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Frequently Asked Questions

At Water Safe Swim, we put families first. We know selecting the right swim program for your child is an important decision, and we're here to help make the process simple and reassuring. Our program is designed with your child's safety, comfort, and progress in mind—while fostering a supportive, educational environment for the whole family.

Below, we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions. We hope these answers help you feel confident and reassured as you consider enrolling your child with us. Water safety is a layered approach and we’d love to be a part of empowering your child with this life-saving skill.

  • How old should my child be to start swim lessons?
    Children can begin learning essential water safety skills, such as floating, as early as six months of age. Behavioral science supports this timeline, noting that once a baby reaches six months or achieves developmental milestones like sitting and crawling, their sensory motor systems can retain learned information. This means that if a baby inadvertently finds their way to water, they are more likely to use these skills to save themselves from what could otherwise be a water-related tragedy. Introducing water safety early fosters competence, familiarity and comfort in the water, laying the foundation for future skill development.
  • Will my child become afraid of the water?
    The most successful swim families have discovered how to weave swim or float skills into regular, routine water exposure, turning it into a fun experience for everyone. It simply becomes "what you do" in the water. This approach not only normalizes the skill set but also helps create confident, strong swimmers at a young age. Parents, your role is to take everything you’ve learned and make it part of your family’s new water lifestyle. Adopting a matter-of-fact attitude will help your child’s new skills feel natural—just another part of swim time. The words you use and the expressions you share will shape a fun, happy environment, making the experience enjoyable for your child and the entire family. By doing this, you’re fostering a lifelong love of swimming while reinforcing vital water safety skills.
  • What is the reason my child should not swim in a flotation device?
    Flotation devices are not intended and are not U.S. Coast Guard approved for swimming. While they are often marketed as suitable for swimming, a closer examination of the fine print will reveal that these devices are only U.S. Coast Guard approved for CLASS III Personal Flotation Device (PFD) use. Life jackets, Puddle Jumpers, water wings, or any type of flotation device are specifically designed for quick rescue in open water situations, not for swimming or swim training. It is crucial to understand the difference between marketing claims and the actual intended use of these products. When used for swimming, flotation devices can provide a false sense of security to both the parent and the child. This can lead to overconfidence and potentially dangerous situations in the water. Moreover, these devices encourage a vertical posture in the water, which is counterproductive for learning proper swimming techniques. Effective swimming requires a horizontal position to maintain buoyancy and mobility. Relying on flotation devices for swimming can delay the development of these essential skills. In fact, the vertical posturing associated with these devices can increase the likelihood of drowning if the child finds themselves in a situation without the device. To ensure water safety, parents and caregivers should prioritize supervised swim lessons that teach proper swimming skills. Understanding the limitations of flotation devices and their appropriate use is key to keeping children safe around water.
  • Why We Avoid Bubble Blowing
    While blowing bubbles might seem fun, it teaches the opposite of what we want children to learn. Bubble blowing reinforces the idea of exhaling air when water touches their face, which can create an unsafe situation in the water. Instead, we focus on breath-holding as the foundation of water safety.
  • Why Are Lessons Every Day and Less Than 10 Minutes?
    The structure of these lessons is intentional and rooted in how children learn best. Here’s why: Daily Repetition Builds Muscle Memory. Water safety is a sensory-motor skill, much like learning to walk or ride a bike. Daily lessons provide consistent, repetitive practice that helps children retain and refine their skills quickly and effectively. Short Lessons. Young children have short attention spans. Keeping lessons brief allows us to focus on quality over quantity, ensuring your child stays engaged and learns effectively. Learning new water skills can be physically demanding for little ones. Short lessons prevent fatigue and help your child perform at their best. Also, for children who may feel anxious or hesitant in the water, shorter lessons minimize stress while maintaining progress. The combination of short, focused, daily sessions leads to faster skill acquisition compared to traditional weekly lessons. Most children master these essential water safety skills within just a few weeks. By sticking to this format, we create an optimal learning environment that balances your child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive needs. This structure ensures they learn and retain life-saving skills as quickly, efficiently, and happily as possible.
