults. A 20-minute water session is a good limit. Do not take an infant under water, unless you are with a properly trained and experienced instructor. There are special submersion methods used so that the baby does not ingest chlorinated water.
For actual swimming, infants and toddlers can learn to do so, but it takes basically daily lessons for 9 months to develop the reliability of their swimming. It is very rare in today’s Los Angeles hectic schedules to have parents be able to commit to daily lessons for 9 months to meet that goal. This is also backed up by several large established Infant Swim Schools of the US Swim School Association, of which we are a member.
Goggles are ok for 3 year olds and up during lessons—IF they fit well and don’t leak much. Encourage parents to get quality goggles, like Speedo’s for children, not the $1.50 pair from the drugstore which leak incessantly.
Building trust with the child student in the water: Whenever the issue seems to present itself, I encourage you to say to the child, “I ‘ll never let go of you unless you say it’s ok…I promise… (and stick to that).” Even moving back while a child swims to you can erode that trust. Be careful of your word. Children remember!
GETTING RINGS on the steps or bottom of the pool: Incrementally place the rings a bit deeper throughout the Swim Lesson visits. Offer for the child to grab the ring with one hand while using their other hand to hold your hand for balance. Offer your hand likewise if taking them to the ring on the bottom too.
Whenever going under whether for rings or other swimming or jumping from the wall, QUEING is key. What’s queing?—Saying “Ready… (Child repeats back, “ready”…. One…two…three. <and go under, or jump, etc> When taking a child under, do so smoothly and then take them back up to the surface smoothly.
When taking a child under, do so smoothly and then take them back up to the surface smoothly. Explain for the parents to do so too in practice with the child. 100 times over, the parent when taking the child under will be very abrupt going under and coming up, and the child responds to the force of the parent’s movements much more so than the actual going under. Explain once again…. Smooth and calm submersions. A child can hold their breath easily for at least 5-7 seconds. That’s a long time. Give it a try…. A thousand one… a thousand two …a thousand three…a thousand four…a thousand five…a thousand six…a thousand seven (plenty of time to do it smoothly and gently.)
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JUMPS FROM THE SIDE: This is self explanatory. Done in the medium
depth of the pool. Reinforce “Toes on the edge” before jumping so the
child has good footing of the side. Reinforce the QUEING . Ready, one, two, three, jump! Allow the child to hold your hand(s) if requested, but progressively through the Swim Lesson visits, move to holding only one hand, then jumping with no hands, then increasing distance and adding the kicking to you.
A MID SWIM LESSON FUN GAME
I give the children milkshakes or wash machine rides. For milkshakes, I hold a child facing me, and swish from side to side while singing the milkshake song with them. Then I go, “1-2-3, and lift them high out of the water to the right, then down and to the left, and once more up to the right and down, height done to their comfort level, sometimes even gently tossing them up into the air. The milkshake song words go: “milkshake, milkshake, chocolate and banana, make ME a MILKSHAKE as fast as you CAN-NA….1-2-3, <and up we go>. I’ll also ask them prior, “what flavor would you like to be today?” Oh, Strawberry….Good!”
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Do we have openings at this time?
Through May and into June, there is usually good instructor availability. By July, we’re 90% full, but if you have more open times/days we can usually serve you. August onward have good openings.
How am I assigned my instructor?
We match the days and times you’ve requested, and your child’s age and ability to the instructor with the best experience with your child’s age group. Our instructors have a minimum of 3 years swim lesson teaching experience and child development backgrounds; click here to see their page. Once you’re assigned an instructor, you have them for the season. With this in mind, it’s best to start earlier in the season, rather than later. Then in August, there are more openings.
If I find I want to increase or decrease lesson time once started is that ok?
Yes. What’s best for the child’s learning is best for all. Just inform your instructor, and we will bill or credit you.
May I enroll and pay for one trial lesson even though your site asks for 8 pre-paid?
Short answer, no, we don’t allow trial lessons. That’s just for scheduling sake of our instructors coming to your home. It’s very challenging to block out time and accept clients on a one lesson basis. However, if you’re not pleased or things don’t work out, for any reason, we refund you whatever was unused of your prepayment. This is very rare, happening with less than 5% of our love-bug children.
How many times a week do you suggest for lessons? Some programs say daily intensives for two weeks straight, etc.
We feel best learning is three times a week, but also twice a week can work. Once a week is just too infrequent as children forget too much in between lessons. The younger the age of the child, the more lessons per week is better. Yet, if a child is a bit older (3+) and is in the pool at his home in between lessons, twice a week is ok. Programs doing daily lessons for two weeks straight burns up a lot of client money fast, whereas you can work with the child yourself on what he or she’s learning in between and be fine in many cases. However, if a child is near-swimming, and doesn’t have his own pool, daily intensives for two weeks work well.
What’s makes your program different than the rest?
First of all its the staff. Their experience is the highest of any local programs. And you keep the same instructor all season, which builds trust. Trust between student and teacher is the “hidden” key and we constantly build on it. Our teachers tell their students squarely eye to eye: “I will never let go of you in the pool until you tell me it’s ok.” (No suprises, no dunking or forcing.) Soul to soul, a bond is formed. Each lesson we go just outside the child’s comfort zone, with beautiful encouragement. That’s our path to swimming (and you save thousands of dollars in adult therapy bills later because a child wasn’t taumatized in swimming). It says it at the title bar across our site: “Loving Swim Lessons at Home.” How many companies anywhere have Loving in their title?
