My kids both started out in the pool when they were just babies. We began with the Parent and Me lessons, where I took my timid infants into the water to sing songs and play games, eventually coaxing them to jump off the edge into my waiting arms. As they got older, we graduated to group preschool lessons, where my toddlers braved the waters without me and patiently (or sometimes impatiently) waited their turn to kick their way across the pool.  Over the years, they have taken a plethora of group lessons, private lessons, home lessons, and even a few lessons at the beach.

While some of these have been great, others have left me less than impressed. There were times when the pool water was cold, the lessons were crowded and chaotic, and lessons where they really weren’t learning much at all. By the time we moved to a house near the water, we had taken so many lessons that my son had become very comfortable in the water and mastered the basics of swimming but still wasn’t able to safely navigate the waters without a lifejacket or an adult right by his side. I knew I needed to find him some lessons to help him perfect his skills.

In my search for a great swim school place, a friend of mine recommended a brand-new venue called Goldfish Swim School. She said that child had gone there and made a lot of progress in just a few short months. I decided to check it out myself.  On KidFriendlyVenues app I found out that the school has many great amenities:

Bathrooms
Handicap Accessibility
Ample Parking
Clean and Nurturing Kid Friendly Environment
Kid Friendly Activities
Kid Friendly Approved by KFV
Kid Friendly Emotionally & Intellectually Stimulating Environment
Kid Friendly Program Options
Kid Friendly Staff
Kid Friendly Holiday Fun
Kid-Friendly In-building Dining

Goldfish Swim School has a high emphasis on working a curriculum convenient with my busy schedule. On this mom-to-mom blog this is my top free-time management tip: let the lessons suit your busy schedule and enjoy the benefits of best time management. I learned that the children are taught by skilled instructors in small groups of four or fewer. This seemed to be exactly what I was looking for. We decided to give it a try and I enrolled my son in an intermediate class that seemed to suit his skill level. There were several time slots available, and I found one that fitted in perfectly with our family’s busy schedule. 

My little guy was very excited to start his first class. We arrived a little bit early and checked in at the front desk. The friendly staff member gave us a tour of the facilities and explained how everything worked. My son was thrilled when the staff member offered him a complimentary Goldfish bag with some fun goodies and swag inside. We headed to the cabanas to change and then took a few minutes to look around. The facilities were so clean and welcoming. The whole place was decorated in tropical decor and there was plenty of comfortable seating outside the swim area so that family members could relax and watch the lessons. There was also a chalkboard, play area, and a fish tank to entertain siblings or kids waiting for their lessons to begin. Snacks google, towels, and bathing suits were also available to purchase.

When it was time for my son’s class, we walked over to the pool area.  A knowledgeable lifeguard met us at the door and reviewed all the safety rules with the kids. I brought my son to his assigned lane and then took a seat to watch the lesson. From my view on the other side of the glass, I could tell that he was having fun and enjoying his time in the pool. His swim instructor was really focused on each child’s individual skill set and appeared to be making the lesson fun. There were several other lessons going on at the time and all of the kids (from infants to older ones) seemed to be having a great time splashing around. 

After twenty-five minutes had passed, a staff member called all of the parents back to the pool area. When I went to my son’s lane, his instructor informed me of my progress and let me know which skills he still needed to work on. My little one was excited to show off what he had learned and happily accepted a colorful ribbon that the instructor gave him for having a great lesson. With a smile on his face, my son climbed out of the pool and headed for the warm showers. A few minutes later, when he was getting dressed in the cabanas, he told me how much he enjoyed the lesson and how nice and warm the pool was. 

It has now been several months, and my son continues to take weekly lessons at Goldfish Swim School. He has learned so much that is about to move up to the next swim level. I am so pleased with his progress and feel more at ease when he goes in the water with friends. We love Goldfish so much that we have also attended their open family swim time. The pool is so warm and clean that I even go in!  I continue to be impressed with the great instruction and friendliness of the Goldfish staff. I also love using the handy Goldfish app which allows me to keep track of my swimmer’s progress, cancel and schedule make-up visits, and view payments. From now on, whenever someone asks me where to find great swim lessons for their kiddos, Goldfish Swim School is always my number one recommendation. Hands down, I give it a five-star rating on the Mom’s Tribute app, Kid Friendly Venues. For locations of Goldfish Swim School near you, please check out this website's premier KFV app. It is made easier when you use its distance and star rating filters.

Kim F