Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ section is a go-to resource for all your queries about our swim lessons and services. It covers a wide range of topics to help you understand our processes, policies, and what to expect from our lessons. Whether you’re new to our programs or a returning client, this section aims to clarify your doubts and provide you with the necessary information for a seamless swimming experience.
When an infant reaches the crawling stage, they can begin to learn the survival float and rollback to float techniques. If they have not yet reached this sensory-motor milestone in their development, they may not possess the necessary muscle strength and motor coordination required to perform these essential aquatic survival skills.
- At Swim Synergy, we specialize in teaching infants essential water survival skills, including breath control, unassisted floats, and the ability to roll back to a float position from a face-down position in the water. By the end of their session, infants can confidently perform these self-rescue skills, even while wearing diapers, clothes, and shoes.
- Our program extends to older children as well, who learn crucial skills such as breath control, swim-float-swim techniques to reach safety, and the ability to self-rescue from a deep pool without a ladder. Additionally, older students master the skills of jumping or falling into the water and transitioning into a float. For those with more advanced abilities, we teach diving and the capacity to return to a survival float at the water’s surface.
- By the conclusion of their lessons, students of all ages can showcase their proficiency, even when fully clothed and wearing shoes, demonstrating their readiness to handle aquatic situations with confidence.
At Swim Synergy, we understand that aquatic skills are intricately linked to our body’s sensory-motor abilities, which are honed through the development of muscle memory. To truly master these skills, repetition and consistency are paramount. That’s why we advocate for daily immersion in the water, with lessons scheduled four days a week. This regular practice not only enhances skill acquisition but also ensures that these vital aquatic abilities become second nature to the student’s muscular system.
While our program aims to instill crucial aquatic survival skills in children, it’s important to note that water safety is an ongoing process. At the end of the 10 weeks, your child will have acquired essential skills, but continued practice and vigilance around water are essential for long-term safety. To aide in this process, we offer refresher lessons on Saturdays for students to continue practicing their skills.
This program complements but does not replace the need for continuous supervision in and around the water. Even the most skilled swimmer can become a drowning victim if loss of consciousness occurs before a fall into the water.
While our program shares some similarities with ISR in terms of teaching essential aquatic survival skills, Swim Synergy has its own unique, gentle approach. We believe the process of learning to swim should be happy and child centered.
We recommend annual refresher lessons to maintain and reinforce your child’s skills, especially after extended periods without swim lessons. Consistent practice helps ensure your child’s continued proficiency and safety. As a child practices more, their muscle memory strengthens, enabling faster and more automatic responses during aquatic emergencies.
No, you are not too old to learn how to swim. It’s a common misconception that swimming is only for children or younger individuals. In reality, people of all ages can learn how to swim and enjoy the many benefits it offers. Remember that age is not a barrier to learning how to swim. With the right mindset, instruction, and practice, you can become a confident and capable swimmer at any stage of your life.
At Swim Synergy, adults benefit from exclusive one-on-one customized instruction in tranquil, outdoor, heated pools. In this serene setting, it’s just the instructor and the student in the water, fostering a secure and distraction-free environment for effective learning. Our approach goes beyond just teaching skills; we prioritize addressing any fears or reservations the student may have about the water. Instructors take a psychological approach to instruction, beginning by addressing mental barriers. Through a series of exercises at the steps, we help students understand the physics of how their bodies interact with water.
By dispelling their fears regarding water’s effects on their bodies, we empower our students. We teach them how to harness the water’s properties to navigate aquatic environments confidently.
To schedule your lessons, it’s important to have a direct conversation with one of our instructors or team members. This ensures we tailor the lesson times to perfectly fit your family’s unique requirements. We take into account several factors to determine the most suitable schedule for you – including your preferred start date, instructor availability, your child’s meal and nap routines, your own work commitments, and the specific goals you have for the swim lessons. This personalized approach helps us provide the best possible learning experience.
Swim Synergy recognizes the importance of addressing the unique needs and concerns of children who may be afraid of the water or strangers. Our approach to swim lessons for such children is centered on creating a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment that gradually builds their confidence and comfort in the water. We believe in building a rapport with every student and earning their trust to ensure a happy and effective swim lessons.
Research indicates that a child’s capacity to learn and retain new information peaks within the initial 10 minutes of exposure, with an impressive retention rate of 98%. However, this retention rate declines significantly with each passing minute. Therefore, at Swim Synergy, we seize this critical timeframe when a child is in the water, urging them to give their best effort and fully engage in the learning process. Our lesson duration is carefully structured to align with this cognitive phenomenon, ensuring both a safe and highly effective learning experience.
