Swim School Advice for 2-Yr-old in Aliso Viejo

Hi B. - I had the same situation. Not that you want to get in a bathing suit being pregnant, but I took my daughter to a class through the Red Cross that was mommy and me. I hated the bathing suit in public (that's just me), but my daighter loved the class! I did the class in Irvine but the Red Cross offers classes through most of the Parks and Recreations. Hope this helps!

My son cried during his swim lessons for 4 years, he would cry on the way and cry during the lesson and then when the lesson was over and they had 5 minutes to play we was happy and laughing and then kissed the teacher goodbye. It was a control issue - now he is 7 and on the swim team and is amazing. Don't give up - it is for his safety and may save his life one day

Hi B. - My son was like that too when he was that age. But not because he was afraid of water, but because he didn't want to be in the pool with the instructor and not mommy.

I highly recommend Rhondi Sandblom who teaches swim lessons at the Rancho Niguel Club at the corner of Moulton and Rancho Niguel. She is one of the best, most patient and nuturing swim teacher/swim coach my kids have had. A friend of mine's son who was 4 last summer and wouldn't even put his head under water improved so much with her. ###-###-#### or www.safeswim.com. You may want to call the number and ask specifically when and where she teaches. Good luck!

Hi B.,
Last year, we enrolled my daughter (then 4) in swim classes offered by the City of Irvine. It was $50 for 4 weeks (Mon - Thurs). The first week was pure hell! My daughter was excited at first and then got really scared because she didn't know anyone. It got worse when the group she was in was all boys with the instructor being a guy. The first class, she didn't even step in the pool. Then next day she went because there was a female aid helping in that class and would only allow the female aid to help her. It was a nightmare the first week because they couldn't guarantee that a female aid would be available. The second week was better (they were able to place a female aid in the class) and she had a lot of fun. But because of that first week experience, my daughter doesn't want to take anymore swim classes. We're not going to force her because what good can come from it. However, just from that one class, she has improved in her swimming abilities. She can swim the length of the pool with no problem. However, I'm sure she'd benefit from a couple more classes and if the opportunity presents itself again, I'm sure we'll enroll her again. But, for now, we help her with her swimming until she feels comfy about taking classes again. If and when that will happen. =)
From what you wrote, maybe your son isn't ready for swimming lessons, yet, and maybe you should try again when he's older. Or, it may help if he has a friend who's taking swim classes, maybe they can enroll together. It may make him feel comfortable knowing his friend is there, too.
Good luck and hope everything works out!

Hi B.,
I live in the Saddleback Valley school district, and I think AV is in Capo...anyway, have you ever checked out the school district recreation department swim lessons? Saddleback has a well established & very large schedule to pick & choose from at a very reasonable price. I did the class where you (the parent) actually get in the water & stay with your child, with all 3 of my children. I know many people who have also taken their children through this organization for lessons, all with great success, no freaked out kids. I never witnessed a child who was crying...the kids really liked that method...and all the instructors I encountered were serious swimmers themselves...highly qualified. I believe they only have swim lessons for toddler/pre-schoolers in the Spring & Summer sessions because all the pools they use are outdoors, but still heated to 80'. Here's the link to Saddleback's recreation dept., which will probably be coming out with the Spring catalog in the next month or so...http://www.saddlebackrecreation.com/ I would highly recommend them. Good luck.

We take both our daughters to Blue Buoy in Tustin Ca. The great thing about it is if it's the first few times you can enroll them in the parent and me class and you go in with him until he feels comfortable go by himself. Also they have private lessons and semi private. The semi private is with another student. I love it. My daughter has been doing it for 3 years and I swear she swims better then me. She knows and swims all the strokes including butterfly.

Maybe try a group lesson. Kids seem to always want to try things more when there are other children around. My son started taking swimming lessons at 18 mos. at Autralian Swim School once a week. It was a mommy and me class- we did that for about a year then he graduated to a "big boy" class with no mommies and he did that for about a year with two of his friends. They all swim like fish and love the water. Good luck!

Hey! My experience with swim school is that the children need to develop respect for the water. Both of my children ( they are 5 and 3) did not like swim lessons at first. I had them at Nova in Tustin. The swim teacher continued to reassure me that the "tough love" approach in the end would produce results, and she was right. Both of my kids are good swimmers, respect the water and their boundarie, and had wonderful relationships with their swim teacher. I am a firm believer that if you want your children to be water safe, you need to practice a little tough love. A two-year old is one of the hardest ages developmentally to start in lessons because they have heightened awareness and know how to manipulate. I think you should stick with it....It's hard to force your child to do something they hate so much, but it paid off in the end for me and my children are not damged from the experience. In fact, they love swimming!! Hope this helps.....