Frequently Asked Questions
Curious about our swim lessons? Dive in! We answer common questions about classes, safety, and how we make every lesson fun and confidence-boosting.
What Is Survival Swimming?
Survival swimming is the ability of a baby or young child to float and breathe independently — no matter the water’s depth — for as long as needed.
The most essential survival skill we teach is how to roll from a face-down position to a face-up independent back float. Infants and toddlers can’t lift their heads to take a breath, so learning to roll onto their backs can truly save a life.
Once your child begins walking, they can also learn to swim to the pool’s edge or steps, rolling over to breathe whenever they need air.
At Swim Shine Aquatics, it’s not just about being comfortable in the water — it’s about being able to swim and survive. Empower your child with the skills to safely enjoy every water experience.
Discover the Difference today!
Why Infant Aquatics?
Children are naturally drawn to water — pools, lakes, ponds, streams, and beaches all hold irresistible appeal. But even with the most attentive supervision, accidents can happen in seconds.
Infant Aquatics® teaches your baby or toddler how to self-rescue and survive if they ever find themselves in the water alone. Our proven roll-over breathing technique — rarely taught in traditional swim programs — takes time, skill, and patience to master. Once children learn to roll onto their backs, float, relax, and breathe whenever air is needed, they gain the ability to truly swim, stay calm, and enjoy the water safely.
Reasons to Get Started
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You want your child to learn to swim and float in weeks, not years.
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Your family lives near or vacations around pools, lakes, or open water.
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You love swimming and want your child to share that joy.
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You’d rather take proactive control of your child’s safety than take chances.Your child deserves the lifetime gift of swimming safety.
What Are Swim Float Swim Lessons Like?
At Swim Shine Aquatics, each lesson is private and customized to your child’s unique needs, abilities, and comfort level. Our instructors use gentle, supportive methods to help every swimmer feel safe and confident in the water.
For infants under one year:
Lessons begin with breath control — learning to hold their breath underwater. From there, babies learn to float on their backs and then to roll from a face-down position to a face-up back float, allowing them to breathe independently.
For toddlers and walkers:
Children who can walk learn to hold their breath, swim short distances on their tummies by kicking their feet, and then roll over to float and breathe before continuing to swim again. This cycle — swim, float, swim — builds the foundation for true water safety and confidence.
Once these skills are mastered, instructors safely test the child in clothing to simulate real-life scenarios, helping prepare them for accidental falls into the water.
During the final week of lessons, parents can participate in the water, learning how to practice and maintain their child’s new skills at home — ensuring lasting success and confidence in the water.
How Are Lessons Structured?
Our lessons are designed for fast, consistent progress through focused, individualized instruction.
Children’s lessons are one-on-one, held four days a week (Tuesday through Friday), and last 15 minutes each. Depending on the program, most students complete their training in 4 to 6 weeks.
Adult lessons are also private and scheduled four days per week, lasting 30 minutes each.
Each session builds on the previous day’s skills, allowing swimmers to make steady, measurable progress every week.
How Long Does the Program Take?
Many children begin swimming independently after just a few lessons.
A complete course of private lessons typically takes about 6 weeks — both for infants and for toddlers through age six.
By the end of the program, your child will progress from being completely dependent in the water to being confident, capable, and able to save themselves if needed — all in a matter of weeks, not years.
Will my child retain what they learn?
Like any skill, swimming ability improves with regular practice and reinforcement. The more your child swims, the more they retain — and the stronger and more confident they become in the water.
After completing their private lessons, we encourage families to enroll in Refresher or Maintenance Lessons to keep skills sharp and confidence high. These sessions are offered 1–2 days per week and help children maintain progress, develop a true love of swimming, and naturally transition into stroke development as they grow.
We recommend taking two to three Refresher/Maintenance courses each year to ensure lasting results and lifelong safety in the water.
What if my child doesn't like to get their face wet?
It’s very common for young swimmers to feel hesitant about putting their faces in the water — and that’s okay!
Because comfort and breath control are essential parts of learning to swim, we gently introduce this skill on the very first day. With our calm, supportive approach, most children quickly gain confidence and realize there’s nothing to fear.
Before long, getting their face wet becomes a natural and fun part of swimming!
Why Are Your Lessons More Expensive than Others?
Actually, they’re not — especially when you consider what you’re getting.
At Swim Shine Aquatics, every lesson is completely private — just your child and the instructor in the water together. Unlike group classes with multiple students per teacher, our one-on-one approach gives your child undivided attention, customized instruction, and faster results.
In just 3–5 weeks, your child will gain life-saving survival skills and the confidence to safely enjoy the water. No other program can match the results we achieve in such a short time.
We encourage you to compare — not just prices, but outcomes and timelines. The value of a program that can teach your child to survive in weeks, not years, is truly priceless.
What Is the Parent’s Role?