How long will it take for my children to swim or be “water safe”?
Always the million dollar question, and anyone who answers that definitively without being in the water with your child, is either a rookie, or trying too hard to get your money. Each child progresses differently, as stated above in the teaching tips article. We tell the parents to look for good progress. You know where your child began, and you see where they’re at. With good progress happening, keep supporting it. Your instructor can give you a truly informed perspective after the first few lessons. It could be a few lessons for adults, a month or two of lessons for chidren, or into next Summer for toddlers. Support the progress, not a fixed date.
Your site speaks of children’s lessons, do you do adult lessons too? What’s the difference?
Yes, we do adult lessons. I suggest 40 min lesson length for adults. With adults, it’s usually 80% overcoming fear of water/deep end, and 20% mechanical. We understand this, compassionately, and will be there for you, with no surprises. Adults don’t usually need as many swim lessons to learn once the fear dissolves. How many lessons? Start out with 4-6, and take it from there.
How about stroke refinement, water polo or diving skills?
We have specialists on staff for that as well, for all ages: kids and adults.
Can we start or continue lessons into the Fall?
Yes. If you are starting lessons July 20th or later, our 8 lesson prepayment is dropped to 4 lessons. We have clients on a case by case basis continue into November sometimes. Try us in the Winter too. As long as the pool is heated warm, and the outside temperature is pleasant, we’re game.
Click Here If you would like to skip directly to our Prices and Enrollment Page
–or- click here for more info on our program, service areas, and instructors
Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have openings at this time?
Through May and into June, there is usually good instructor availability. By July, we’re 90% full, but if you have more open times/days we can usually serve you. August onward have good openings.
How am I assigned my instructor?
We match the days and times you’ve requested, and your child’s age and ability to the instructor with the best experience with your child’s age group. Our instructors have a minimum of 3 years swim lesson teaching experience and child development backgrounds; click here to see their page. Once you’re assigned an instructor, you have them for the season. With this in mind, it’s best to start earlier in the season, rather than later. Then in August, there are more openings.
If I find I want to increase or decrease lesson time once started is that ok?
Yes. What’s best for the child’s learning is best for all. Just inform your instructor, and we will bill or credit you.
May I enroll and pay for one trial lesson even though your site asks for 8 pre-paid?
Short answer, no, we don’t allow trial lessons. That’s just for scheduling sake of our instructors coming to your home. It’s very challenging to block out time and accept clients on a one lesson basis. However, if you’re not pleased or things don’t work out, for any reason, we refund you whatever was unused of your prepayment. This is very rare, happening with less than 5% of our love-bug children.
How many times a week do you suggest for lessons? Some programs say daily intensives for two weeks straight, etc.
We feel best learning is three times a week, but also twice a week can work. Once a week is just too infrequent as children forget too much in between lessons. The younger the age of the child, the more lessons per week is better. Yet, if a child is a bit older (3+) and is in the pool at his home in between lessons, twice a week is ok. Programs doing daily lessons for two weeks straight burns up a lot of client money fast, whereas you can work with the child yourself on what he or she’s learning in between and be fine in many cases. However, if a child is near-swimming, and doesn’t have his own pool, daily intensives for two weeks work well.
What’s makes your program different than the rest?
First of all its the staff. Their experience is the highest of any local programs. And you keep the same instructor all season, which builds trust. Trust between student and teacher is the “hidden” key and we constantly build on it. Our teachers tell their students squarely eye to eye: “I will never let go of you in the pool until you tell me it’s ok.” (No suprises, no dunking or forcing.) Soul to soul, a bond is formed. Each lesson we go just outside the child’s comfort zone, with beautiful encouragement. That’s our path to swimming (and you save thousands of dollars in adult therapy bills later because a child wasn’t taumatized in swimming). It says it at the title bar across our site: “Loving Swim Lessons at Home.” How many companies anywhere have Loving in their title?
How long will it take for my children to swim or be “water safe”?
Always the million dollar question, and anyone who answers that definitively without being in the water with your child, is either a rookie, or trying too hard to get your money. Each child progresses differently, as stated above in the teaching tips article. We tell the parents to look for good progress. You know where your child began, and you see where they’re at. With good progress happening, keep supporting it. Your instructor can give you a truly informed perspective after the first few lessons. It could be a few lessons for adults, a month or two of lessons for chidren, or into next Summer for toddlers. Support the progress, not a fixed date.
Your site speaks of children’s lessons, do you do adult lessons too? What’s the difference?
Yes, we do adult lessons. I suggest 40 min lesson length for adults. With adults, it’s usually 80% overcoming fear of water/deep end, and 20% mechanical. We understand this, compassionately, and will be there for you, with no surprises. Adults don’t usually need as many swim lessons to learn once the fear dissolves. How many lessons? Start out with 4-6, and take it from there.
How about stroke refinement, water polo or diving skills?
We have specialists on staff for that as well, for all ages: kids and adults.
Can we start or continue lessons into the Fall?
Yes. If you are starting lessons July 20th or later, our 8 lesson prepayment is dropped to 4 lessons. We have clients on a case by case basis continue into November sometimes. Try us in the Winter too. As long as the pool is heated warm, and the outside temperature is pleasant, we’re game.
