Find Swimming Lessons in Oak Park

By Kathleen F. Miller

If you have been postponing signing your child up for swim lessons, or need to find a program that is a better fit for him or her, keep in mind that participating in swim lessons can save a child’s life.According to a May 2012 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning remains the leading cause of injury death among children aged one to four years old. Here are some tips for finding the right swim program for your child.

Check out the pool and instructor credentials

Michael Dilley, the Washington Territory Aquatics Specialist with the American Red Cross, has been teaching Red Cross programs for swimming, lifeguarding and First Aid CPR/AED basic and instructor classes for more than 40 years. He suggests that parents who are shopping for swim lessons look at their pool.“See how the water looks, watch how well the staff supervises the swimmers and ask other parents how they like the staff and the facility. Also ask if the instructors are trained in a nationally-recognized program, such as the American Red Cross,” he said.

Choose a program with a low student-to-instructor ratio and watch a lesson

Mel Roberts, the president of the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA), says some of the key things to look for when shopping for swim lessons is a low student-to-teacher ratio. “One instructor can effectively teach about six or seven students. For younger children, ages three to five, the ratio needs to be closer to three or four students per instructor,” he said.

Roberts also encourages people to examine the pool as “the environment can greatly affect the learning process. Is the facility clean and inviting as you enter? Is it well-maintained? Are there other activities going on at the same time as the lessons that could be a distraction? And what is the temperature of the water? If the water is too cold, the child will only be thinking about (that) when they get to get out, instead of learning how to swim,” he said.

Roberts said it's good for parents to see if the instructors are professional and mature, start and end lessons on time, and devote their attention to their students in class.Also worth remembering: Do instructors keep children actively involved in learning activities during the entire class? Do they have learning plans and objectives for their classes? And are they willing to spend a little time after class to help students who are having a difficult time?

Getting ready for lessons at home

Kathie Neir is the owner of KTAP, a Sammamish, WA swim program at her private, heated pool that emphasizes individualized instruction for kids age 18 months to 13 years old. Neir has a master's degree in health and physical education and has taught swimming for more than 25 years.

Neir says that parents can get kids ready at home to have a successful swim lesson experience. "Parents should start their child taking showers at a very young age. You can make a game of it by pouring water over their head, having them put water over their head and learning to blow bubbles," she said.

"Even two-year-olds are very capable of this. Do not cover their face while washing their hair, as you are teaching them to not ever get water on their face. And make sure you use a non-eye irritating shampoo.”

How to encourage a reluctant swimmer

Mel Roberts acknowledges that not every kid starts out a strong swimmer and parents need to look for the right program and be patient.“Lessons have to be a pleasant experience for effective learning to take place," he said. "Let them watch a swimming lesson and allow them to see that children in the classes are having fun while they are learning, and the instructor is there to help them and ensure their safety. Having the children meet the instructor before starting the lessons will help them feel more comfortable during the lessons.”

Going swimming and participating in water activities as a family will show them that swimming can be fun and help them relax in the water. Be patient—remember children develop at different rates. They need to realize that there are rewards for being a strong swimmer. Many of the fun activities in and around the water require a certain level of swimming skill in order to participate, such as using the diving boards.”

Local Swim Lesson Resources

Local swim lesson resources for group classes and one-on-one instruction include the Forest Park Aquatic Center, Rehm Pool in Oak Park and the West Cook YMCA. 

The Y offers parent-child lessons, lessons for children ages three to five, lessons for children ages six and up and adult lessons.