  • Program Costs - Why Are the Lessons Priced This Way?
    The cost of these lessons reflects the specialized training, expertise, and individualized attention that your child receives as part of our comprehensive water safety program. Here are some key factors that contribute to the cost: Highly Trained Instructors. Your instructor has undergone extensive education and certification in water safety and child development to provide the highest level of instruction. Individualized Attention. Lessons are tailored specifically to your child’s needs, ensuring the most effective and efficient learning experience. Comprehensive Curriculum. This program teaches life-saving skills that your child can use in any water environment—not just a pool. The curriculum is designed to build competence and confidence, providing long-term benefits. Small Class Sizes. A one on one instructor-to-child ratio ensures that your child gets the focused attention they need to succeed. Beyond Lesson Time. The cost includes more than just the time spent in the water. It covers instructor preparation, lesson planning, skill evaluations, and ongoing communication with families to support your child’s progress. Life-Saving Value. These lessons are not just about swimming; they are about equipping your child with skills that could save their life. That value is immeasurable. Investing in this program is investing in your child’s safety and confidence in and around the water for years to come. 2025 Season Pricing (varies by instructor) 4 week - $600 2 week - $450 1 week *add if needed - $150 *See FAQs During Lessons - What is my instructor says my child needs extra lessons?
  • I’m not sure how many weeks is a good fit for my child .. What should I do?
    If you’re unsure which session length is best for your child, we’re here to help. Water Safe Swim is an individually tailored program designed to ensure the greatest success for your child and family. By reaching out to us, we can guide you through the decision-making process with a few simple questions. Don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re happy to assist in finding the perfect fit for your child’s needs and goals.
  • Why no food 3 hours before swim class?
    We ask that children avoid eating for 3 hours before swim lessons to ensure their comfort, safety, and optimal learning experience. Here’s why: Swimming involves physical exertion, and a full stomach can lead to discomfort, stomach aches, or bloating. This can distract your child and make the lesson less effective. Undigested food in the stomach can be brought up during swimming due to pressure changes in the abdomen from movement and breath control exercises. This can result in burping up the undigested food, which is unpleasant for the child and disrupts the lesson. While it may be challenging to restrict food for 3 hours before lessons, it’s a small sacrifice that ensures your child has a smooth, effective, and enjoyable swimming experience.
  • Will my child cry and if so, why?
    Emotions are real, honest, and an unavoidable part of learning water safety. Crying, screaming, or even biting can happen—but we get through it. It’s not easy, but the life-saving skills your child is learning make it worth it. These lessons teach your child remarkable skills that could one day save their life. Think of it like car seats—many children, including our own, have hated being buckled in at some point. Yet we persist through their tears because we know it’s about their safety. We want to reassure you: there is no pain involved in these lessons, and your child will not grow to hate water. Their emotions stem from the unfamiliarity of the pool, the instructor, and the new skills they’re learning. Once they master a skill, the tears typically fade, replaced by smiles and a lifelong love of the water begins. It’s a process, but it’s one worth enduring. Hang in there and remember you can do this, just as your child can. And together, you’ll succeed.
  • What do I bring to my child’s daily lesson?
    Please plan to bring two clean towels to each lesson. The only required item for your child, besides these towels, is to wear a reusable and washable swim pant. This swim pant should either have no snaps or feature a one-sided snap for convenience. Here is a link to some approved items on Amazon. While bathing suits are adorable and fun, they are not required. As for swim shirts or rash guards, while they can be worn, they often make children feel colder in the water. For this reason, we recommend leaving them off during lessons whenever possible.
  • Why is there a restricted foods list during my child’s swim session?
