When do children normally learn to swim?
Most children learn to swim between two and four years of age.

How long will it take for my child to learn how to swim?
Each swimmer is unique and several different factors determine how fast they learn including age, lesson frequency and fear or love of water.  We believe that many small steps build self-confidence and lead to ultimate achievements.  16-24 lessons typically provides a suitable foundation with reference to breath control, balance, mobility, and safety awareness. Like dance or music, swimming is a process that must be nurtured and developed over time.

What if my child cries or is afraid?
Our teachers are trained to deal with even the most fearful swimmer.  Every student should be enrolled in private lessons until they are at a Beginner 2 skill level.  We use an encouraging approach emphasizing water adjustment, safety and confidence building.  We can adjust each lesson to the child’s pace. We have many toys, songs and games especially created for fearful swimmers. If you need help getting your child into the pool, ask our staff for assistance; we will gladly get your child in the water and swimming happily in no time!  Allowing your child to cry a little is OK.  We do not want to rob them of the opportunity and satisfaction that comes with overcoming their fear.  Focus on the goal of swim lessons which is to make your child safer in and around the water.  Young children cry for many reasons.  Thankfully, the tears are temporary.  An accident at a pool can have tragic results that last forever.

Do you provide stroke instruction?
Yes, we teach the four competitive strokes, emphasizing proper technique and development of balance and coordination.  Tara Crouch is a five-time Southern Nevada High School Swimming Coach of the Year and many of our swim instructors have been or are currently competitive swimmers.  We encourage students who have passed at least Intermediate 1 level to enroll in our swim team group.  This year they will be held during the Fall Session at 5:00 PM.  The swim team group is a great introduction to competitive swimming without a huge time commitment.  Private lessons are still available for these swimmers to continue their progress.

How often should we take lessons?
Each session consists of 8 lessons.  Swimming sessions are Monday through Thursday for two weeks.  We recommend two 2-week sessions in a row.  Additional sessions may be suggested for students who are still progressing.  After taking a break, we recommend that students enroll in once-a-week maintenance lessons during the fall months so that they do not digress from year to year.

What should I bring to swim class?
We provide most of the equipment required for swimming class, including fins, goggles and learning toys. All you need to bring is a swimsuit and towel (children under the age of three must wear a snug fitting, non-disposable swim diaper). We suggest that students bring their owns goggles and fins if they have them so that instructional time is not wasted adjusting our equipment to your child.  If you decide to bring your own goggles and/or fins, be sure to write your child’s name on them in permanent marker.

What type of training do your instructors receive?
Gary and Tara have created their own curriculum over the last three decades.  This curriculum is tailored to be age and developmentally appropriate for young children.  The skills that we teach follow a natural progression.  Each of our swim instructors is unique; however, they all teach the same curriculum and progressions.  All of our instructors receive in-house, hands-on training from Tara and Gary. They also attend periodic seminars and training sessions throughout the summer as new methods, ideas and techniques are introduced. We have seen and used many different approaches to swim instruction over the past 30+ years and have had the most success with our current methodology.  Our instructors attempt to push each child to their full potential while maintaining their enjoyment of the water. We attend national and/or international swim school conferences nearly every year to stay abreast of current trends and breakthroughs in swim instruction.  At Las Vegas Swim Academy, we strive to continually improve everything that we do.

What temperature is your pools kept at?
Our pool is maintained at 90-92 degrees. An individual’s physical comfort level is directly related to motor skills and learning. Keeping the water at this warm temperature not only aids in the learning process, but makes it comfortable and enjoyable.

What type of swim diaper does my child need?
Non-disposable swim diapers are required for all children who are not toilet trained or are recently toilet trained.  The non-disposable swim diaper should have snug fitting elastic at the legs and waist.  No Huggies – Little Swimmers! Non-disposable swim diapers can be purchased at Target, Babies-R-Us or at Las Vegas Swim Academy.  Fecal accidents in the pool pose a serious health risk to everyone in the pool.