How do I know what level to put my child in?
If you are unsure about what level your child should
be in, an Aquatic Center staff member will be available to help. We
will ask some basic information about your child’s swimming ability and
place them in what we feel is the appropriate level. We always encourage
parents, when they are in doubt, to sign up for the lower level. We
would much rather graduate a child into the next level, than move them
back to a lower level.
If you have any further questions or concerns about what level to
register your child in, please email michael.ross@mymanatee.org or call (941) 742-5923, ext. 6021.
Do I have to pay for the whole summer of sessions or can I pay as I go?
This is a personal preference; some parents will
place their child in lessons the whole summer and pay for all sessions
up front. Other parents will wait and pay for sessions as they go
along. Please keep in mind that we keep a ratio of 5 students to 1
instructor. So there is a chance that a class may be full when you go to
sign up.
What if my child misses a class because we are going on a trip or vacation over one of the scheduled days?
If your child misses a class and that class was not cancelled by the Aquatics department, then you are not eligible for a make up. We understand that children do occasionally miss classes for personal reasons; we try to repeat skills across multiple classes to account for these occurrences, but do not offer make-ups for personal missed classes.
Do I need to be in the water with my child?
No. The only level we need a parent or guardian in
the water with the child is in the parent-child class. Seating is
available around the pool deck to observe the lesson. We ask that
parents keep their distance so that not to distract their child during
the lesson.
What supplies does my child need for classes?
Your child just needs to be prepared with a swimsuit, Goggles (no snorkel masks), and a towel.
My three year old child can swim like a fish, can I put them in a higher level than preschool?
We will assess these kinds of swimmers on a case by case bases.
Do I need to bring my child to their lesson if it is raining at my house?
Yes. Florida’s weather is often unpredictable and it
could be raining in one part of town and bright and sunny just down the
road. Many times these summer storms move
in and out very quickly. We ask that each child show up at every
scheduled lesson. If the pool is closed for unsafe weather, we will call you to cancel the lesson and offer a make up date or try to conduct outdoor exercise and education classes. If
any future weather cancellations happen beyond the makeup date, those classes may be made up, but no further make-up is guaranteed ( this includes if the make up date is cancelled).
Does my child stay in the same level for the whole session? What level do I Put them in if I sign up for another session?
A child may stay in a level for a whole session or
they may move up to a different level. Each level has advancement goals
and when a child reaches those goals they are able to move up to the
next level, even in the middle of a session. Encourage your child with
praise and recognition for all of their swimming accomplishments, even
if they don’t move up to the next level as quickly as you had hoped. When you sign up for a new session, whatever level your child was in
last is the level they will be put in.
How can I get more information regarding swim lessons?
For more information, contact Michael Ross at (941) 792-5923 ext. 6021 or email michael.ross@mymanatee.org