Swim lessons can start at any age, however expectations should be understood by participants. Babies and toddlers through 36 months who have positive water experiences will typically have an easier time learning to swim. We offer acclimation and beginner water survival courses for this age group. Starting at around 3-4 years, children have enough coordination and motor skill development to start to learn to float and "paddle" independently. From here, skills progress depending on the child and the frequency of lessons. All this being said..IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO START SWIM LESSONS. Some people never had the opportunity to learn and begin lessons as teenagers, adults and senior adults. Click here to find out more details about our progressive curriculum.
6 Months - 3 Years Early swim experience classes focus on safety and water acclimation, and are designed for child and caregiver to take together. From 12 months through 2 years, a guardian should accompany the child in the water. Children who take these classes typically have a smooth transition to learning to swim coordinated strokes as they get older. Participants will learn:
Protocols for keeping young children safe in and around water.
Facts about swim floatation devices such as swim vests, floaties, life vests, Puddle Jumpers®, noodles, rafts and inflatables.
How to hold and support young children in the water.
How to safely enter and exit a pool.
Safety drills for accidental water entry.
Comfortability, blowing bubbles, and opening the eyes in water.
Rudimentary arm and leg movements; assisted floating.
How and why to facilitate belly and back water time, and basic hydrodynamics.
*Any child not potty trained must wear three layers of protection: a disposable swim diaper against the skin a re-usable swim diaper on top of that, and then a bathing suit. Guardian should follow protocols for checking diapers while near and in water to help prevent water contamination and RWI's (recreational water illness). You can find recommendations for swim diapers on our SwimOutlet.com curated store: http://www.swimoutlet.com/lcsstore
Children 4-12 Skills listed below will be age and skill level appropriate. Strokes and skills will initially appear rudimentary, and will be refined throughout the journey of learning to swim, as coordination and learning capacity improve with age. Participants will learn:
Comfortability, blowing bubbles, opening eyes.
Safe, age-appropriate water entries and exits, including jumping, and a progressive diving curriculum.
Accidental water entry SafetyCycle sequence.
Emerging swim skills: floating and gliding on belly and back.
Basic Water Competency – entry into deep water, basic propulsion, transitions, treading.
Early Strokes: paddle stroke, elementary backstroke.
Racing and Fitness Strokes (introduced progressively): freestyle, back stroke, breast stroke, butterfly.
How to make safe in-water decisions.
Teenagers & Adults Teenagers and adults learn the same curriculum as children aged 4-9. Teaching techniques are always age-appropriate. Older learners have the advantage of self-awareness, life experience and cognitive skills that instructors leverage.
Is any special equipment needed?
Swim caps: We require swim caps for lessons in any LifeCycle pool. Swim caps help keep the water clean for all swimmers by minimizing hair in the pool. Additionally, hair getting in face and eyes is a distraction to lessons, and interrupts arm movements that are trying to focus on swimming . Finally, many public pools require swim caps, and this policy helps everyone get accustomed to wearing swimming caps as a life skill. If a person has sensory issues that may make cap wearing challenging, we do our best to at least begin introducing caps to students. If lessons are in a private pool, swim caps are recommended for those who have medium to long hair to reduce distraction. Goggles: recommended, but not required, for ages 6 and older. Having goggles allows clear visibility of underwater demonstrations, and helps protect the eyes from prolonged exposure to the water. All students will learn to open their eyes under water as a safety skill. For children ages 1-4 goggles can be more of a distraction than a help. Ages 1-3: No goggles Ages 3-5: Goggles optional. Instructor will determine for each student if goggles are appropriate. Ages 6+: Recommended, but not required. Rash Guards: recommend for children with sun or temperature sensitivity. Sunscreen: highly recommended.
Check out our curated selection of these products and more from Swim Outlet.com.
How often should lessons be taken?
The trend in swim lessons is to teach in a more concentrated time frame — two or three times per week — at least until students have achieved Basic Water Competency. A concentrated schedule (rather than 1x per week) typically achieves results in a shorter amount of time, and most importantly, makes students safer earlier. It also capitalizes more easily on the momentum from the previous lesson, and helps build confidence. In parts of the world where warm weather is limited, this is especially helpful as students will be able to enjoy their skills more during the summer they learn them. However, it's not always realistic to manage an intensive swim schedule due to other commitments or financial concerns. The classic one lesson per week is fine — it just takes longer to reach goals. How often lessons are taken also depends on goals. Our instructors will help set realistic, yet challenging goals based on how many lessons are taken, the frequency of lessons and the assessment of the student. Finally, skills learned during swim lessons can regress if students aren't exposed to water at least a few times during the year. Find a venue for open swim or a few "tune-up" lessons during the year to be sure students don't forget their hard-earned skills. Generally, it's best to have the long view with swim lessons. Learning to swim all four racing strokes well in one summer isn't realistic.
How long will it take to learn to swim?
