Ann's Swimming School
President/Owner- Susanne (Susie) Truby
Vice-President- Cornelia Truby
And our founder-Ann (Ann-Sofi) Truby Montana
7050 Sunset Drive
Miami,Fl. 33143
305-661-3820
We are closed on the weekend
Please take a few minutes to read our web site. We have tried to think of everything helpful and beneficial to be done so that your children will get the most out of their swimming classes and so that you understand our policies before you come and so that you don't end up losing any of your classes!
The Weather
If you are starting classes today, Tuesday and you're wondering about the weather, we do not usually make any decision until almost class time. If we are able to cancel ahead of time, we will post a message on the phone- 305-661-3820. We do swim in rain. The pool is 90 degrees and you can not get sick swimming in the rain, especially if it's humid outside and the kids have fun! We do wrap them in their towels right away. If it is lightening, we will not swim, but we can not call you back if you call asking if we're having class because we don't know until right before. The weather changes very quickly. Even if they only swim for a few minutes, that would be wonderful because it's their 1st day! If we end up canceling at the last minute because it comes out of no where, we'll post a sign in the driveway. Please read the page- What to do if your child is sick & how to schedule make up classes for illness or weather. Thank you!
Anns Swimming School
Home
On this page you will find information about our teaching methods, the ages that we teach, how we divide up the classes,how sibling's may be in the same class, special needs children, language, parental viewing,what to do if your child is not potty trained and more.
Ages
Group classes- 20 months and up
Parent & Baby classes- 6-19 months
About our School
Ann's Swimming School has been teaching children to swim in Miami for over 30 years! We teach children of all ages to swim in our group classes. We do not have private classes. Starting with children 6 months old to 19 months in our Parent & Baby class. Our group classes are for children 20 months to 12+ years old. They come to our 10 day sessions and because we divide the class in to different groups, not just by age, any and all ages can attend at any time of day, any session that we have availability in. This means that siblings may attend the same class together.
The children are divided into different groups in the pool, but each child is worked on their individual needs, every day. Even if the older kids know how to swim, they may not know all the different strokes and techniques. So this is why families come back year after year to continue to learn. We are now teaching second generation families! Teaching the children of the children we taught to swim when they were young!
So, please read on to find out all about how we do this.
During the months of March-September we offer 2 week/10 day (Mon-Fri,of both weeks) 40 minute long group swimming lessons in our heated pool in South Miami for children 20 months of age and older. The parent's are not in the pool or the pool area. Please read more about parental viewing towards the bottom of this page. The parents wait under our cheekee hut outside of the pool area. Then from September-November the school offers a maintenance program (you may come once or twice a week or month, please see our maint. page for more info). During the peak months there are usually 10-12 children in each class,with 3 to 5 instructors and/or assistants in the pool depending on ages and levels of the kids. Please read on to find out how we divide up the children in their class.
But, First things First!
No matter if you have a fearless child who jumps in the minute they see water or one who is very afraid of water, you have a serious issue at hand. They need to learn to swim and to be pool safe! A child who is less apt to panic, has a better chance then the children who are afraid. Waiting until they get older is not better, in fact it is worse. Waiting until they are older just gives them more time for the fear (and fear is just one of the words NOT to say in front of them!) to set in, which means way more panic if they fall in!
How we divide the class
The class usually breaks up into 3 or 4 different groups or "levels", but because each child is different, they are worked on their individual needs. For example, you could have a group of 2 year olds, but one of them needs to learn how to put their face in the water, where as the other one already does so, but needs to improve their kick. This applies to a child of any age, so every child is worked on exactly what they need and they advance every day. If your child is older, say 7 years or so,and a non swimmer, we're not going to put them with the children in swim diapers because they would feel uncomfortable. Because each child is worked on their individual needs, we are able to have all different ages in the pool at the same time. Every time your child comes to class, they are worked on what they need to learn to help make them good safe swimmers!
The very young non-swimmers and children who may swim some, but can not come up and get a breath of air yet are seated on the steps. The ratio between teacher and child vary with age and ability. With the very little children, the ratio is usually 2 to 1. There may be 4 or 5 in each little group. If this is the case, then there will be 2 teachers/assistants.The older kids or kids that can swim, the ratio may be 3 or 4 to 1. The number of children in a class may vary, but no matter if the class is small or full, the ratio will always be the ratio that is needed.