It’s also important to take into account the attention span of infants and toddlers can vary widely based on individual differences, age, and developmental stages. However, in general, their attention spans tend to be relatively short:
- Infants: Infants typically have very short attention spans, often measured in seconds to minutes. They are easily distracted and may shift their focus quickly from one stimulus to another.
- Toddlers: Toddlers generally have longer attention spans compared to infants but still relatively short when compared to older children and adults. A toddler’s attention span can range from a few minutes to around 5-10 minutes on average.
It’s important to keep swim lessons short and effective for infants and toddlers for several reasons:
- Engagement: Young children are more likely to stay engaged and focused when activities are brief and varied. Long and monotonous lessons can lead to boredom and reduced attention.
- Retainment: As mentioned earlier, research suggests that initial engagement is crucial for learning and retention of new information or skills. Short, focused lessons can maximize the retention of key concepts or swim skills.
- Safety: Young children may become fatigued or less alert during extended lessons, which could compromise their safety in the water. Keeping lessons short ensures that children are more attentive and responsive to safety instructions.
- Age-Appropriate: Short lessons are developmentally appropriate for infants and toddlers, aligning with their limited attention spans and energy levels.
By designing swim lessons that are age-appropriate and tailored to the attention spans of infants and children, instructors can create a more effective and engaging learning environment for young learners. We prioritize achieving excellent results through efficient time utilization, rather than settling for mediocre outcomes through prolonged efforts.
At Swim Synergy, our sessions span a duration of 10 weeks, reflecting our firm commitment to guiding your child’s journey to aquatic proficiency from start to finish. We recognize that the acquisition of vital aquatic survival skills is not a swift endeavor; it hinges on repetition and consistent reinforcement. If this level of commitment aligns with your schedule and goals, we welcome you to join our program. However, if the timeframe poses a challenge, we recommend considering different session dates when your schedule allows for this learning process.
Every child is unique, and their progress may vary; however, all children have the capacity to learn these skills and we are committed to their success.
What can impact their abilities and progress are things like: attendance, attitude, weekend interference, the use of floatation devices during swim lessons and negative reinforcement
Parents are not required or advised to enter the water during their child’s lesson. Our experienced instructors provide one-on-one instruction to ensure your child’s safety and learning experience. We provide parent and child lessons on Saturdays, where our instructors guide parents in supporting their child’s water activities over the weekend. These sessions help parents understand the right way to reinforce the skills their children have learned and boost their confidence in swimming.
Swim Synergy believes that one-on-one swim instruction is more effective compared to group swim lessons for several reasons:
- Individualized Attention: In one-on-one lessons, the instructor can focus solely on the needs and progress of a single student. This personalized attention allows for a customized approach, addressing the unique strengths and areas of improvement of each swimmer.
- Faster Progress: With undivided attention from the instructor, students tend to progress more quickly in one-on-one lessons. In contrast, group lessons may require more time to cater to the needs of multiple participants, potentially slowing down individual progress.
- Safety: Water safety is a top priority, especially when teaching infants and young children. One-on-one instruction ensures that the instructor can closely monitor and provide immediate assistance to the student, enhancing safety during lessons.
- Customization: Swim Synergy can tailor lessons to match the specific goals and comfort levels of each student. This flexibility allows for a more effective learning experience, ensuring that the student gains confidence and proficiency at their own pace.
- Reduced Distractions: Group lessons can sometimes be distracting due to the presence of multiple participants. In a one-on-one setting, the focus remains solely on the student, minimizing distractions and enhancing concentration.
- Emotional Comfort: Some students may feel more comfortable and secure when they have the undivided attention of an instructor. This emotional comfort can lead to better engagement and a more positive learning experience.
- Flexibility: One-on-one lessons can be scheduled at times that work best for the student and their family, offering greater flexibility compared to fixed group lesson schedules.
Furthermore, Swim Synergy believes that progress in group swim lessons is painstakingly slow by design to have you return month after month, year after year, with little to no progress. We are dedicated to the swift acquisition of aquatic survival skills, recognizing that every second counts when an unskilled child encounters water. Our commitment to one-on-one instruction is driven by the urgency of imparting these critical skills efficiently and effectively.
Adult swim lessons are held two days a week on alternating days (Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday), for 30 minutes each, for 10 weeks or more, based on your goals.
Swim lessons canceled by Swim Synergy due to a holiday, inclement weather, pool heat malfunction, or instructor illness, will be made up Friday of that week at your regularly scheduled lesson time.
Swim lessons missed by the student are not subject to proration, credit, or makeup. Your payment covers your reserved time slot, regardless of the number of classes you attend. We prioritize each student’s success and encourage you to inquire about additional lessons to help a student get catch up and prepare for testing.
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