Can anyone recommend a swim instructor or business/location that offers swim lessons where they truly teach your child to swim. I've been to the YMCA for swim lessons with my girls but they don't truly learn to swim. I've heard of 1-2 week sessions where your child will know how to swim and get themselves to the side of a pool without any assistance. You usually leave your child at the lesson each day for 1 hour of personalized instruction. I live in the Jenison area, but I'm willing to travel anywhere in the Grand Rapids area. I'd really appreciate contact info to anyone who offers this type of swim instruction. Thanks!!!
There is program called infant swimming resouce that does a great job. They are in the Jenison area, and I can give you the contact info. if you would like.
Oops, I see someone already posted about this and I was actually going to suggest Chad Pierce also.
Infant Swimming Resource goes beyond traditional swimming instruction, by teaching children aged 6 months to 6 years old ISR Self‐Rescue™ techniques designed to help them survive should they reach the water alone.
Many parents don’t realize the dangers of introducing young children to water before they have the skills to survive. Before your baby can feel confident to safely enjoy the water, he or she must first learn the skills needed for survival. ISR is the safest provider of swimming lessons for infants and toddlers worldwide. With more than 40 years of research and development behind ISR's Self‐Rescue™ program, ISR teaches each child survival skills in conjunction with basic swimming lessons that give them the competence required to safely enjoy the water.
www.SurviveMichiganWater.com
ISR actually has two local instructors. My brother-in-law is one of them. If you want to call him and get more information, his name is Chad Pierce ###-###-####. It is definitely a program worth looking into. It is one-on-one instruction 10 minutes a day 5 days a week for 4 to 6 weeks. My daughter took the lessons when she was about 26 months and learned to float on her back and some basic swim skills. I will take her for a refresher course later this year. As previously mentioned, it is expensive but is completely worth it. I wouldn't send my children anywhere else.
Go to infantswim.com that's the program that teaches children to self rescue. There's spot to type in your zip plus lots of information and videos about the program.
The ISR has a fabulous program. I believe the local instructor's name is Mike, but I can't remember. If you go to the ISR.com website, you should be able to find him. Expensive, but so worth it.
M., what is your time frame? I've been doing traditional weekly swim lessons with my 5 and 4 yr old boys. We've been going since September and they're just now competent beginning swimmers. Obviously private lessons you get individual time so the child can progress faster. I believe it the frequency of the lessons, not private vs. class. I've heard Calvin College does summer swim camps of two weeks of daily 1 hour lessons. My sister, who lives in Florida and has a pool in her backyard, did the infant swim program. It's a baby survival swim training. It is expensive! Daily 15 minute lessons until they get it. The child has to be able to fall into the pool fully clothed and get themselves safely to the side before they "graduate." My sister said it was worth every penny.
Good luck.
You could try a couple differnt things. If you arlready have a membership to the YMCA see if any of the innstructers do private lessons. Or you could try local colleges. I went to Hope college and a couple of my friends were lifeguard at the Dow Center. I know they all did swim lessons on the side. My last thought would be to go to the pools they have open in the City of Grand Rapids. I know they have to be certified to lifegaurd there, some of them might know someone to teach lessons, or they could do them themselves. Good luck with it!
