KidSwim FAQ's

Q: What should I look for in a swim school?
A: There are two things you should look for when evaluating a swim school and/or swim lessons for your child:
  1. Are you able to have a phone conversation with the instructor/school, where they ask the right questions about your child and want as much information as possible? (e.g., age/birthday; previous lessons; birth order; personality; are they verbal; are they comfortable in the water; do they nap? etc.)
  2. What are the methods of instruction (intensive vs developmental)?
Q: How early should I start my child in swim lessons?

A: Your child can start having positive water experiences as early at four months old, as long as s/he is healthy. This would ideally be with parental involvement in the form of a parent child class.

Individual swim instruction can be introduced anywhere from two and a half to four years old. The American Red Cross suggests four years of age as the best time to begin formal swim instruction.

Q: What is KidSwim’s method of teaching?
A: KidSwim’s teaching method is developmental, introducing skills when the child has achieved the level of physical, mental and emotional maturity to progress to the next skill level. All instruction is multi-leveled to achieve not only basic skills, but to begin teaching more subtle nuances that create a sense of ease and comfort in the child’s water experience.
Q: Why does KidSwim use this method?
A: We believe our method is respectful to the child, and creates a child with a lifelong love and respect for the water.
Q: Who are the KidSwim instructors?
A: All KidSwim instructors are life-long swimmers who are certified in CPR and trained in the KidSwim Three Phases method.
Q: Does KidSwim have its own pool?
A: KidSwim offers swim lessons in your own pool. Working in a quiet, familiar location, one without distractions and excessive noise, offers the best environment for a successful swim program.
Q: What’s the difference between being able to swim and being "water safe?"
A: This is a difficult question to answer in a few sentences, but basically water safety is a mindset, not a skillset. Water safety takes several years of experience and maturity to cultivate. In the meantime do keep your eyes on your child at all times around the water, thus ensuring their safety!
Q: What can I expect after a set of lessons?

A: What you can expect first depends on where your child starts: is s/he comfortable in the water; have there been previous positive or negative swim lesson experiences; what is your child’s age and maturity level are just some of the factors that affect the end result.

Secondly, what you can expect depends on the number of lessons you’ve committed to, and how regularly and consistently your child has been able to attend those lessons.

Overall, KidSwim can promise that after a set of lessons your child will be more familiar with the water, more comfortable and confident, and show respect in and for the water.

Q: Can I be in the water with my child?
A: During Parent & Me lessons with younger children, parent participation is encouraged. For older children receiving skills instruction, parent participation in the water after the lesson can benefit the child’s skill building.
Q: Who founded KidSwim?
A: KidSwim was founded in 2001 by Lisa Cook, a life-long swimmer and an instructor since her teens.
Q: What can I do about my child being terrified of the water?
A: Bring them to KidSwim! The terrified child is one of our specialties. We know how to introduce (or reintroduce) your child in a safe, secure and fun way to the water, bringing them to a place where they can enjoy the fun and beauty of swimming.
Q: My child has special needs. Can s/he benefit from the KidSwim program?
A: Definitely! At KidSwim, we believing that water is the least discriminating medium of any child’s sports activity, and we have seen that any child can swim, no matter their age, size or physical ability. Her experience has shown that a developmental swimming program can be successful with every conceivable form of physical, and most mental and emotional, obstacles.
Q: What kind of insurance is needed to have KidSwim come to my pool?
A: KidSwim holds the insurance needed for a swim school to operate at your home.