FAQ

If you believe that your child has any form of medical condition which might reasonably affect his or her participation in swim lessons, please advise the office staff during the registration process.

We believe that small group lessons are a more effective and fun way for most children to learn to swim. The small group format is beneficial to our students because of the social interaction it allows, as well as the opportunities it provides for our students to learn from watching each other. Children do not always believe us when we tell them that they can do something. Simply put, we are grown-ups– of course, we can accomplish the task. But when children see one of their peers try something new, they are often inspired and emboldened to make an attempt. Thus, we are strong believers in the power of peer demonstration. We also find that children enjoy the camaraderie of the small group format, which makes them look forward to attending their class and seeing their swim friends each week.

That said, we do recognize that some students benefit greatly from the extra attention provided in a private lesson. In an effort to provide a variety of options to better suit the needs of our customers, we are now offering private lessons. Please inquire at the front desk if you are interested.

Our primary consideration in determining your child’s level in our program is your child’s physical ability and aquatic experience. Age is a secondary consideration in that we will attempt to match students’ ages in a class to within two to three years. However, we cannot guarantee this range.

Do you have a schedule of classes you can send me?

Because our schedule of classes is constantly evolving with the progress of our students, we unfortunately do not have a set schedule that we can post or send to you. If we did try to send something, it would likely be outdated before you even received it!

The best way to inquire about our current schedule of classes is to call the main office and booking center at 925-937-7946.

In accordance with guidelines set forth by both the United States Swim School Association and the Australian Swim School Association, we believe that children are ready to begin swim lessons at any time after they have reached six months of age. The earlier that a child is enrolled in a learn-to-swim program, the better! We find that children who begin swim classes before they reach one year of age generally accept the water more readily than older children.

Fear of the water is acquired over time. The older a child is when first beginning a learn-to-swim program, the more challenging his or her fear will likely be to overcome.

Remember, learning to swim is a life-saving skill–-the best day to start lessons, was yesterday!

If your child is enrolled in a Ribbon Level class or Superfish Club, we ask that your child has his or her own pair of goggles. If your child has long hair, we ask that you tie it back in a low ponytail or have your child wear a swim cap, so that it does not interfere with your child’s swimming. For your convenience, we have goggles and caps available for sale in the office.

All children under the age of three must wear a fitted, reusable swim diaper while swimming. These are available for purchase in the office. Disposable swim diapers, plastic training pants or regular diapers are NOT allowed.

Absolutely!, We are happy to transfer your child’s regularly-scheduled class to a different day and/or time, provided we receive twenty-four hours advance notice. Please keep in mind that consistency is one of the keys to our program, and it may take a few classes for your child to adjust to the rhythm and routine of the new instructor and/or class.

If you wish to contact your child’s teacher for any reason, please stop by the front desk and ask for a Splash Note. If a reply is requested, your instructor will usually respond within twenty-four hours of his or her receipt of the form.

When you enroll your student in a class, that spot is held exclusively for you, and we will have a qualified instructor and warm water waiting for your child each week. As such, we do not offer make-ups, refunds, or credits for missed classes. If your child is unable to attend, you have three options:

1. Bring your child to his or her next scheduled lesson.
2. Schedule a drop-in class. Each currently-enrolled student receives up to 3 complimentary Splash Passes per year. After that, drop-in classes can be purchased at a discounted rate.
3. Attend a complimentary family swim event at one of our schools. Please contact the office for dates and schedules.

Consistency is one of the keys to our program, and we ask that you do your best to regularly bring your child to swim class. Should you find that your current schedule is no longer convenient, please contact the office about changing your regularly-scheduled class.

If we cancel a class for reasons which are within our control, we will try and re-schedule your child’s lesson for that week so that he or she does not miss an opportunity to practice their skills, or if you prefer, apply a credit to your Splash account for future use.

Let us start by saying that it is completely normal for a child to cry during the child’s first swim lesson(s). Consider the child’s perspective—he or she is in a strange environment in the care of an unfamiliar instructor. That said, we train our teachers to understand the nature of a child’s fear. The instructor will then work to gain the trust of the child, in part by acknowledging the child’s fear, and then help the child to conquer it. Often, a simple reassurance makes all the difference.

As a parent, the best thing you can do for your child is to keep bringing your child to swim class. Continuing to do so sends the message to your child that you, as the child’s primary caregiver, approve and trust in this new activity, which in turn, helps your child to more quickly acclimate to the water and overcome his or her fear. Please consider that delaying or avoiding swim lessons may serve to reinforce either your child’s fear or his or her resolve to not participate, and create a situation that is more difficult to overcome.

The next best thing is to praise them for their participation in class. We are going to tell them how brave they are and how proud of their efforts we are, but we are certain that these compliments will have a greater impact coming from you!

If your child has a cold, but is eating well and acting as normal, you may bring him or her to class. Please do not bring a child who has a fever, is not eating, or shows signs of bacterial infection.

Each child is unique and many different factors determine how quickly the child will learn to swim, including the child’s developmental stage, any previous experience in and around the water, as well as the child’s ability to adjust to a new environment. Please be patient and do not expect your child to make equal progress during each lesson. It is normal for a child’s learning to resemble a series of spikes and plateaus. However, we believe that many small steps lead to great achievements, as well as lasting self-confidence. We also believe that every child can ultimately learn to swim with proper instruction and continual support.

Please note that consistency over time is one of the keys to success in our program. We ask that you do your best to consistently bring your child to swim class.