Private Swim Lessons

The Importance of Knowing How to Swim

If you live close to the beach or have a swimming pool in your backyard, knowing how to swim is important, even if you don’t regularly take refreshing dips. It's especially important that young children gain basic water/swimming safety knowledge that will help them feel more at ease when boating, fishing or participating in other water play. Parental supervision is a must when children are around water, but providing swim lessons can add an additional safety barrier should a child accidentally fall into a pool or lake.

While some parents involve babies in swim lessons, others wait until their kids are old enough to approach water on their own. This age can vary quite a bit; a child’s comfort level also depends on his personality. Some kids are naturally more adventurous and will jump right into a lake; others are more cautious and may need coaxing before they’re willing to get their feet wet. Regardless of temperament, providing swim lessons is a good way to help children get accustomed to the water. At the very least, it’s helpful for kids to know how to perform basic movements should they fall into a body of water.

About Private Swim Lessons

Just because lessons are deemed private, this doesn’t necessarily mean one-on-one training. Local clubs often offer lessons to small groups, either for children or adults. The smaller the group, the more individual attention you can expect. So, when shopping around for lessons, ask about group size as well as the trainer’s certifications. Some lessons may be taught by lifeguards or swimmers trained in lifeguard skills, while others may have a more casual approach toward who teaches the class.

Parents should find out as much information about a swimming class as possible before they sign their kids up. Good questions to ask include:

• Which strokes will my child learn?
• Who’s teaching the class?
• What certification does the instructor have?
• What if my child doesn’t want to get in the water?
• Are parents requires to get in the water too?
• How long does class last?
• What should I expect at the end of classes?

Some lessons are merely meant to help participants learn the basics of swimming by mastering useful skills that will help anyone enjoy the water or save themselves should they fall into a body of water unexpectedly.

Other private swim lessons are more intense and are best suited for those who want to learn advanced swim strokes, as well as compete in swimming events. Typically, anyone interested in these more advanced type of lessons are competitive swimmers who need an edge over their competition. Lessons are more likely to be one-on-one or with a very small number of participants, as well as more expensive. You’ll probably be trained by someone with years of experience in competitive swimming, perhaps a former competitive athlete.

Finding Swim Lessons

Local clubs like the YMCA often offer swim lessons during the warmer months of the year. If you’re a YMCA member, you can ask about lessons at your local branch. You can also check your local phone listings or online sites such as Club Swim to locate classes in your area.

Adult Lessons

You’ll need to determine what you want from swim lessons to get the most satisfaction from them, especially if you’re an adult who wants to learn to swim. You’ll probably be more comfortable in a class with other adults.

To gain the most from your lessons, follow your instructor’s directions. Some people take swim lessons at a later age to help them overcome a lifetime fear of the water. It doesn’t matter if you live near the beach or have a pool; knowing how to swim, even if you only learn the simplest of strokes, is a useful life skill. Attending pool parties this summer will be much more fun if you can do more than splash around at the shallow end.