Swim School

Confidence Building

Everyone remembers the kid who was forced to sit out visits to the pool, or stand around looking miserable in the shallow end because he'd never learned to swim. Swim lessons help build a child's confidence, as well as allow him or her to take part in swimming-related activities. No matter where your child goes to school, sooner or later there comes a class trip to the pool or beach, or a summer camp near a lake. Better to teach your child to swim before these activities come up so he or she can participate with confidence.

Safety Reasons

More importantly, there are also good safety reasons for sending your children to swim school, or even signing up yourself if you're one of the many adults who never learned to swim. Whether you enjoy taking vacations near the water, or plan to attend summer pool parties and barbeques, the ability to swim could save your life should you accidentally fall into the water.

Fun and Fitness

Finally, swimming is great fun, and one of the best forms of exercise around. Once you've learned how to do it, it's a skill that will last the rest of your life!

When to Start

You can learn to swim at any age, although many experts believe that children under the age of four are too young for formal swimming lessons. Many junior schools will include swim lessons in their curriculum, but if you'd like your child to learn to swim before starting school, finding a good swim school will give him or her a head start.

If you're an adult, it's still not too late to learn to swim, and many swim schools run classes specifically for adults. You may even want to learn to swim at the same time as your children, giving you some good, quality time together!

The United States Swim School Association

When you start looking for swim schools, you'll obviously want to be reassured that the school you choose will offer the best training and safety for your child or yourself. The United States Swim School Association is an organization which exists to bring together quality swim schools with potential students. Its members are all certified by the Association and, as such, are places where you can learn to swim with complete peace of mind.

What to Look for in a School

Once you've identified some possible swim schools in your area, it's a good idea to pay a visit to each one in order to narrow down your choices. As you take a look around, ask yourself the following questions:

• How clean are the pool and facilities?

This is an essential consideration, as the pool is one of the prime sources for picking up verrucas (plantar's warts) and other nasties!

• Is the instructor certified?

The YMCA and American Red Cross both offer safety certifications for swimming instructors, and you'll want to satisfy yourself that the person conducting each lesson will be suitably qualified to intervene should an emergency situation arise.

• How big are the class sizes?

Most people will learn best in groups of no more than six. If you're a particularly nervous swimmer, you may also want to consider private lessons where you can benefit from one-on-one instruction.

• What is the teaching style?

Find out how each class is structured. Will it be straightforward swimming instructions, or will there be some free swim time offered during the class? Remember, smaller children have a shorter concentration span than older ones, so they'll need some down time and games mixed in with the serious learning.

What to Bring to Class

Most swim schools will provide the basic safety equipment required, such as arm bands and flotation devices, although it's a good idea to ask whether you'll be expected to provide any of these yourself. Other than that, a good towel and a swimsuit should be all that's required for your first day at swim school.