First things First

• No matter if you have a fearless child who jumps in the minute they see water or one who is so 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 worse, not better. That just gives them more time for the fear ( 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!

Please don't forget to read the section about arm floats and goggles!

 During the months of March-September the school offers 2 week/10 day (Mon-Fri,of both weeks) group swimming lessons in their heated pool in South Miami for children 19 months of age and older. The parent's are not in the pool or the pool area.(Please read more about parental viewing  to the right). The parents wait under our cheekee hut outside of the pool area. Then from September-November the school offers a maintenance program (you 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. Because the classes are divided up by level, not by age, any and all ages can attend at any time of day, any session that we have availability in. This way, siblings may attend the same class. The children are divided into different groups in the pool.

How we divide the class

The very young non-swimmers 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 though. 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!

How our program works for the very young children and what to expect

  With the very young children, 19 months- 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 and would know 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 that 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 19 months up to children as old as 10 to 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 who do not know how to swim, but this is usually done in March- May or September- November when we slow down and it is usually one on one. Remember, the pool is heated! If you are interested, please call back then and let Cornelia know it is an adult needing lessons.  

Parental Viewing

Parents are not in the pool area during the lessons, but the pool is visible from the parents' waiting area. Check out our Photo page to see how it looks!There is a very large cheekee hut with ceiling fans and is very shaded!We also have cold drinks for sale. You will be invited in on each Friday to view the class. The 1st Friday you will be invited in to view the last 15 minutes of the class and on the last Friday you will be invited in a few minutes after the class has begun,so you will view the whole class. On the viewing days, you may bring other family and friends. Also, don't forget your cameras! On the days of your 2 weeks, please try to limit extra cars! Our parking spots are limited. Thank you!

Illness

Illness or if we cancel due to weather are the only reason that we will give a make up class. Nothing else.

If your child is ill and not coming to class, in order to be able to receive a make up, you must call the school at 305-661-3820 as many hours before your class as possible.When you call, please just leave a message leaving your child's name, and class time.WE can't call you back to schedule their make-ups until they've finished their 2 weeks. The reason we wait is for their benefit. We need to see how the session that you are wanting to come to is first, before we can tell you to come. You and we, do not want them coming the 1st few days if there happens to be a lot of new crying kids because this would only take away from their make-up if we are having to spend time trying to get the new kids happy.Now that we know your kids, we also want to put them in to a class that best fits their needs. 

      If your child becomes ill and is unable to complete their session, then leave your name, number, child's name, class time and we will call you back.

If you do not call, you will not get a make up class.

*Very Important*Please Note*

When you call and tell us your child will not be coming, you cannot just change your mind and show up without first calling and checking with us. We might have put someone else in to the class or sent a teacher home.

Also, if you have more then one child in the class and one of them won't be coming, but the other still will be, you still must call us well before your class! Telling us at class time or having a friend in the class tell us at class time will still be considered a no show!

 Please click on the All about Make up Classes page to the left, to find out how to schedule your make up classes for illness and weather.

To view the class schedule, which classes are open, cost and more, please click on the link to the left for the page you are looking for!

    We do not offer private lessons for children, we do not go to your homes to teach and we do not do any life guarding or birthday parties'.

Non-Potty trained Children

If you're child is not potty trained or just recently enough where accidents may happen,or they might not tell us if they have to go to the bathroom they will not be allowed to swim without a swim diaper on. These may be disposable or the re-usable ones. The swim diaper must fit snuggly. Disposable swim diapers must be worn under a bathing suit for added protection. If the diaper is too loose, the poop will come out! We don't want this to happen in the pool!

If your child has had any type of stomach ache or loose poop during the day/night before their class, please do not bring them to class if you think there might be a possibility of an accident in the pool! It is not a fun thing to have happen.

Restroom

We do have a outdoor restroom for both the children and their families. It is not an outhouse, but a working toilet. No children will be allowed to use the restroom unless they are with an adult in case they need help! We used to let the family leave, but have found it best to have you stay during their class to help them.

Children with Special needs

 If your child has any type of special needs, you must let us know this on the phone so that we can talk and make sure this is the right situation for them and for us. These are not private, one on one classes,so in order for them to be able to take our group classes they must be able to listen, understand and take direction. They must be able to physically sit or hold on to the wall on their own and understand that they have to wait their turn. They also can not be or become aggressive to the other children. Please call and speak to Cornelia or Susie to see if we will be able to have them in our classes. We might have to do a trial class and then let you know if we can keep them in the session. If we are able to, we would love to have them join us.

Language

  For those parents wondering about kids who speak or understand languages other then English; we teach many children, from all over the world. All the kids do great and they all do understand. We do a lot of demonstrating to show the kids what to do.They also learn by watching the other kids in their class and they all do just fine and they all learn to swim! We have taught children who were unable to hear and/or see us who mastered swimming!

  We haven't had a problem with language yet and we've been doing this here in Miami for many years.

 Swimming is a universal language!