Availability updates will show across the top of each page of our services. In general, through May and into June, there is usually good instructor availability. By the end of June, we’re 90% full, but if you have more open times/days we can usually serve you. August onward have good openings, as early season clients finish with their happy swimmers!
Some of our instructors DO have their own home pool available for lessons. If this is the case, it will be noted prominently in the instructors bio, in red bold type.
When you enroll, put this need noted in “Parents Notes to our Office” field on the enrollment form, and request the instructor with a pool available. Only about 10% of staff have a pool of their own to offer. 90% of our lessons are at client provided pools. We also suggest asking a friend to host, or using your HOA pool, or with permission a public pool. We are insured to teach anywhere.
We match the days and times you’ve requested, and your child’s age and ability to the instructor with the best experience for your child’s age group. Our instructors have a minimum of 3 years swim lesson teaching experience and child development backgrounds; head back to our home page and select “Swim Instructors” tab to see their pictures and bios.
Once you’re assigned an instructor, you have them for the season. With this in mind, it’s best to start earlier in the season, rather than later. Then in August, there are more openings. If you want to change instructors, you can do so at any time.
First, as you’re enrolling, check our local metro page for your region and see if there looks like we have staff near you. Upon enrollment, if our manager feels we can’t serve your need, she will inform you within a couple days of your enrolling if there is no instructor available. Absent that notification, your instructor will be assignedand call youapproximately 7-10 days prior to your listed start date. They will call to answer any questions and get specific notes for coming to your home. Please take down their phone number, so you can call them direct for any changes in plans.
Short answer, no, we don’t allow trial lessons. For the sake of scheduling our instructors to come to your home we do not to trial lessons. It’s very challenging to block out time and accept clients on a one lesson basis. However, if you’re not pleased or things don’t work out, for any reason, we refund you whatever was unused of your prepayment. This is very rare, happening with less than 5% of our love-bug children.
We feel the best learning takes place when lessons are three times a week, however twice a week can also work. Once a week is just too infrequent as children forget too much in between lessons. The younger the age of the child, the more lessons per week is better. Yet, if a child is a bit older (3+) and is in the pool at his home in between lessons, twice a week is ok.
Programs doing daily lessons for two weeks straight can be extremely costly, whereas if you work with the child yourself on what he or she’s learning in between lessons, you will be fine in many cases with twice a week lessons. However, if a child is near-swimming, and doesn’t have his own pool, daily intensives for two weeks work very well.
The most noticeable difference between HappySwimmers and other programs is the staff. Their experience is the highest of any local programs: 13 years is our average! And you keep the same instructor all season, which builds trust.
Trust between student and teacher is the “hidden” key and we constantly build on it.
Our teachers tell their students squarely eye to eye: “I will never let go of you in the pool until you tell me it’s ok.” (No suprises, no dunking or forcing.) Soul to soul, a bond is formed. Each lesson we go just outside the child’s comfort zone, with beautiful encouragement. That’s our path to swimming (and you save thousands of dollars in adult therapy bills later because a child wasn’t traumatized in swimming.)
It says on the home page andacross our site: “Loving Swim Lessons at Home.” How many companies anywhere state being loving and kindas their teachers’pathway to success? We hope more will. Thanks for coming to Happy Swimmers!
This is always the million dollar question, and anyone who answers that definitively without being in the water with your child, is either a rookie, or trying too hard to get your money.
Each child progresses differently, as stated above in the teaching tips article. We tell the parents to look for good progress. You know where your child began, and you see where they’re at. Withgood progress happening, keep supporting that progress. Commonly though, non-fearful four year olds and up in private lessons can pick up basic swimming in half a dozen lessons and be strong swimmers in a dozen or so lessons.
Your instructor can give you a truly informed perspective after the first few lessons. It could be a just 2-4 lessons for adults, a month or two of lessons for children, or into next Summer for toddlers. Support the progress, not a fixed date, and watch things come to pass with smiling faces in the water–not stress.
Yes, we do adult lessons. I suggest 40 min lesson length for adults. With adults, it’s usually 80% overcoming fear of water/deep end, and 20% mechanical. We understand this, compassionately, and will be there for you, with no surprises.
Adults don’t usually need as many swim lessons to learn once the fear dissolves. How many lessons? Start out with 4-6, and take it from there.
Yes. If you are starting lessons in August or later, our 4 lesson prepayment is dropped. We have clients on a case by case basis continue into November sometimes. Try us in the Winter too. As long as the pool is heated warm, and the outside temperature is pleasant, we’re happy to serve you.
Testimonials
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Hi Peggy,
Yumi and Jere were wonderful lifeguards when they guarded our end of year pool party on Wednesday June 11 from 11-2. They were in touch with me, were on time and prepared, and were very responsible and knowledgeable. I was so happy to be able to put two adults in charge of our fourth grade class party.
Based on my experience with Yumi Temple and her cohort Jere, I would highly recommend Happy Swimmers.
Thank you for a wonderful experience. So happy we used your business.
Hi Jenn.. wow today was really scary. I had to use my first aid skills on my mom! We work at the same preschool & she had an allergic reaction & went into shock! I did everything I remembered until the paramedics came.. I really can’t thank you enough for teaching me everything I needed to know!
Everything about my experience with Happy Swimmers has been amazing! From the scheduling to the fantastic teacher they sent for my 5 and 6 year old. The instructor, Emma, had to contend with 2 very different personalities along with 2 different levels of swimming experience. She was more than equipped to deal with that and gave each child unparalleled support, encouragement and instruction. I highly recommend this service to all parents that want to give their child a great experience in being water safe!
We have three kids ages 7, 4, and 2 & 1/2. This was our second year having Happy Swimmers, with instructor Trisha Commons, come teach our kids (the two oldest) to swim. I tried another company the year before I tried Happy Swimmers and although the kids learned swim safety, they were bored and did not learn how to enjoy the pool. Trisha got our son, who did not really like swimming, having fun and by the end of last year could swim the entire length of the pool on his own.
Trisha is great with the kids and is flexible in her teaching style to work with different personalities. She is able to get the kids confident in their abilities and teaches them how to swim, but also teaches them how to have fun! I will definitely be asking Happy Swimmers and Trisha to teach the kids again next year.
I have a toddler and a pool and wanted to make sure my son learned water safety. After taking some group classes last summer, I knew I wanted more one-on-one attention at our home. This summer I reviewed several in-home companies and was impressed with Happy Swimmers approach of water safety.
Trish worked with my stubborn 2-yr old 2-3 times a week. Within the first lesson he knew how to climb out of the pool and to ask permission before getting in. Although our goal was to get him water comfortable more than “swimming”, he indeed learned to swim within a few weeks. We extended our lessons and really appreciated Trish’s approach. We will sign up again next summer. Many of our friends with children happened to be present on several lessons and I expect they will also sign up next summer as well.
Hired a happy swimmers for private life guard for a party for over 200 people at my house. The lifeguard was great. She called to confirm before, came on time, and stayed later then we originally signed up because the party went over. She also showed up on time despite there being a black out that because of storms the day before. I highly recommend Happy Swimmers.
