FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS YOUR TEACHING STYLE?

My swim lessons are definitely aggressive. But I do it in a very loving and positive way. I do NOT teach ISR lesson nor am I certified to do so...because of the intensity and time commitment that IRS requires (approximately 10 minutes a day, 5 days a week for several weeks or months), and because I only teach a couple months out of the year, I am not set up to. I don't believe kids can learn how to swim the correct way or know how to save themselves if they don't getting their faces wet. This is very important. That is the first thing I teach and it is something we practice all week long. I build on their skills every day and individualize each lesson to accommodate each child. I believe in having smaller, shorter classes. My instructor to child ratio is no more than 2:1 except under very specific circumstances. This is because kids struggle with keeping attention for longer than that. Also, there is less time for a child to get cold or be anxious if there are issues with that. I also think I have an easier time developing relationships and trust with the kids since I am not spending a lot of time corralling them. For those who may question if the short lessons are enough time, I assure you they are. There is a lot of content that we cover in a very short time and I've gotten really good at using my time wisely. Lastly, lessons are so important and every child is capable of learning how to swim. I have found that lessons are definitely harder on the parents than the kids and all I ask is that you just trust the process. You won't be disappointed.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE MORE THAN ONE CHILD TO REGISTER?

I will automatically put siblings in classes together unless you tell me otherwise. Please let me know if last names are different (or if a different parent signs a child up) so I make sure to put those kids together.

WILL YOU HOLD LESSONS IN THE RAIN?

Yes, on most occasions, I will continue to hold lessons in the rain. If the weather is just too bad or there are thunderstorms or lightening, I will cancel either by text or email. It may be a last minute cancelation, so if you need extra time to get here, please let me know how much lead time in advance. If you don't hear from me, it is because I am in the pool teaching. Please use your best judgement if you feel like the weather is just too dangerous and haven't heard from me. Most of the time storms blow over or don't even get close enough to affect us. I've seen it many times when it can be raining by you, but be completely dry at my house.

DO I NEED TO GET INTO THE POOL WITH MY CHILD?

Defenitely NOT, Mrs. Shelley and my assistant will be in the pool with your child(ren).

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?

You may park anywhere in our driveway or street. Please do NOT park in the grass. There are always vehicle's that drip oil and gasoline on the yard that burns our grass.

Please do not be concerned if your child is in a class with another child that is not close to the age or skill level as your child. I individualize all classes and make adjustments on a daily basis to accommodate all kids. This process works much better for me than opening classes according to skill level.

Please do not feed your child within an hour or two of lessons. Many children who find themselves drinking too much water may throw up. This is very common for the younger kids (5 and under) and especially for those kids who struggle taking breaths. Some kids just do it out of nerves. Don't be alarmed if this happens with your child. It is normal and we prepare for it.

WEATHER CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE AND COLD, ESPECIALLY IN MAY. IS YOUR POOL HEATED?

Yes, I heat my pool to at least 92* especially on cold days.

CAN I WATCH SWIM LESSONS?

For your child's safety, I don't allow parents into the pool area during lessons. My basic rule is that I don't mind you watching your child, but I do NOT want them to see you. There are many strategic places you can watch from where your child won't be able to see you. Kids are so much more focused if they can't see you. Usually, as soon as a child sees their parent, they lose all focus on lessons and only concentrate on getting the attention of their parent(s). I don't want your child to be distracted by you and lose focus on swimming.

WHAT WILL MY CHILD NEED FOR LESSONS?

Please arrive about 5 minutes before the start of your lessons with your swimmer(s) ready to get into the water with sun screen already on if desired.

Please note that if kids are anxious about lessons, they usually need to use the bathroom (or often say they do even if they really don't). Feel free to have them try here before lessons start or just before you leave home. Please understand, that once swim lessons start, I usually don't excuse them to go to the bathroom. Most of the time, it is because they want to get out of lessons. They can usually wait the 20 minute lesson. If I let them go one day, they may make it a habit of asking. Since lessons are so short, that cuts into their instruction time. If I notice that they may really have to go, I may give them the opportunity to go behind the shrubs. Sometimes that deters them and they say they can wait.

If your child has long hair, please have it pulled back. A towel is always nice for the end.

WHAT IF MY CHILD CRIES?

CRYING IS NORMAL and many kids do it...EVEN for children who normally love the water. It is an entirely different environment for them and they don't get to choose what they want to do. My job is to push them to their potential, which can often be uncomfortable for kids. Crying NEVER bothers me. If you can trust in the process, you will be pleased. It is definitely much harder on the parents than the kids.

CAN MY CHILD WEAR GOGGLES?

No. I believe it is important for a child to become an efficient without goggles before we introduce them as a "toy". There are some exceptions.

SHOULD I SIGN UP FOR MORE THAN 1 WEEK?

If you think you may want 2 sessions for your child, I would definitely suggest signing them up for 2 right off the bat. It is so much easier to cancel your lesson and fit someone else there than it is to try and find spots. I fill up every summer and have a waiting list of a hundred kids or more each year.

There are a few things that I consider when I am asked if a child should be signed up for more than 1 session. However, nothing is written in stone. The only way to know for sure is to see them swim.

First is age: I always recommend a second session if a child is under 3 years old.

Second is how much access will the child have to practice swimming once lessons are over? If you have access to a pool and can practice what they learned, then one week may be enough.

Third is what is the child's experience coming into lessons? This ties into age a bit, but if a child has had a bad experience or is really afraid of lessons, then 2 sessions are often recommended.

Last is if the child has spent a lot of time swimming with a puddle jumper or water wings or something similar on. Often kids who have had a lot of practice in those devices take a bit longer to teach since the skills they develop in them are the opposite of what they would want for swimming. I usually spend the first few days breaking those habits.