Learn to Swim

I'm going to be taking my son to swim classes provided by the Carlsbad Community Center. Escondido has a community site, I found the pool page with contact info. Maybe contact them and see if they have swim classes in your area.

http://www.ci.escondido.ca.us/recreation/facilities/pools...

Hi and welcome to Sunny So.Cal (though the last few weeks have been a bit cold and rainy- like seattle?)

Last summer, while we were house-hunting, since we were hoping for a house with a pool, we decided to have our 10 month old learn to swim. The classes were a bit expensive, but the peace of mind it has given us was well worth it. I believe there was a one-time registration fee...about 100? (My husband rgistered her.) and classes were $110/week. Depending on how quickly your child learns the skills, the classes will be anywhere from 3-5 weeks. Lessons are only 10 minutes/day but are very intensive and no-nonsesnse. She cried the WHOLE time she was in the water, but SHE LEARNED her skills!! Her teacher was very conscientious about it and did not make her have any more lessons than she needed. She only needed 3 weeks because she was a quick learner whereas another baby we met who was her same age needed to continue for two additional weeks.)Our baby was not walking yet so she was only able to learn how to float. She was taught to turn onto her back from any position- should she fall in head first, backwards, be in the water already, etc. She practiced with just a swim suit on as well as fully clothed in summer clothes and winter clothes. The idea with her being so young is to allow her to float for a while on her back should it be one of those instances where "we turned our backs for only a minute" and a tragedy would be avoided. Now that she is walking, she will go back in March and she will add on to her floating skills. She will be taught to float, turn and swim, and float again and again until she reaches an exit to the pool, etc. In the following years she will only need refresher classes- a few sessions per season to ensure she is still on task with her skills.

We highly recommend this program. On top of how immensely proud we are of her when she wows friends and families with her skills, we are less worried, though not less cautious, when she's near water sources. If you'd like to know more let me know I will look for the link to the actual school so you can research them and make up your own mind. If you'd like I an give you the name of our instructor as she is a master instructor and we have 100% confidence in her. She teaches classes in Del Mar and San Marcos- I think- I'm not very familiar with all the cities here yet. Otherwise they have instructors in many other cities as well.

If this isn't for you, classes of any water safety sort are a definite must. Your baby's safety is the most important thing.

-I.

Welcome to the land of sun! (Excluding this past weekend of course!) My kids started swim lessons at age 3 at a variety of places, up until they were about 7 or 8. The YMCA has good classes, also community rec centers, Ned Baumer Aquatic center (that's at Miramar college), Frog's work out club in Carmel Mountain has a good class, there are tons of inexpensive group classes around, and there are more when spring and summer come.

I moved here from Seattle about a year ago. My son goes to Floaties Swim School in Poway. www.foatiesswimschool.com. He loves it and there are usually 3 kids in the class and a few classes going on in the pool at one time. Good luck!

Floaties Swim School in Poway is EXCELLENT.
I take my 2yr4mo daughter there - and she absolutely LOVES it. I can highly recommend Mr. Tim!!!!
I did alot of research on swim schools (about a years worth) before choosing. They have the best parent feedback & reviews.
They also have a salt water system pool, which makes a big difference on your eyes, skin & clothes - its much more gentle.

My daughter was a screamer when we started (if you asked him who his biggest screamer was - he'd say my daughters name - all the parents and other teachers know her by her screaming) but he was very patient & worked very slowly with her. Now - she is excited every time we go.

My three year old son has been taking lessons at Murray Callan in San Marcos for about 6 months and he loves it! The classes are three kids to one instructor, the pool is heated and they work at each child's pace so no pressure to do more than the child wants. The also have a school in Pacific Beach. Check it out at murraycallanswimschool.com

I would check out the community center/parks & recreation department in whatever town you live in. My girls have done swim lessons with the Escondido recreation center, and had a great time. You could also check out local YMCAs, but they are more expensive.