For those of us without private pools, warm-weather family, or a backyard situation, swimming options before age five are nearly nonexistent. After five, more doors open. Before then? You take what you can get.
Over the last four years we’ve handed over a hefty monthly fee in the name of raising water-ready children. It started as basic drowning prevention. Now the goal is two kids who can handle themselves in a pool while I lounge nearby with a cocktail. I was a decent swimmer growing up and figured they might take to it, and as expected, one loves it and one absolutely does not.
For anyone doing the whole “A Whale Pristine” situation, if you know, you know. I’ve accepted my fate. No real alternatives, so here we are, four years deep in this swimming-in-a-money-factory experience. Here’s what I wish someone had told me.
Toddler and Me. This class tends to go to newer instructors. Honestly, who the instructor is matters less than whether they’re consistent. We had about twelve months where ours changed so frequently that another mom and I started giving the new ones pointers on what to do next. As your child approaches three and ages out of this level, consistency in instruction becomes more important. Those last six months matter.
Level 2. I hate this class. Hate it. My older child struggled enormously as we cycled through new instructors every six to eight weeks for a solid year. I emailed, I called, I wanted to scream. Management was indifferent: “just keep checking for new openings online.” So I did the work myself. Refreshed the page constantly, checked in at the desk relentlessly, and finally landed my child with a veteran instructor. Day and night difference. This is my biggest piece of advice and I tell every new parent I meet: there are a handful of veteran instructors and they make all the difference at this level. I won’t forget the meltdowns after yet another new instructor, or watching a normally mild-mannered kid start acting out every time there was a change. Don’t wait it out hoping things improve. Find out who knows what they’re doing, stalk those classes, and check back regularly. It is worth it.
Level 3. By this point instructors are mostly regulars who know what they’re doing, and it shows. Level 2 takes a while to pass, that’s normal, but once you’re here the classes are easier to get into and the experience is noticeably smoother. There are also more options at other facilities for older kids, which helps.