FAQs

No, but students opening their eyes underwater is. If students won’t open their eyes underwater without goggles then you must provide goggles. See my blog post on which goggles I recommend. Snorkeling masks are not permitted.

So Many Reasons!

FIRST: Private lessons are actually less expensive overall than group lessons.

GROUP Lessons at local swimming schools are $200 per week for (2) 30-minute classes.

That’s $22 per class that your child shares with FOUR (4) OTHER CHILDREN.

You will need to take your child to TWICE (2x) as many classes to get the same amount of swim time you get from Swimming In The Sun with less personal attention, less experienced and knowledgeable instructors, and different instructors at each class. All of which significantly slows progress requiring additional classes.

Group classes cost AT LEAST TWICE (2x) THE MONEY AND QUADRUPLE (4x) THE TIME as private lessons at Swimming in the Sun.

SECOND: I am a private tutor. Tutors are going to be more expensive than general classes due to the customized teaching techniques we provide to help your child learn easier, faster and enjoy it more.

Before we even start lessons I ask you to fill out a form that tells me critical information about your child/ren, which allows me to customize my teaching to their specific needs.

Your child gets my focused, undivided attention. I get to know your child’s personality and I customize every minute of every lesson to your child.

You child is learning every minute of the class. They do not sit bored for the majority of class waiting their turn or “learning” skills they already know.

Yes, private lessons are more expensive per class than group lessons, but the time savings and faster speed of learning will save you time AND money in the long run as you will need less private classes than group classes.

You will need more group lessons to cover the same number of skills you learn in private lessons, which means over time group lessons will cost MORE than private lessons.

Students in group classes tend to only get a few minutes of instruction. They don’t get much out of those classes. They get bored because they are “taught” skills they already know, wasting their time.

With me they get the full lesson of instruction, customized to their personality and learning style. I am the only instructor so I get to know your child and what their strengths and weaknesses are so we can progress as quickly as possible. We don’t waste time on skills they have already mastered.

Not all kids are made for group lessons. I’m perfect for those students who just can’t sit around waiting their turn in group lessons. No waiting with me. It’s 100% learning every class.

Group lessons sometimes means a different instructor every class. They don’t know your child’s personality or skills. That’s a waste of time. I know your child. I know when they are trying to fool around and waste time. I know when they are really scared and when they are pretending so they can get out of working on a difficult skill so they can do something else easier.

Swimming schools tend to hire teenagers who were on the swim team. Just because you can swim doesn’t mean you know how to teach swimming. I have many students come to me after these swimming schools because the swimming schools almost drowned them or because they were taught how to swim incorrectly or because after months/years, their children STILL can’t swim!

I teach my students how to swim CORRECTLY the FIRST time.

I have saved so many parents money after they switched from local swimming school group lessons to private lessons with me. Their children finally started learning how to swim!

Practicing the "homework" I give you in between classes will also help you get the most out of your money allowing your children to advance faster through the skills program.

I am a Certified Red Cross Water Safety Instructor. I do not teach ISR. Please see my “Swimming News” page for an explanation as to the difference between the two different teaching methods.

No one can answer this question. Anyone who does is lying to you.

I can tell you that if your child needs swimming lessons they will need more than approximately 8 lessons!!!

Too many parents sign up for a single session and expect that their child will be able to swim across the pool that quickly. NO. It rarely happens that fast and only for older students who love the water and are already somewhat proficient at staying afloat.

The majority of my students are with me for several session a year over several years as their children grow and get stronger, bigger and smarter. They can handle more skills.

That does NOT mean they are taking lessons every single month/week. They take time off for rest and breaks. In fact there are plenty of times I tell parents that their child needs a break from swimming lessons for a while and it’s time for them to just have fun playing in the pool for a while before we continue.

I prefer to not just teach students for 8 classes over summer break and never see them again. Those students don’t become strong swimmers and I want every single one of my students to become strong, confident swimmers who can handle any water emergency and survive. My strong, water safe students take lessons during the Spring and/or Autumn months as well.