    One major reason certain foods lead to discomfort during exercise is their difficulty in digestion. Many of these foods take longer to break down and move through the digestive tract, especially when not fully chewed. When exercise begins, undigested food can lead to gas buildup, stomach distention, and pressure. This combination often results in burps that bring undigested food or liquid back up. Such occurrences can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, particularly for children, who may feel upset or surprised when their partially digested snack resurfaces. Choosing easily digestible foods before physical activity can help reduce these issues. We understand that restricting your child from eating certain foods they love and are used to can be challenging. However, the benefits are significant: your child will have a smoother experience during their lesson. This not only helps their skills progress more effectively but also eliminates tummy aches as a potential reason for distress or crying during lessons. Yes, it’s hard—but it’s worth it. By sticking to this guideline, you’re setting your child up for success and ensuring a more positive experience for both of you. You can do it, and you’ll be glad you did! FOODS TO AVOID ENTIRELY (in all forms). These foods cause intestinal gas which can result in a distended stomach, therefore during the entire duration of swim lessons (including weekends), do not give your child: Apples Pineapples Papayas Passion fruit Peaches Spinach Honey Celery
  • No sunscreen! What?
    With the number of children participating in lessons each day, our pool locations face challenges in managing the use of sunscreen products to maintain clean water. Sunscreen often leaves oils and residues that can affect water quality, making it more difficult to keep the pool clean and safe for everyone. It’s also important to note that sunscreen requires time to fully absorb into the skin to be effective. Since our in-water lesson time is less than 10 minutes, there may not be enough time for sunscreen to properly set before swimming. Fortunately, all of our lesson locations provide ample shade to minimize your child’s sun exposure during lessons. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us keep our pool water clean and available for the daily lessons of so many children. Thank you for contributing to a safe and healthy environment for all participants.
  • Why does my instructor press on my child’s foot?
    During your child’s lesson you may notice your instructor stopping to hold your child and gently pressing on their heel. This is a technique we use to monitor for something called temperature fatigue, which occurs when a child's core body temperature begins to drop. Importantly, temperature fatigue happens before they show signs of being physically tired. By observing how their skin reacts to a light press—turning white and then refilling to pink—we can assess their core temperature and determine how tired their body is becoming. This allows us to safely manage the duration of their lesson, as each child reaches this point differently. When a child's core temperature drops, their ability to learn effectively diminishes. To ensure all learning takes place at optimal energy levels, we carefully monitor for these signs and will end the lesson when necessary. For small bodies, an 8–10 minute cardio workout in water requires significant effort! Our goal is to ensure your child remains safe, comfortable, and ready to achieve their best skills in every lesson.
  • Why lay my child on their left side after lessons?
    After your child’s lesson, we kindly ask that you lay your child on their left side on a towel. This position helps them reacclimate, release any trapped air with a gentle burp, and rest for a minute or two before getting up to get dressed. If your child is reluctant to lay down despite your best efforts, sitting quietly in your lap is an effective alternative. Once your child has rested for a few minutes, they can get dressed and be ready for their next activity. This brief rest period ensures they transition smoothly and comfortably from their lesson.
  • Why a Clothing Lesson?
    Safety Fact: 87% of children who drown are fully clothed. Goal: To help your child feel confident and competent using their swim skills in situations where they might accidentally enter the water fully clothed. The clothing lesson is an essential step in your child's swim plan, emphasizing the importance of water safety under real-life conditions.
  • What if my instructor says my child needs extra lessons?
    Our session lengths are designed based on the needs of the average child. However, it’s important to note that every child progresses at their own pace. Some may master their skill set sooner, while others may benefit from extra days or even an additional week of lessons. Our goal is to ensure your child achieves the desired level of water safety. We kindly ask for your understanding and support when it comes to your instructor's recommendations for your child’s progression. This may look different from what other students are doing, as every child learns and develops skills in their own way. Rest assured, your instructor is committed to advancing your child’s learning and mastery of skills in the way that best suits their needs.
  • Will lessons be cancelled?
    While rare, weather cancellations can happen. If lessons need to be canceled, your instructor will notify you. We occasionally swim in the rain—after all, we’re already wet! However, there are times when safety or practicality requires a cancellation. If we cancel a lesson for any reason, we will typically schedule a make-up session on a Friday. Please understand that due to the sensory-motor learning process on which this program is based, it takes a lot for us to cancel lessons. Rest assured, we carefully consider every decision to ensure your child’s health and safety.