Parents play an important part in their child’s success during swim lessons. We ask that you observe from a short distance away from the pool, rather than sitting poolside. This allows your child to focus fully on the instructor and build independence and trust in the water.
Please do not begin lessons unless you are fully committed to completing the entire learning process. The first few weeks are a critical adjustment period as your child adapts to a new environment, instructor, and routine. During this time, confidence may fluctuate — this is completely normal.
If lessons are stopped too soon, your child may associate the water with uncertainty instead of confidence. Our goal is to help every swimmer form a trusting relationship with their instructor — because once that trust is established, true progress and confidence follow.
We encourage parents to praise and support their child throughout the process and to remember our golden rule:
Trust the process — progress comes with time, patience, and consistency.
How Can You Teach a Baby Who Cannot Talk?
Swimming and floating are motor skills that can be taught through repetition, gentle guidance, and positive encouragement — even before your baby can speak. Our instructors demonstrate each movement, and over time, your child learns the essential skills to stay safe and survive in the water.
Rest assured, we never throw children into the water. Our goal is to make every lesson fun, engaging, and confidence-building, so your child develops a love for swimming from the very start.
Will My Child Cry During Swim Lessons?
It’s normal for some children to cry — each child adjusts differently. Crying may happen because they are in a new environment or learning a completely new skill.
Our goal is to help your child feel comfortable and happy in the water as quickly as possible. Once they gain confidence and master their new skills, tears usually disappear, replaced by joy, excitement, and a love for swimming.
Should My Child Wear A Swim Diaper?
Yes — if your child is not yet potty trained, a swim diaper is required. We recommend brands like Splash About or iPlay, which have snug waistbands and leg openings for a secure fit.
Important: Disposable diapers or regular diapers are not allowed in the pool to maintain a safe and clean swimming environment.
Food and Drink Rules
To help your child get the most out of their Infant Aquatic Survival lessons, following a few simple guidelines can make every session safer and more enjoyable:
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Avoid eating right before class. As a general rule, allow at least 2 hours after a full meal. Some foods, like dairy or fruit, may take longer to digest and could cause discomfort.
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If needed, a small snack such as breast milk, rice milk, or cereal is fine about 1 hour before class.
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It’s common for infants to cry or become upset if they accidentally swallow air while learning breath control. Your instructor will promptly burp your child and allow a short rest period until they are ready to continue.
By following these tips, your child will be more comfortable and able to focus on learning essential survival skills while enjoying their time in the water.
Timely Lessons
We value everyone’s time and appreciate your efforts to arrive 5 minutes before your child’s lesson. This helps your child settle in and ensures a smooth start.
If life happens and you arrive late, don’t worry — the lesson will continue for the remaining scheduled time so your child still receives full instruction.
Should I be worried about "Dry Drowning?"
The short answer is no. Dry drowning is extremely rare, and current research shows it is not a common risk for children who are properly supervised.
For more detailed information, you can read this helpful article by Nurse Practioner Danielle McBurnette.
What if we miss a lesson?
Consistency is key to your child’s progress, so we encourage families to attend every lesson. However, we understand that life happens.
Each five-week session includes two makeup lessons for missed classes. The only exception is if a lesson is missed due to a medical reason with a written doctor’s note.
This ensures your child can continue learning without falling behind while maintaining the integrity of the program.
Do you guarantee your lessons?
All Programs (except Sensory Swim–Adapted Swim)
We focus on the survival skills that can truly save lives. If your child is not able to swim unassisted after the initial 6-week program, we will continue lessons at no additional charge until we are confident in their ability to swim safely.
Sensory Swim–Adapted Swim
Adaptive swimming often requires individualized approaches, so specific timeframes can be unpredictable. After 6 weeks, we will evaluate your child’s progress. If additional lessons are needed to achieve survival skills, they are available at $25 per lesson. Rest assured, our commitment is to effectively meet the unique needs of each child.
Why We Recommend Private First
GROUP VS. PRIVATE
At the early stages of swimming, private lessons provide the safest and most effective environment. Group settings can be overwhelming or distracting, which may compromise both learning and safety.
As students progress through our program, we gradually increase lesson length and introduce small groups. Small group lessons allow children to develop skills that are harder to teach in private sessions, including:
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Focused attention for longer periods
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Endurance
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Confidence swimming independently
Starting private and moving to small groups ensures children build strong foundations before advancing, making learning both safe and successful.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
To ensure the best experience for your child:
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Please refrain from talking to the instructor during lessons so your child can receive full attention and remain focused.
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We’ll have 2 minutes at the end of each lesson to answer any questions you may have.
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Observe from a distance if needed — it helps your child feel independent and confident.
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Always celebrate learning success and water safety, both before and after lessons.
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Smiles and encouragement go a long way in building confidence!
Thank you for your understanding and support in making every lesson safe, fun, and effective.