There are local swimming schools who promise that they can get your child swimming by the end of your session or your money back. They don’t want to give you your money back so they will nearly drown your child trying to get them to swim the last class even if they are not able to swim just so the school doesn’t lose money. I then get those students and have to work with them to overcome their debilitating fear of the water that the swimming school inflicted on them. This ends up costing you a LOT more money because progress is significantly slower with a student terrified of the water. Swimming schools with a money back guarantee are dangerous and costly to parents.

Learning how to swim takes a LOT of time and work. One cannot learn how to swim in just a few lessons. It takes months to years to become a strong swimmer. Just like you can’t learn how to play the piano with just a few lessons. You can learn the basics in a few lessons but to become strong it takes a lot of lessons and a lot of practice. The more lessons and the more practice the faster your child will learn how to swim. But those are just two factors.

I haven’t met your child. I don’t know their skill level, personality, learning style, love/hate/fear of the water, or their desire to learn how to swim. Plus all of this changes on a constant basis. Learning is very personal. Everyone learns differently at different speeds. A skill that takes one person 5 minutes to learn can take someone else 5 weeks. And vice versa for the same two students with different skills. Everyone can hit blocks that slow their learning for a while.

Also, how STRONG of a swimmer do you want your child to be? There is a big difference between a child who can barely keep their head above water and one who can successfully deal with a sudden survival situation and confidently swim laps.

Start with two sessions and go from there. Every time a parent only signs up for one session and then waits before signing up for a second session until the first one starts is disappointed on day one that they didn’t go ahead and sign up for the second session when they had the chance because when they realize how awesome my swimming lessons are I’m already completely booked for the next session with a wait list and they have to wait for the next session that has openings…however far in the future that might be.

I’ve had students for years starting at age two. These students end up on a swim team and/or as life guards. They are strong swimmers at every age and learn more advanced skills as they age. I have teen students who just want to learn proper technique to be able to swim for exercising.

Kids can’t learn everything they need to know at age 2 or 3 and be done with lessons. They need at least 2 months of lessons every year as they grow and get stronger and can handle more difficult and complicated skills. I don’t teach toddlers how to tread water because it’s too difficult for them to comprehend the skill and execute at their age. I teach advanced skills like that to older students. So my students return year after year as they age and can handle more difficult skills to continue to become stronger and more proficient swimmers.

If you have more questions about lessons feel free to reach out to me.

It varies on the child’s skill level. The benefit of private lessons is that we don’t waste time on skills your child already knows. We will work on mastering weak skills and learning new skills. They will learn age appropriate water safety skills throughout their time with me. The order of skills learned will also vary depending on the skills your child already knows, their learning style and their ability to learn different skills. I teach every student unique to their needs.

No. Private means that the spot you reserve is just for your child. Once you reserve your spot no one else can book it. That is also why I have a strict attendance policy/no-cancellation policy and why I am always 100% booked with a wait list. I have limited spots available and most of my students return and refer their friends. Openings on my schedule are hard to get.

Yes.

Parents/Guardians are not allowed to drop their children off and leave the premises during lessons.

You are welcome to sit outside and observe class as long as you are not a distraction. Many students love the undivided attention of their guardians watching their lessons. You see what is being taught in class and can continue working with your child in between lessons to practice the skills in class. I will give you helpful tips and homework at the end of class.

If you want to go inside and sit in the sunroom you can still see and hear lessons, but we can’t see you. That is helpful for students who are distracted by their guardians. Sometimes I have to send guardians inside to get students to focus on class and see me as the authority figure in class.

If you spend the class inside, I ask that you come out 5 minutes before the end of class so we can show off what your child/ren learned in class and I can give you any helpful tips and homework assignments to work on in between lessons.

Overall I’m very easy going and it does not matter to me if you are inside or outside as long as my student is focus and learning.

You are welcome to take as many pictures, videos and facetime classes with family members if you would like. I do not mind. Just tag VegasSwimming on Instagram or SwimmingInTheSun on Facebook if you post anything so I can see and enjoy the pictures and videos too! :)

See my blog post on required and optional items to pack in your child’s swimming lesson bag.

No. Winter is when I schedule my rest and vacation time and I travel to visit family. I also have a lot of work I do on the off-season to prepare for the swimming season each year so I’m still very busy in the winter and need that time off from swimming lessons.