The National Institutes of Health recently released a study that supports the positive impact learn to swim lessons can have on young children and drowning prevention. It states, “Providing very young children with swimming lessons appears to have a protective effect against drowning and does not increase childrens’ risk of drowning.” Contrary to long held beliefs, introducing your infant to swimming lessons at even 6 months, does not encourage them to be overly bold and unsafe around water. The study concludes:Participating in formal swimming lessons was associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of drowning in children between the ages of 1 to 4. (Arch Pediatric Med. 2009; 163(3):203-210) Click here to read the full study.

We start our Otter Baby program at age 6 months. This is what feels comfortable for our instructors and curriculum. The real answer is… you know when it’s best to start. Because the Otter Baby program requires an adult, it is really more important to have Mom and Dad on board for the weekly visit, the changing room, getting wet, singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” 5 million times… than baby. What works for you will work for baby. Most parents tell us this is a wonderful time with their children and some tell us it is the half hour they get to relax and tune into their baby. Try us when you’re ready.

The best time to start lessons is when the child and the family are ready to learn. Our classes are starting constantly and we may be able to get you into a class this week. The biggest factor in children doing well in swim lesson is consistent attendance and supportive parents. Some children take longer to warm up to new experience and parents that in for the long haul are able to get past this initial reluctance.

If you want your child to learn to swim as quickly as possible, then year round swimming provides the best results. Swim lessons take place in many different climates around the world.  Children learn to swim in far lower temperatures than our 90 degree pool.  Our year round facility is designed for the comfort of your children.

Your child will not catch a cold from the water.  Colds are viruses and your child probably has more chance of catching a virus from attending daycare, preschool, school or playgroup than from the treated water in a swimming pool.  We also don’t avoid showers and bathing during the winter we just take care to dry off before we go outside.

Children who participate in swimming during the winter do not get more coughs and colds than their non-swimming counterparts.  In fact, parents of children who participate in year round programs report that their child has had their best winter yet.  This is not surprising as we know that excercise strengthens the immune system and that swimming is a very healthy activity, especially for the lungs.

All children under the age of 3, or children that are not potty-trained must wear a fitted, reuseable swim diaper while swimming.  If you do not already have them, we have them available for purchase in our shop.  Plastic training pants, regular diapers or disposable swim diapers are NOT allowed.

Children ages 3 and older, who are potty-trained, need only bring a swim suit and a towel.  If your child has goggles they are welcome to bring them.  We have goggles for sale and for loan during the lesson.  If your child has long hair, we ask that you tie it back in a ponytail or have your child wear a swim cap.  This is so your child’s hair will not interfere with their vision during swimming.

All children are different.  Some will come to swim lessons with no inhibitions about water and just need skills training.  Other children will come to swim lessons with some anxiety about the water or putting their face in the water.

Children are at also different levels in maturity, physical coordination, and development.  Our curriculum is based on 16-18 lessons per level, but some children will progress much more quickly.  Other children will take time to get going with the lessons and then will progress more steadily through the levels.

Whatever the case, we teach each child with a gentle and encouraging approach and recognize that every child is different and has different needs.  Our goal is to challenge your child and lead them along the path of learning to swim.

In order to maintain the integrity of our classes we do not offer make-ups.  Thank you for allowing us to offer the highest quality possible in teaching your children.

We offer a free Friday Family Swim for the entire family if it is unavoidable that your child to miss a lesson.  This is free of charge for the whole family including siblings if being used to make-up an absence.

If not being used as a make-up there is a fee of $5 per person up to a maximum of $15 per family.

Friday Family Swims are scheduled every other Friday evening from 6:15 to 8:15.  We have schedules available at the Customer Service Desk and in the calendar section of this website.

1.  Our class enrollment schedule is perpetual.  This means we do not have a particular start or stop date for our classes.

2.  Individual classes are 30 minutes one day each week.

3.  Time spent in a particular skill level varies, but averages 16-18 weeks.

You may enroll at any time that we have a class that is appropriate for your child’s age and skill level.  You will be enrolled in that class until you wish to change times, your child is moved up to another level, or you choose take a break from lessons.

At Little Otter Swim School we don’t believe that students learn according to the calendar and thus they are able to stay with an individual teacher until they have completed the specific goals for that class.