Many families ask and wonder, how is it possible to get the very young to sit and listen, but, they do! For some reason, when you are not right there, they do listen to us. It may take a class or two, but kids love routine and they follow by example. Once they like and trust us, it is very easy. Families have been amazed at how we are able to do this!
We love and believe in what we do and it shows!
Crying on the 1st few days
With the little ones,crying on the first few days,some very loudly,and not being very happy at all to be here with us,is most likely going to happen and something we are very used to! Because they are young and most things to do with any type of water, be it in the bathtub or the pool, has been done with you,family. So please do not worry if they cry. Even if they are happy in your pools, we are strangers at first and we need a few days for them to see that we are okay and get to know us! Some cry because naturally they want you and others cry because they aren't used to having to sit and wait their turn. They are used to just jumping in your pool or getting in and out when they want to. The things that you do or say on these 1st days are very helpful and much appreciated. Please just be positive and try not to make a big deal about the crying. Take their minds off of it and talk about something else. Also, please don't say things to them before or after the class, like "oh you're okay now, you're back with mommy or daddy now". This makes us look like the bad guys! Also, please do not tells us in front of them things like "they are afraid of the water",etc. It doesn't help them! The calmer you look, the calmer they will be. There's no way around the unhappiness these first few days. Just remember that what you are doing is vital in South Florida. Also with the little ones, please do not feed them or give them bottles at least one hour or more before class. When they are upset, crying or nervous they tend to throw it all up! Some before they even get wet! You will be amazed after a few days to see them happy and excited to come to swimming class! We've seen it happen for over 30 years!
With the very young children,20 months until 2 to 3 years old,what we are trying to achieve,especially the kids that have never had anything to do with water,or in the tub they've never had water on their faces or been underwater at all,is at the very least, to get them happy, comfortable and safe in the water so that if they were to fall in they would not panic. We also teach them how to get themselves safely back to the steps or the side of the pool. We do put them underwater (gently) even on the 1st lesson. If they are really upset about this, then we limit going under the 1st day to 3 times. We do a count of 1,2,3 then put them under the water. Just enough so that their heads are completely under. After the 1st few times, they know and get themselves ready (holding their breath) and they go under easily without drinking any water at all. We also do a lot of turning them over on to their backs, with the hopes of having them floating without help one day. This is important because when they are young, they might not have the strength to pick up their heads and get a breath of air, so being able to roll over on to their backs mean they will be able to get a breath of air. It is also important to teach them how to hold on to the wall and if they can't climb out, how to move themselves to the steps. We also try to teach them how to pull their bodies up and then sit down on the step. Many little ones might be able to hold their breath and go a short distance thru the water, but if they can't get their heads out from under the water, then that little bit of distance does them no good.
Each child is different, so each child is worked on what they need. After they learn the above mentioned,we then start teaching them (or improve on, if they already do so) how to kick, use their arms and move through the water.
The next step
The next step is having them swim, come up for air,put their heads back down and continue swimming. Lifting their heads for a breath most often is a very hard step and does sometimes take kids quite awhile to learn! When they are able to swim across the pool by themselves, taking breaths, and getting across without our help, then we start to teach them basic strokes and strokes on their backs as well. We also teach them how to tread water. This is almost like running in place, with their heads above the water. Knowing how to blow bubbles is very important and another thing we work on. Even an adult who does not know how to take a breath and then exhale by blowing bubbles, will become over exerted and tire easily if they don't know how to blow bubbles!
The older kids who are capable good swimmers,
but need work on strokes and technique
This is the level where we start to really teach them all the different strokes, front and back, diving (just from the pool deck, we do not have a diving board), endurance, longer distance swimming and more. When they've mastered their strokes, we also teach things like the racing turn and we teach some water ballet.
So, here at our school there is something for everyone, from the age of 6 months up to children around 12 years old! These are not separate classes. This is just the advanced level in the class and these kids are in the same class as the younger kids.
Adult Classes
We do teach adults how to swim, but this is usually done in your pool and they are private classes. If you do not have a pool or access to one, we can not do them until September-November after school has begun. We are also closed on the weekends, so it would have to be during the week.Please call the school and leave a message stating that you are an adult interested in private lessons.
You may also call Susie's sister Anne at 305-297-7138. She does adult private classes and small group or private classes for children in her home or yours.
Anns Swimming School
