How to make your child’s first (and every) swim lesson a success . . . 
It’s your child’s first swim lesson. You’re excited. She’s excited! You rush out the door, then stop. Do you have everything you need? Did she finish her breakfast? Where’s your coffee? Did she go potty? Did you go potty?
Relax! At SwimWest we want to make every swim lesson a fun and unstressful experience. We’ve put together a few guidelines for you and a fun video for your young swimmer to help. Hopefully, it will help you know exactly what to expect and what to bring so every lesson is her best one.
What to bring:
With a little preparation, you’ll make getting her to her lesson stress-free. Creating a ‘launchpad’ area by the door with your child’s swim bag filled with all the essentials the night before swim lessons will help the rush out the door go smoothly.
There are a few things you’ll NEED to put in her bag and a few things you’ll probably WANT to put in her bag.
- A Swimsuit – All children, regardless of age, must wear swimsuits.
- A towel – along with a spare one, just in case!
- A change of clothes
- A swim cap (all children are required to wear a swim cap during swim lessons, except those enrolled in the Parent-Tot classes),
Goggles (optional) - A snack/drink for after (we have a special area for snacks!).
About that potty thing . . .
Two Reusable Swim Diapers – Children who are not completely potty trained must wear two reusable swim diapers. Disposable swim diapers are not allowed in the pool. Cloth swim diapers are available in the lobby swim shop.
And remember – older children should use the restroom before their class begins. There are restrooms available at SwimWest, of course, so we’ve got you covered too!
Where and when should she change?
We find it easier for swimmers to be prepared when they get to SwimWest. Wearing their swimsuit under their clothes helps for a speedy transition from home to class. After class, please use assigned changing areas or dressing rooms in the facility to dress and redress. We ask that children over the age of 5 use their same-gender locker room. We have family changing areas throughout the facility for your use.
Can I watch the lesson?
Yes! We definitely want you to watch your child during her lesson. In fact, we require that parents remain on SwimWest Swim School premises at all times during their child’s lesson. We have a comfortable area in the Observation Room, or you are welcome to stay around the pool deck.
Are there any other rules I should be aware of?
For the safety of all our swimmers, we do have a few rules that we ask everyone to observe.
- Do not let your children enter the pool until the class is scheduled to begin.
- Please allow swimmers finishing their classes to exit the pool and wait for the instructor before putting your child into the water.
- Stay with your child and their siblings (if you’ve brought company) at all times.
What should she expect at her lesson?
Glad you asked! We’ve put together a special video just for her. It will walk her through exactly what she can expect when she comes to a SwimWest Swim School lesson. It’s less than 3 minutes long so a perfect view during snack time: My First Swim Lesson
What if she doesn’t feel well?*
If your child is not feeling well, it is better not to bring them to class. If your child has a fever or a contagious disease, please stay at home until the illness has subsided. If you are unsure, please consult your doctor for the proper course of action. Read more about how to know how sick is too sick in our blog post.
*If your child is unable to attend lessons due to illness or a scheduling conflict, please call the front desk and let them know.
A few other tips:
Remove all Band-Aids. We recommend using a liquid band-aid during lessons.
If you’d like to speak with your child’s instructor feel free to send them an email or schedule a time at the front desk. Because most lessons are back-to-back, there isn’t enough time between for our instructors to give you their full attention.
Feel good!
You are helping your child learn a lifesaving skill that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Keeping these tips and rules in mind will help ensure your child gets the absolute most from their lesson and you have a great time too.
Swim Safe, SwimWest
