We are going to Dolphin University. https://www.dolphinu.com/find-the-right-class/

Its a small AA-owned local business. My son just turned 3 and has few opportunities for swim lessons in the past year with COVID. We wanted to start him at 18months but were dealing with family illness and then moving and then COVID.

I think learning to swim is important but water safety is a must at this age and they are not synonymous.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tom Dolan swim school

+1 but they were just bought out and now it's big blue swim school. I live in Bethesda and go to Falls Church location. My 2.5 year old started there last summer never having been in a pool and could fully swim in a couple of months (we also went swimming on our own to boost his progress). He's going now again because he loves it.

What does this look like during covid? i'm having a hard time telling from the website. At 3 would I be in the pool with my son? Trying to figure out if I feel comfortable with the covid risk and appreciate any insight - thanks!

I know their website says 3 to 1 ratio, but we have only ever had 1 other kid in class if that. He has also been in class just by himself, and it is not paying for a private, it's just how it worked out. The instructor wears a face shield, kids don't wear anything. The area for class is about the width of a typical pool lane, but it's not as long. The kids take turns swimming to the instructor and back to the end of the lane. Adults watch from the lobby, everyone is in masks and seats are very spaced out. You do not get in the pool. I am not a covid precaution extremist, so you may feel differently, but I was perfectly fine doing this last summer, and I have no issue with it now. Neither of us ever got covid from going to swim class for 30 mins.

I would recommend doing more research. It doesn't sound like you know the difference between swim classes and ISR. Swim classes at age 3 are for getting 3-year-olds comfortable with water. ISR was created for kids who literally live around the water and could truly be put in life or death situations. If you are looking to lounge at the pool while your 3-year-old can be semi-self-sufficient it's a poor excuse. ISR can be extremely traumatizing and have dramatic effects on later years. That said, it's an excellent program if - again - you are in a situation that needs that type of training for a 3-year-old.

Anonymous wrote:Goldfish.

And this type of training really works. My DS fell in a pool while on vacation, and he had himself out of the pool before the adults could even react.

NP. We had our DD at a Goldfish location in VA for a year and saw no progress at all in that time. We were doing group lessons, so there were 4 preschoolers in the water with one instructor for a total of 25 minutes. Very little one-on-one time in this format, and it was a complete waste.

Private lessons have worked much better for us.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tom Dolan swim school

+1 but they were just bought out and now it's big blue swim school. I live in Bethesda and go to Falls Church location. My 2.5 year old started there last summer never having been in a pool and could fully swim in a couple of months (we also went swimming on our own to boost his progress). He's going now again because he loves it.

What does this look like during covid? i'm having a hard time telling from the website. At 3 would I be in the pool with my son? Trying to figure out if I feel comfortable with the covid risk and appreciate any insight - thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Goldfish.

And this type of training really works. My DS fell in a pool while on vacation, and he had himself out of the pool before the adults could even react.

+1

I think Goldfish (there's a location in north Silver Spring) would fit the bill for what you want. It's not strictly survival focused, but it is good for swimming and water safety skills (for that age group they are in with just the coaches - no parents - and have to go through learning to float on their stomach, on their back, turning over from front to back and vice versa, pulling themselves out of the water, "pulling paddle," kicking on their backs, etc)

Goldfish.

And this type of training really works. My DS fell in a pool while on vacation, and he had himself out of the pool before the adults could even react.

British Swim School focuses heavily on survival skills- we had our DC, who was 3 at the time, there for several months pre-pandemic. However, the management was horrible and classes were cancelled constantly. We were about to jump ship when the pandemic started. We are now at Goldfish and it is much better. Parents do not have to be in the water.

Anonymous wrote:Tom Dolan swim school

+1 but they were just bought out and now it's big blue swim school. I live in Bethesda and go to Falls Church location. My 2.5 year old started there last summer never having been in a pool and could fully swim in a couple of months (we also went swimming on our own to boost his progress). He's going now again because he loves it.

We did Kids First lessons when DD was 3.5. Thats the age they can start without a parent. DD already knew how to blow bubbles, put head under, and was comfortable in the water. In the first level they teach that, plus floating front and back ( with help) and getting out of the pool by themselves in an area where there are no steps. I thought this was a good skill even though it seems basic. They stay in each level until they master those skills then go onto the next level. We did level 1 once then went straight to level 2.

Coach jerry at Brookland Swim Academy

Tom Dolan swim school

Swimming and water survival are different skills at this age. Water survival is about floating and being able to climb out of the pool. Look up self-rescue classes.

I’m looking for recommendations in Bethesda/DC for “real” swim lessons for a 3 year old. We are not looking for a mommy and me type class. Would love to hear of any options available. We have tried Safe Splash but the classes for my child’s age were mostly geared towards being comfortable in the water, which is great but not what we are looking for (I have a fearless kid that will dive right in which is what terrifies me!)