Tips & Advice

During your child's program, he/she will learn to become confident and skilled in the water in 4-5 weeks. While some programs teach children to enjoy the water and use various float devices, we teach children the skills to swim and float independently, without devices, as well as how to utilize these skills when needed.

We provide a safe and effective teaching style and have experience that enables us to determine the most effective way to teach your child to swim. Our technique is based on the PediaSwim sequence known as Swim-Float-Swim. A common-sense approach that builds awareness, safety, and confidence in the water.

We realize that this will be both a time and financial investment, and you will see the return on your investment in just a few short days. Please remember that the earlier a child is exposed to water safety, the more rewarding it can be in the long run.

What Will My Child Learn?

Infants 6-12 Months of Age will:

Learn to swim and roll to a float
Learn how to relax when floating and swimming
Learn to kick themselves towards a specific target**

**Every child is different and tend to learn at different paces**

Children 1-3 1/2 Years of Age will:

Learn the swim-float-swim sequence
Swim until needing to breathe, roll on back to rest, then continue swimming to the target destination

Children 3 1/2 Years of Age or Older will:

Continue to work on the swim-float-swim sequence
Begin to learn stroke work along with the swim-float-swim sequence**

**Strokes are completely developmental; NOT all children will get the hang of it in this shorter time frame.**

More Information:

Why do we cost more than other local swim programs?

Your child will be receiving 1-on-1 swim lessons with the same instructor 3-4 days per week.
If your child enrolls in a 45 minute class with multiple children, they may only receive 10 minutes of 1-on-1 instruction 2 days per week.

Why an individualized lesson?

The individualized lessons allow the instructor to maintain focus on your child at every lesson.

This allows your child to retain more information. At the end of 4-5 weeks, your child will be a step

above the rest. In other programs, it may take children several months or years to learn similar skills.

Why Are Lessons Only 15 Minutes?

On average, 10-15 minutes is the average attention span for a young child.
- If your child is older and more developed, a short playtime may be allowed at the end of lessons.
Repetition is key to your child learning the necessary skills.
During the lesson, your child will be swimming non-stop, which means they will also get tired more quickly.
Depending on your child's developmental milestones, you can expect them to be able to complete the swim-float-swim program fully clothed at the end of 5 weeks .

Cleanliness Information:

If a child vomits in the pool, there may be a $100 fee assessed to the family, per Celebration Town Hall.
Please have your child use the restroom before lessons.
- If your child is being potty trained or is newly potty trained, please tell us. We will watch for bathroom cues.
- Children that are NOT potty trained are required to wear a snug, reusable swim diaper.

What Should I Bring to Lessons?

Please bring at least 1 or 2 towels and a change of clothes.

Arrival Time:

Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled time slot to get your child ready.
Arrive early enough so your child will not be stressed during the lesson.

For Swimsuit Information:

Visit swimoutlet.com for reasonable pricing on suits and goggles.

During Lessons:

If your child starts crying:

Encourage them to do their best.
Do not try to negotiate with them during lessons.
Occasionally children will cry during their initial lessons or when they first get in the water.
- This is their first reaction because of the hard work associated with the lessons.
Please do not be alarmed by this; they do not usually have any other way of communicating.
They associate their swim instructors with hard work, and some will cry every time they come.
Do not be embarrassed.
Try talking to them before coming.
Most times, once your child realizes that they have mastered a skill, they become comfortable and happy.
Tears show that they are working hard and are upset because they can't be in control of their swimming--yet.
As a parent on the sidelines, it's very important for you to be excited for them.

After Lessons:

Please stay for 10+ minutes and allow your child to lay on their side on a towel.
After your child's lesson, laying on a towel helps them to cool down and relax before getting changed.

Does your child have sensory sensitivity?

Encourage them at home to "float" in an inch or two of bath water to "feel" the water on their ears.
Disclaimer: never leave your child unattended.
Slowly run water over their face in the bathtub.

Has your child ever work a flotation device?

We can tell when your child has used a float, arm bands, chest devices, noodles, etc.
So WHY do we ask parents this question?
- This is the first step to going beyond wearing a device...parents need to realize that the hard work children endure during swim lessons is actually trying to "undo" all of the bad habits created by flotation devices.
- Please be honest with us when we ask so we can better help you on how to help your child if you're swimming together at home.

Missed a lesson?

Consistency regarding attendance is an important part of these lessons.
Make up lessons will be made available as time permits.
If you know your family is going to be out of town for an extended period of time, please plan accordingly.
- Please consider starting your lessons after you return.
If you know your child will be unable to attend at their scheduled time, a 12 hour update is requested, and a 4 hour update is required.
If you would like another time slot on that day, please contact us and we will do our best to accommodate.

Weather Cancellations:

If lessons are cancelled due to weather (thunder, lightning, cold), we will contact parents to reschedule. Please note that rain or cold are not reasons to cancel or miss a lesson, but thunder and lightning are. The weather changes by the minute, especially in the summer.

What happens after Basic Training?

It is strongly encouraged that your child attends Maintenance Lessons 1-2 times per week to retain and build upon their skills.
For children under 2, it is especially important that they continue to attend lessons a MINIMUM of one timeper week, as they will outgrow their skills much faster than an older child might.
If your child is old enough, group stroke lessons may be the next step. Check out the Celebration Cyclones Swim Team for more information
Floating practice is essential.
- As your child grows so rapidly during the first few years their center of gravity will shift, which will affect their ability to float comfortably.
If you choose to take time off (several months), we strongly encourage Refresher Lessons.

Swim Test?

During your child's last week of Basic Training lessons, your child will perform the self-rescue skills fully clothed as if they fell in the water in an accident situation.
- Parents may choose to opt out of swim tests if they prefer.

Tips from Us to You

This is most likely one of the first times your child is being taught something they can't "practice" all the time.
Don't show them if you are stressed by their crying.
- You may want to step out of their eyesight if you feel stressed.
Clap & cheer for them when they achieve a new skill!
All of their hard work will pay off soon! Show them that you are proud of them.
Just signing your child up is a huge step for you as parents, so congratulations!
Please do not start your child in this program unless you fully intend on completing it.
If you terminate your child's lessons early and do not finish Basic Training, your child will remember
their lack of self-confidence around the water, and could possibly become more fearful of water.
Please set your child up for success, if you enroll, please follow through and finish. Do not quit early.
Please make sure this is the right program for you and your child before you register.