I'd like to enroll my kids in swim lessons, but I need some recommendations. I have a 22 month old who loves the water, but I'm not sure if the Mommy & Me classes I've looked into will actually teach him water safety, floating, etc. It seems like they're more focused on having fun in the water, and I'd like him to actually learn something. I also want to enroll my 4 year old in lessons this summer, but he doesn't really want to go because he didn't enjoy his lessons last year. If you have any recommendations or even places that you haven't liked, I would love to hear about it.
Thanks so much for all of your recommendations! I think I'm going to try out Nitro Swim even though it's so far away. We did Emler's last year which so many of my friends had recommended, but my son (and I) had such a horrible experience there that we're really needing to go elsewhere :-( Thanks everyone!
Hi D.,
When my 2 oldest were small and i wanted them to learn safety as well as swimming i enrolled them at the YMCA.
It was a very good experience for all of us.
T.
we go to Emler Swim School & my 3 yr old son loves it. 19 weeks long, once a week, very structured which is good for my son. I have friends who go to Nirt, 11 sessions, (off of 1431 in cedar park), but it sounds a little less structured . Just depends what your son needs. As for the younger one, mommy & me classes, I see the class at Emler & while it does seem like they are having fun, it looks like they are learning a lot too, laying on backs, etc.. Good luck & I hope this helps. Both these are indoor year round swim schools.
I am interested in the same for my daughter, 3.5, and son, 22 months... .hope there are some great recommendations!
If you're in the Austin area, I would HIGHLY recommend Emler Swim School on Anderson Mill Rd. Even if you aren't close by they are worth the drive. I have 3 kids - 2 boys 10 & 6 and a 2 yo daughter. Only my daughter attends now but the other two did and all the instructors are GREAT. classes are limited to 4 students only. We now live in very south austin but I would not go anywhere else - even private haven't been as good as Emler. Call ###-###-#### or visit iswimemler.com
HI D.,
I have a sister that teaches swim lessons. She is a special ed teacher during the regular school year and in the summer, she teaches from her home pool, private or group lessons. I can give you contact info if you like.
EM
Hello,
I think that having fun & playing water is part of learning too. If they kick water/splash, they figure themselves how that feel and if that kicking motion push them forward etc. Your kids are still young.
If you like/know swimming yourself you can bring them to pool often too to make them love water.
The place we went couple years ago is: Barbara Denny swim school, it is at Leander area (NW Austin), I do not know what age starting.
Her pool is designed for teaching & heated. She and assistants teach very good, also teaching adult, making sure the students not afraid of water.
From my experience, if kids bigger & able to swim already -go join swim team, it help them improve faster & build endurance (for less $).
Hi D.,
We love Tom's Dive and Swim on Burnet. My 5 year old son hated water last summer and now he is swimming a few strides on his own and jumping off the diving board. He is in Becky's class. She makes it fun and they learn. Hope you find one you like.
S.
I dont know where you live. But the YMCA in Drippingsprings is GREAT!!!!! I have my 3yr old in there program in with in a couple of sessions she is swimming on her own. The class before hers is the mommy and me and the teacher is GREAt also. He has tought them how to get out of the pool already and to float.. Check it out..
Contact Emler- they're great!
D.,
A great place for swimming lessons is a placed called Nitro swim. It's located in Cedar Park off 1431. They actually teach real swimming. My 3 yr old did it last year and you move at your on pace so your not stuck with some kids you are scared or they spend more time with your kid one on one. They have mom & tot classes too. My son can't wait to go back. Good luck
H.
My children go to Nora Martin Swim School. We first took my oldest son when he was 3. He was terrified of the water and she made him feel so comfortable and did whatever she would ask of him. When he was almost 6, we enrolled him at a gymnastics/swim camp at Crenshaw's. He was traumatized. They threw him in the deep end and he was not comfortable with that yet so he sat on the side of the pool for the rest of the camp. We couldn't get him anywhere near the water...even the bathtub was a chore. We took him back to Nora Martin and she undid all of the harm that was done in camp. He now swims like a fish and you can't get him out of the water.
Nora has 2 week ($180) and 1 week sessions ($135) and the classes last about 30 minutes. There are 2-3 children/teacher for beginner and novice swimmers. Advanced 2-5 ratio.
I highly recommend her. She is centrally located and her classes run from 2:30 in the afternoon up to until 7, so you can usually find something that will work for you.
Her phone number is ###-###-#### or email ____@____.com
We really like Austin Swim at Tom's Dive & Swim on Burnet, just north of Koenig(2222). My then 4-year old daughter took 2 lessons there and is still tentative to put her face in, but at least she enjoyed the class. The instructor was very patient. We may be going back again this year or to Crenshaw's. The best advice they gave me was to have our daughter in the water as much as possible - it builds up her confidence!
Most swim lessons for children of a really young age have what they call "introduction to water" which is basically playing in the water and getting them comforatable with it. Although your child may already be comfortable and you know that, the instructors would like to find that out for themselves. You have two choices, either pay the money for the intro class and get it over with so that you may be passed on to the next level or wait for your child to be a bit older and they will then be the appropriate age to skip the intro class. My daughter was 5 when she started taking swim lessons and although she was confortable with water she still had to take the level 1 class which really didn't teach her any swim techniques. Then in that same year we took the level 2 class which taught her what she needed. Hope this helps.
Dear D.,
Emler Swim School has been teaching kids to LOVE swimming since 1975. We have loving, nurturing instructors and guaranteed results. Over the years, we have built a hard-earned reputation for getting results with even the most fearful and nervous children.
It is realistic to expect to take swim lessons and have an infant/ toddler child learn to SWIM- not just splash around and acclimate to water, but actually SWIM. Your 22 month old is certainly old enough to learn basic breath holding for starters, then build on that skill to learn independent swimming through the water, how to float independently, and most importantly, how to turn around, swim back to the side, and climb out if he falls in.
Your 4 year old, when he finds a learning format that he enjoys, can learn to float, glide, and swim short distances at first, then work toward mastery of basic water safety. You want him to stay enrolled in lessons until he is able to swim at least 40 feet and get multiple independent breaths.
Did you know that the #1 cause of accidental death for children under the age of 5 in the State of Texas is drowning? That statistic gives me goose bumps! Children can begin learning necessary lifesaving skills at a very young age, and lessons don't have to be scary or intimidating. They should be FUN!
It's not too late to begin lessons to be ready for the summer "swim season". Our classes are open to all children 6 months and up. I hope you will try a free trial lesson at Emler Swim School "on us". There is a coupon on the website or give us a call!
Swimcerely,
G. S
512.342.SWIM (7946)
www.iswimemler.com
Try Emler Swimming School. My daughter loved attending their classes and learned a lot.
