Seeking Kid's Swimming Lessons in the NW Tampa/Carrollwood Area

It's not in New Tampa or Carrollwood, but the Temple Terrace Rec Center on Whiteway has parent and tot lessons for kids ages 6 months to 3 years, and the parent is in the pool with the child. The other levels, the parents sit by the side and watch.

Good luck!
A.

Four of my grandchildren have learned to swim at Miska Uptons, she lives in the Carrollwood area, and is a great teacher. She teaches classes in her own pool, and has done so for many years. There are times when the children are not always happy about being taught, but she is patient and consistent with them. There is a large pool area, and the parents are allowed to sit in the covered porch area, converse with other parents there, and watch the lessons from pool side. You cannot be involved with the lesson, but you are close by and can encourage your child. Her prices are reasonable, and my grandchildren love her, and the older ones remember the lessons with fondness, love, and laughter. If you are interested give Miska a call ###-###-####, her classes fill quickly.

We take our son to Seal Swim School. They have one in Lutz, not sure how far that is from you. They also have one in Tarpon Springs and South Tampa. We drive about 45min from Largo to Tarpon Springs. It's expensive, but well worth it I think. We took our son last year when he was 10mo and he pretty much cried every class. He is finishing up this years class and by the middle of week 2 (4wk class), he loved the water. He is doing good with floating on his back and getting to the wall, but at his age it's more of survival teaching....what do they do if they fall in the pool???
I'm not sure if they would let you in the pool for the 3yr old, we've done parent-tot classes, but it looks like kids that are around 3yr old are probably in a class with a few other kids and the instructor.
Anyway, good luck!

I have a daughter who needed swim lessons. She has ADHD, which means she is much more prone to get frustrated, harder to calm down, and generally less coordinated than the average kid. I looked at all the options, called around, and discovered that I could get her private swim lessons at the Bob Sierra YMCA. The cost is less there than for group classes anywhere else, including LeFleur's, even for private lessons, even including the YMCA membership fee. You give them your name and contact info. They will give your info to an instructor who will contact you and set up lessons around your schedule. It is in Northdale, so you don't have to go a long way. You can set up either 4 or 8 lessons at a time, and add more later if you want them. I set hers up on M-W-F so she would not be too pressured. The instructor is great! She is positive and encouraging and works very well with kids. She asked me what my goals are for my daughter. While my daughter is having her lesson, I can take my autistic son and we can swim at the other end of the pool, or sit in a deck chair and watch while she has her lessons. Since all arrangements are between you and the instructor, there are no real hard rules. If you want to be there in the pool with your child, or if he only feels secure when you are there, I'm sure the instructor could work with that. We can also go early or stay late and swim. If you choose not to stay by the pool, there is an excercise room, game room, gymnastics room, and basketball gym. And around the corner there is their new Family Center that has a shallow water play area with water slide that you also will have access to. In fact, you will have access to any YMCA in the Tampa area.

It may take a couple of weeks for the instructor to get back with you to set up the lessons. If you are not already a YMCA member, don't pay the membership fee until you have set up the lessons and are ready to start (unless you want to go ahead and make use of their facility). We went an hour early the first day and filled out the paperwork and paid, then she had her lesson. It can get really busy sometimes, so allow at least an hour if you plan to do it that way. Of course, you do have to schedule them with the instructor in advance. If you are really set on group lessons, they have those available too.

I highly recommend the Bob Sierra Family YMCA, ###-###-####.

I had to respond to this one because my daughter who is 4 years old was terrified of water. I signed her up w/ private lessons at Lefluers. She screamed and cried the entire 15 minute session. She did the same the first three lessons. After the third she gradually started liking swimming. She completed the last 8 week session and she can now swim! She went from being terrified to learning how to swim (about 4-5 feet by herself) in 8 weeks! I recently signed her up for the next session. She loves going now and begs me to take her. The reason they don't allow parents at the deck is because parents distract the child. Like I said, it took my daughter about 3 sessions to start liking to go. So, be patient. The teachers are so wonderful there! They are really knowledgeable and experienced in training children how to swim. I think you should give them a chance to show what they can do w/ your son. I would highly recommend private lessons. The child gets used to the same instructor, and will start to trust him/her. That's when they really start to do well in swim class. Good luck! We go there on Saturdays so if you want to meet up sometime, let me know.

R.

