Can anyone please recommend a reputable place for swim lessons for my 3 year old daughter who is apprehensive with water... she always has been a little fearful even of bath time since she was a newborn! Also want to be able to offer my 9month old some sort of intro to the water as well....
I am looking in the Ridgewood area, willing to drive about 20 minutes or so, but really am trying to find an alternative to the Ridgewood YMCA. They were just HORRIBLE to my 10 year old stepdaughter last summer and her experience with them for summer camp has probably scarred her for life (so much so that she is unwilling to go to any summer camp program this year). They were so mean and uncaring to her I can't imagine sending my 3 year old there.
There must be some other places that offer learn-to-swim programs but every time I search online I only come up with the Ridgewood Y... any advice is absolutely appreciated!!
thank you
Thank you for all the wonderful responses! I called Elite in Hawthorne today and am going to take my 3yo there tonight for a visit and "tour" (and to sign up)... they have a program starting this week where she can go for lessons 2x per week!! excellent. I hope she really enjoys it and learns to love to swim! I thought this would be a good time since she is really into mermaids :) I am really thankful for the other advice too and will look into each for long term learning!
To answer your question Dawn - about the dreadful Ridgewood YMCA experience.... Last summer my stepdaughter went daily for summer camp and swim lessons. She worked really hard on her swimming (she is a beginner) but her goal was to make it from "guppies" Level to "Minnow" Level during the program. On her last day of the camp she was scheduled to be "tested" but the person in charge of that was out that day - so she wasn't tested, nor did they give her the certificate that was promised stating the level she was in (most of the other kids got one, but they "forgot" hers)... she was disappointed that they wouldnt test her skill level and one of the workers/camp counselors told her that they "didn't think she would make it anyway because she really wasn't a good swimmer" I picked her up that afternoon and she was sitting by herself CRYING in the corner of the gym. I am getting choked up just writing about it. When I complained to the administration they did not do anything, and offered no apologies. THis crushed this little girl's spirit and her self esteem hit an all time low. This happened in July and she would not get back in the water the rest of the summer. Their attitude completely goes against everything YMCA is supposed to stand for...
Hi C....just thought you'd like to know that Elite Gymnastics in Hawthorne, NJ has swimming lessons available. I took my son there when he was younger. The pool I believe is only 4 ft.deep at the deep end. There are only about 10 kids at a time w/ 2 instructors and you can watch from upstairs through a window. (parents are not allowed in pool area) only bad think about the place is it smells like chlorine and feet....
I've been going to the RUTHERFORD YMCA swimming program for the last 2 yrs for my 4 1/2 yr old now.
You'll want the "PIKES" class for kids who are just getting used to being in a pool, it's really simple stuff to get her used to being in the pool and learning about "pool safety" as well.
The # is ###-###-#### OR www.YMCAinfo.org
May I ask what went terribly wrong w/ your 10 yr old daughter in Ridegwood? I'm just curious, and also am always looking out for my own daughter (if it happens to be a problem / issue that we should avoid ourselves...).
Goodluck!
I'm guessing you mean Ridgewood, NJ.
The Y in Hackensack gives swim lessons - we tried with my then 5 year old son but they were too laid back and didn't really get him in the water - he wasn't used to pools that had no walk in access (it's a 3 foot deep pool at the shallow end). I've also heard there are swim lessons at Blue Water Divers on Rt 17 in Lodi/Rochelle Park.
Are there lessons at the Ridgewood Pool?
Hi C., maybe I may be considered a little old school with this advice, but, if your child is afraid of the water don't force her to take swimming lessons. She is only 3 so she shouldn't be near water without an adult anyway. As she matures and plays with friends in shallow water at the pool or at the beach (with an adult present of course) she may naturally outgrow her fear of the water. Then, you can offer her the choice of taking swimming lessons. Give her some time. I learned to swimm as an adult and am none the worse for it. Good luck!
The Y in Wyckoff offers swim lessons. I have no experience with the lessons, but when my son was there for summer camp they did an awesome job overall and especially at getting him accustomed to the water to the point where he is now so fearless I really have to watch him. They go swimming with the kids in the lake every day during camp.
Try Elite Gynmastics in Hawthorne. They have a kid friendly pool, are always very encouraging to the children to try new skills, but never forceful.
Elite gym has excellent swim classes for all ages in nicr heated pool. With or without mommy. Its in hawthorne!
And young world is a swim camp on wyckoff ave.
Check this one, I am very happy with this class, Hope you like it.
Elite Gymnastics Incorporated
###-###-####
80 5th Ave, Hawthorne, NJ 07506
elitegymnasticsinfo.com
I've heard good things about the Y in Nyack, although that's a little hike for you. There's also a woman in our community here in Chestnut Ridge who gives very loving, mellow swim lessons at her home pool. Her name is Rebecca Rain Cohen, she has two daughters herself (3 & 5), and her phone number is ###-###-####. I'm sure she'd be able to help!
Just an aside, my husband directs a Summer camp called The Nature Place Day Camp here in Chestnut Ridge and they have a swim program as part of their daily activities, and they do a wonderful job!! (I'm thinking of your stepdaughter) If you were interested in exploring it, they have a website...The NaturePlace.com...Good Luck!!--J. Bieber