  • What if something comes up and we are unable to make it to a swim lesson?
    Regular daily attendance is essential for your child to successfully complete and retain their skills. Please note that all lessons are paid in full and are non-refundable, even if you miss a lesson. Make-up lessons may be offered in the following situations only: If your instructor cancels a lesson. If a sick notice for your child is received at least 24 hours in advance.
  • I am unable to bring my child to every swim lesson, can another caregiver bring them in my place?
    YES! If you, as the parent or guardian, cannot attend every lesson due to work, appointments, or other commitments, another parent, family member, nanny or trusted friend can assist by bringing your child to class. Our sessions are designed to maximize education and build muscle memory in a short period of time. For this reason, you are welcome to have those you trust help in order to make your child’s attendance a priority. We highly recommend that the primary parent(s) attend these key lessons: The First Lesson – To get an understanding of the program. Clothing Lesson– To observe how your child practices water safety in real-life scenarios. Parent Lesson – You’ll join us in the pool to learn how to practice your child’s newly learned skills at home. Your involvement helps reinforce the skills your child learns and ensures their long-term success in water safety.
  • What will my child be able to do with the water safety skill set they learn?
    Your child, whether a swimmer or a floater, can confidently enjoy activities like going down a water slide, jumping off a diving board, or swimming and floating in water over their head. These skills aren’t just limited to a pool—they can be used in lakes, rivers, the ocean, or even off the back of a boat! For your child, water is water—whether it’s deep or shallow doesn’t matter. Their skills allow them to navigate and stay safe, no matter the environment. There’s no longer a “deep end” or a “shallow end” in their mind—just water they know how to handle.
  • What if my child refuses to swim at home?
    Using small candies like smarties or other small treats can be a great way to reward your child for using their swim skills correctly or following safe pool rules. Place a treat in a cup each time they succeed, and when swim time is over, they get to enjoy the rewards they’ve earned. Poolside popsicles or other fun treats can also serve as excellent incentives. To keep pool time fun and relaxed, have your child use their skills correctly once at the beginning of swim time and once at the end. In between, let them swim and play however they like. This approach avoids turning pool time into a swim lesson environment, and it helps you steer clear of becoming the “swim drill sergeant” parent. As their confidence grows, you may notice them experimenting—taking shortcuts, holding their breath longer, or testing their skills during playtime. By focusing on proper skill use at the start and end of pool time, you allow them to enjoy their free time while reinforcing proper techniques.
  • What if I need help after my child’s session is complete?
    We’re just a phone call or text away and are happy to assist with whatever your family needs to keep your child’s water safety skills solid and strong. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help! Whether it’s popping into a lesson, scheduling a skills check, booking a refresher session, or providing guidance for parents, we offer the support you need to ensure your child maintains their most effective and confident water safety skills. Your child’s safety and success are our top priorities.
  • What are refresher lessons and why do you recommend those?
    Children are constantly growing and learning, which means their abilities in the water can change from year to year, and sometimes even month to month. Swimming is a sensorimotor skill, much like riding a bike or roller-skating. While children don’t forget what they’ve learned, their growth in height and weight may mean they outgrow the body that originally learned these skills. This is why additional lessons are often needed to adjust and keep their Water Safe Skills sharp. It’s important to honor the fact that children’s brains don’t process and retain information like adult brains. As adults, we remember how well a child swam just three months ago, but the child themselves may not recall their past abilities as vividly. Refresher lessons are a valuable way to “remind” their brain that their muscles already know what to do. This reinforcement ensures a smoother transition into the next swim season, helping your child feel confident and prepared in the water. Once a child reaches an age or developmental stage where they no longer need sensory or muscle memory reminders, refresher lessons become unnecessary. At this point, they are ready to transition to traditional swim lessons, focusing on refining strokes, building endurance, and enhancing overall swimming skills.
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