Pioneer
• 3-5 yrs • 30 minutes • Parents or caregivers are not allowed in the water with child. For most - it's the first time a child enters a pool without a parent so we begin by making your child feel comfortable. This may look like simply focusing on getting the face and hair wet at first, which can be scary for some. Then progressing through supported floats, bobs, kick board use, jumping in the water from side of pool, and eventually swimming 3 yards with no assistance under water. Last five minutes of class is fun time and games. POPULAR QUESTIONS: Can I sit on the pool deck and watch my child’s swim lesson? Junior Swim School is one of Arlington Heights Park District’s many “without parent” classes we offer for 3-5 year olds. Such as our ballet and gymnastics classes for this same age. These classes are intended to separate the child and parent so the teaching environment has less interruptions and improved focus to achieve better learning for all participants. If you are looking to be within arm’s reach or close enough to talk with your child during each swim lesson, please consider purchasing a Water Babies Punch Card. Parents can be in the water with their child in a Water Babies class, unlike Junior Swim School. Less interruptions and distractions from parents will allow teachers to have a more productive 30-minute lesson for everyone in their group. Help us help your child. Less interruptions. Improved focus. Better learning. My child would like specifically either a boy or girl instructor or I want a specific instructor. We recommend considering “Pop-up” Private Swim Lessons which give you the option to hand select your child’s teacher. It is not possible to select a specific instructor for group lessons. Who is teaching my child? Almost all of our instructors are currently high school or college students. Their energy is through the roof and they love their jobs and working with kids. Many are high school and college swimmers and quite a few are interested in a career specializing in early childhood and/or teaching. We aim for our swimming lesson program to be a highlight of your child’s summer! That is only possible because of our young staff. For many, this is their first job and they are eager to succeed. Can my child wear goggles? In Junior Swim School we recommend no goggles. Becoming dependent on goggles will not help your child adapt and feel comfortable in water as they grow older. Opening eyes underwater is a skill in Junior Swim School. Goggles are also not allowed on our diving boards or slides. We want your child’s first experience going off the diving board to be positive and feel familiar underwater. Often times the child who panics after going of the diving board for the first time has never felt the sensation of being underwater with no goggles. Swimming Lesson Code of Conduct – please read to make sure our program is the right fit for your family. To participate in group swimming lessons your child needs to be able to stay with their group and follow directions from all aquatic staff (instructors and lifeguards). When our swim lesson instructors are working on a skill with a child – the instructor can be up to 15 yards away from the other children in the group. Our beginner swimmers who cannot swim without assistance need to have the muscle tone and strength to do the following when it is not their turn with their instructor: 1. Sit on the ledge of the pool 2. Stand on the in-water riser if they are being used 3. Stay put, above water, in their spot in our “zero-depth”, in-water bench area, or stairs that lead into the pool. When a child moves from their spot and either jumps or slips underwater, we have lifeguards on duty; however, lifeguards are scanning a zone of protection, and have 30 seconds to respond to a swimmer who is underwater or in distress. When a child walks or swims away from the group, this puts every child in the group in danger. When an instructor has to take extra time to retrieve the child who has swam away, it also takes class instruction time away from everyone. If your child does not have the strength or muscle tone to stay above water when it is not their turn, is requiring excessive one-on-one attention from the instructor, or is disruptive to the other children, we will offer you a prorated refund and remove your child from the class. We will discuss other options for swim lessons to keep your child swimming safely. We do take water safety very serious and we appreciate that these policies we have in place for in-water instruction are very well received by the majority of parents. If you are unsure about your child’s ability to stay above water when it is not their turn, we do offer one-on-one private swim lesson instruction and/or coaching – with no other children in your child’s session. The last day to request a refund for this class is July 20.
