FAQs
How many children are in each class?
We teach a MAX of 3 children per class period.
How long do lessons last?
3-person-lessons last 1 hour and run for 5 days. 2-person-lessons last 45 minutes. The classes are 5 consecutive days, Monday through Friday.
Where are you located?
We are located in Fountain Inn, SC. Our lessons at taught at our home pool to ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable, with focused attention.
Why do I teach starting at 3.5 years?
My program is 45 min. - 1 hour a day for 5 consecutive days. Younger children would need less time in class and more time over the summer. For example: A 2.5 year old would probably require about 15 minutes a day for 6 weeks. I’ll be offering a class called Learn To Teach, which caters specifically for parents of children younger than 3.5. This class will teach you how to get your little one comfortable and over their fears in the water so that when they are old enough for lessons they’ll be able to take off swimming!
Can parents stay and observe?
Parents are not allowed around the pool while lessons are going on. Parents can either stay in the front yard or in their car. Many of the kids are working through different fears, and parents are a huge form of security. If a child is fearful, their tendency will be to find a tried and true source of security. I need each child to trust me and allow me to be their security in the water. When mom waits out front, the child is encouraged to focus on what’s in front of them- me, and the water. Overcoming fear is hard, but I want to set your child up for success as fast and easily as possible!
Do you teach once a week?
NO! We teach 1 hour a day for 5 consecutive days. Overcoming a fear and learning a new skill are both done most effectively in a short period of time.
What if there’s inclement weather?
Come to class anyway! We still do lessons in the rain, and will try to get every last second of class-time we can each day. If we decide for any reason that we need to cancel a class before the lesson has started, we will try and text each parent at least one hour prior to class-time and let them know.
Do you teach adults?
Yes! Learning to swim is about 80% mental. While there are many reasons adults might not know how to swim, these two are usually at the root: either the person is afraid of the water because of a traumatic experience, or they weren’t exposed to water much during their life. Due to having many more years to cement fear and dislike of the water into their psyche, teaching an adult to swim is significantly different than teaching a child. I try to cater each lesson to each person while maintaining the same techniques and fear-eradicating principles as in my children’s classes.
What if my child doesn’t learn to swim?
Our goal with each child is to get them past their fear. If we have been able to successfully move your child from fear to fun in 5 days but your child is not able to get from point A to B in the water, we will discuss options for adding on days if we feel it’s needed. All additional lessons will be added on an as-needed basis and determined by me as their teacher. If you would like to elect for another week of lessons outside of what I feel is needed for your child, you are welcome to book an additional week at standard pricing!
Can my children take a class with siblings/friends?
Yes! Taking a class with a sibling or a friend is VERY helpful for the child! Siblings and friends encourage each other. If one is struggling it never fails the others will lift them up with cheers of praise and “good job!” If your child has a sibling or a friend that needs to learn, signing them up together is a surefire way to jumpstart your child’s learning process. It doesn’t matter if they’re at different skill levels. I teach to the child, not to the group.
What if my child gets sick?
If your child is vomiting, has diarrhea, has a fever, or develops an emergency condition, please let me know as soon as possible so we can reschedule their lesson for another week!
Do you teach children with disabilities?
Short answer: Yes! I’ve taught many children with disabilities over the passed 25 years. There are many forms of disability, though, so if you have a child with special need please fill out the contact sheet and we can discuss options for your child!
What if my child doesn’t like lessons once they start?
Most kids start the week not wanting to come back to class. They are scared of the water, and facing and working through fear is very hard. On average it takes a child 2-3 days to relax and get used to our class structure. We HIGHLY discourage pulling your child from lessons before the week is over, and it is for this reason that if you choose to pull your child from lessons during the week we do not offer a refund. We truly believe that pulling a child from lessons at the height of their fear will imprint a life-long difficulty with fear of water, and we want to do everything in our power to discourage this possibility. We teach 5 consecutive days because learning a skill is done most effectively in a short period of time. Learning to swim is 80% mental, and some children need a few more days to work through the mental part. We need the parents to stand by our side and encourage their child to overcome fear in a completely safe environment. The majority of the kids coming through lessons start the week crying from fear of the water and end the week fussing because they don’t want to leave! If for some reason you choose to not continue the week of lessons there will be o refund offered.
Cancellation Policy?
If for whatever reason you need to cancel your child’s lesson, please do so one week prior to their lesson start date. No refund will be offered for lessons canceled less than one week prior. If there is an emergency or your child becomes sick during their lesson week, we will work with you to reschedule their lesson at a later date. If you decide to pull your child from lessons mid-week, no refund will be offered.