T.,

I will say that many children cry through the entire lesson and that is extremely difficult for a parent to watch. I have never used Lafleur's, but I do use Seal. There is a Seal on Dale Mabry just north of Lutz Lake Fern Road. They are very good and will NOT pass him from instructor to instructor. I have watched them teach child after child screaming the entire time! I assure you that even though they are histarically crying - they are learning!

At Seal you can also sit in the viewing room and watch the instructors. They will give you feedback as well. I have used them for both of my sons and am still using them for my 3 year old; however, he is pretty good at swimming now - he is just trying to master the flipping on your back to float (a must!).

I would try Seal if it isn't too far from you. It would be worth it!

Good luck!

Personally, unless it is a water survival or water safety class in which ONLY the instructor has the ability to teach the child, then I would never force my child to be alone with an instructor for swim lessons. If it is just for recreational swimming, then there is no reason that the parent can't either be involved or at least be present on the edge. It's just my opinion, but I personally am NOT one to send my child to the back with the dentist for the sake of 'they will listen to me better without mom there' excuses that people give. At age 3 they aren't of logic and reasoning to put together why mom isn't there when they are insecure or uncomfortable.

Even with ISR (which is not 'swim' lessons, but more water survival instruction) the parents are allowed on the side to smile and encourage the kids through the lesson and so they know they are nearby even though the kids are with a stranger. Yes, in ISR kids will cry until they feel comfortable and confident in the water, but I would never leave them alone with someone else, and definately not several other people passing them around, while they are feeling this way.

Based on your feelings and concern in yor post, I would look for another swim instructor that allows you near...maybe ISR. www.infantswim.com

Here is a video of ISR.... it teaches yor 3 year old to be safe in the water...to swim and float in deep water and to get to the side or stairs to get out.

http://www.infantswim.com/isr-experience/Miles.html

Good luck with finding what feels right for you and your child...

I have been taking my 2 children to LaFleurs for over a year now, and I am SO happy with it! My son (who was 3 at the time) had a hard time with the lessons (lots of crying, fear of swimming, jumping in, and the slide) for about 3 weeks (once per week). He suddenly decided to give it another chance, and became a fish so quickly - it was so wonderful to see. The instructors are VERY knowledgeable with children who are fearful of the water (and I see it all the time since I am also in a parent-tot class). They get through the initial fear with patience and gentle perserverance, which works time and time again (like I said, I see it as a fellow parent!). I also allow my kids to pick a snack from the vending machine after the lesson as a special treat :)

Give LaFleurs another chance, and see what your child is capable of doing in the water!

I highly recommend Infant Swim Resource - Michele DiVahle right across from WalMart on Gunn. It is definitely a different atmosphere. You son will cry in the beginning but the focus is on survival skills. My friend's 3 year old saved himself after falling in a pool and after my dog drowned in my pool I knew I had to get him trained. I tried the big school in Lutz and thought I might be there years before he had really mastered any skills. It's a very strict program - every day - but worth it in my opinion.

http://www.infantswim.com/ Michele is a master instructor.

Try infantswim.com - they teach self-rescue, not swimming. There are instructors all over the place and they will even come to your home. It's totally awesome, check out the site.

Hi T.,
I am a local Infant Swimming Resource instructor and there are many of us in the Tampa area. We have many reviews listed under swimming lessons on the business reviews section of mamasource. Please check out what other local parents think about our program as obviously I am a little bias. Our program teaches self rescue survival lessons to children as young as 6 months to 6 years and parents are always allowed to be right on the pool side cheering their child on.
For more information please check out our award winning website, www.infantswim.com
"not ONE MORE CHILD drowns....
E..G

I take my 3 1/2 year old to Seal Swim School in Lutz (Dale Mabry just north of Lutz Lake Fern Rd). We did group lessons the first session - I think the "peer pressure" of the other kids not fussing helped her not to fuss when her face got wet. I also checked out LaFleurs and it seemed like a glorified babysitter. We have been very happy with Seal, but you might give LaFleurs another chance - some kids are more scared of the water than others.

Hi T., I own Little Fish Swim School. I offer privet lesson at your home. I can also send you some recommendation letter that former clients have written. If I can help please let me know. ###-###-####

I wishj I could say someplace else, but for sure take him out of there- what a horrible place- awful-k

Hi

I am a mom of four and all of our children have been through Seal Swim School. It is by far the best. Check their website as they have locations around Tampa and Pinellas County.

~Cathy

Hi T.,

We have been taking our 21 month old daughter to the Seal Swim school on Dale Mabry. They are really good in there. I am not sure how they handle the older kids but we are able to be right there in the pool with our daughter.