First, let's define the word "swim." For many this question really means, "How long will it take for me to feel more comfortable that I or my child won't drown?" By learning Basic Water Competency (BWC), the chance of drowning is reduced 88%! To have BWC does not mean a person needs to execute a flawless freestyle. Basic Water Competency means that if a person falls into deep water, they have the skills necessary to re-surface and safely and confidently swim 25 yards to the side of the pool and exit the pool. If this is what you mean by "swim" then this can typically be taught in 4-12 hours of private swim lessons, depending on age - assuming there is no issue with fear of water. On the other hand, if you mean, "How long until I or my child can swim a great looking freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke?" then the answer is: this will take much longer. Practice, feedback and more practice are necessary for everyone to learn and refine strokes. Most people fall in between these two goals. They want to learn basic freestyle and one other stroke. For this, to "swim" means swimming with the face in the water in a prone position, confidently and comfortably enough that a person can get meaningful exercise from swimming. For this, an additional 6-12 hours with feedback and practice may do the trick, knowing that endurance must also be built up and is separate from learning and refining stroke form. Finally, even after someone has achieved Basic Water Competency, he or she should never swim alone; and children should always be watched, even when a lifeguard is on duty.
Is the LifeCycle pool heated?
Most of our outdoor pools are heated and kept to a target temperature of 82°-87°.
If a student is sensitive to water temperature:
Plan on having students swim in a rash-guard or thermal suit. We have recommendations for these items on our SwimOutlet.com store: https://www.swimoutlet.com/lcsstore
It's worth mentioning that the Lifecycle teaching experience is probably more active than other swim classes you may have seen. At some swim schools teachers leave students waiting too long at the side of the pool. Due to this inaction, students can get cold. We keep students busy, engaged and having fun while learning so that the pool temperature isn't a distraction.
If a child expresses concern about water temperature before class, we advise caregivers to gently change the subject to the less controversial, fun aspects of swimming.
If we start to see shivering or blue lips, we take the students out, wrap them in a towel, and teach through demonstration and dry deck drills from the side of pool. If this happens for more than half the lesson we will consider a re-scheduled lesson at no extra charge.
Something to remember: A pool on a hot summer day feels refreshing to many people.
We can't think of one kid who didn't eventually enter the water and have fun.
How do I pay?
Payment for pre-season bookings are due 7 days after reservation is confirmed; in-season bookings are due 5 days before first class. Payment is accepted by PayPal, Zelle or personal check.
PayPal two ways: 1. Directly on the Lifecycle Swimming scheduling page as you book your appointments. 2. PayPal: [email protected]. * Please pay with "FRIENDS AND FAMILY OPTION."
By Credit Card: Pay directly on the website with your MasterCard, Visa or American Express. We can also send you a credit card invoice.
By Check: Make check out to: Lifecycle Aquatics, LLC Mail to: 18 Stephen St. Montclair, NJ 07042
What happens if it rains?
Lessons in any outdoor pool are subject to inclement weather cancellations. Families do not get charged for any weather-canceled lesson. The Central Montclair pool has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place for lightning or other weather related concerns. Dark clouds, or the sound of any lightening, even coming from a distance, will require immediate exit from the pool and into the shelter space provided, and then exit from the property when safe. Generally speaking, class proceeds at instructor's discretion, with safety being the primary concern. Class won't be canceled for light rain. Class will be canceled for medium to heavy rain, thunder/lightening, or air temperature below 65°F. On a day with a forecast of potential inclement weather, the instructor will be in touch with you via text to cancel or confirm the lesson. If you do not receive a text, assume that the lesson is proceeding. Options for weather-related cancellations: - Add time to a subsequent lesson; or attempt to re-schedule. - Refund issued, pro-rated to the missed time or lesson. - If medium rain (no lightning) starts during class, instructor may continue safety skills and muscle work in covered area.
Do I have to get in the pool with my child?
Children under 13 months must be accompanied by a guardian in the water. Guardians can choose whether to accompany children 13 months to 3 years in the water, as long as it's a private class. In group classes, a guardian must accompany babies and toddlers three years and younger. Over 3 years old we recommend students take class without a guardian in the water. At the same time, note that a guardian must be on deck with a clear view of the lesson at all times. Any child not potty trained must be wearing a reliable swimmer diaper, and guardian's should follow protocols for checking diapers while near and in water to help prevent water contamination and RWI's (recreational water illness). You can find recommendations for swim diapers on my SwimOutlet.com curated store: http://www.swimoutlet.com/lcsstore If you cannot find a guardian to accompany a baby in the water, please email me and we'll try to work something out.
Can I track my child's progress?
YES! Download the free Red Cross Swim app to create a profile for each student and track progress. Students earn badges that can be shared across social media, plus interact with videos and quizzes about water safety. Learn more here, or text "SWIM" to 90999 from your phone.
Does LifeCycle Swimming teach lessons in the fall/winter?
Some teachers are on staff at indoor facilities. Please email us for the details.