Frequently Asked Questions

How much do lessons cost?

It depends on your situation, but usually $25-60 for 30 minutes. See Pricing for more information or contact me for an exact quote.

Can my child be in group lessons?

I teach groups of up to 4, depending on skill level. Since home and neighborhood pools generally have no lifeguards, students who are not water-safe must be in individual lessons so that I can give them my full attention. I will be happy to discuss group options with you in detail, but here are my general guidelines:

Groups must be of approximately the same skill level, and I reserve the right to determine which students are close enough in level to be in effective groups. We can discuss this during initial scheduling and goals conversations.
If your child is under 12, they must be able to pass the following swim test to be in group lessons: Unassisted (this means no shouted instructions during the test also), goggles optional, jump in the pool, turn around to face the wall, swim to the wall, climb out, stand up.
If your student is over 12, mature enough to remain in water where they can stand when I am looking away, and able to stand up from a horizontal position in the water, they can be in group lessons.
The maximum number of students in a group depends on water safety level and ability to follow instructions. Students who are just barely water-safe (can pass the swim test above, but can't do much more) or who are easily distracted may only be placed in groups of 2, while students who can swim longer distances and stay focused may be placed in groups of up to 4.
See below for a flowchart displaying these policies.

What payment methods do you accept?

I prefer Venmo, but also accept Zelle, cash, and check.

What should I bring to lessons?

All you need to bring is yourself and a swimsuit! I will provide everything else, including goggles if you need them. Bringing your own goggles and swimcap is optional. Bringing your own toys is fine, but please limit this to no more than one toys that sinks in the water and doesn't to anything too distracting, such as making noises or transforming.

Which goggles should I buy/bring?

GOGGLES: Many students choose to bring their own goggles. If you are buying new goggles for lessons, please get the Speedo Hydrospex Junior for kids. It's cheap and available at many swim and sporting goods stores, both online and in-store. These are the goggles I provide at lessons, so if your kid has been using my goggles they should be used to Hydrospex Jrs. The reason I request this is because many cute kid's goggles sold at the front of Target, Costco, etc. leak or fog up quickly, and if your child is stopping every thirty seconds to clear their goggles, you are not getting your money's worth out of lessons. If you already own goggles that you know your kid can wear for 5+ minutes without stopping to clean them, feel free to bring them.

For teenage or adult swimmers, I recommend buying goggles from a swim sport brand such as Speedo or TYR. I am happy to provide more specific recommendations upon request, but I've had fewer issues with adult-sized goggles, so you can buy what you want.

Are goggles required?

No! I provide goggles, but if your child really doesn't want to wear them and can do everything in the lesson without them, I won't force them to wear goggles. A good litmus test for this is, if a student can get a sinking toy from all the way underwater without goggles, they'll probably be fine.

If your child dislikes goggles and water in their eyes, I will work to minimize goggle-wearing for activities where they're not strictly necessary, and slowly work up to longer times with goggles on so that they get used to the feeling. This is a common situation!

Can you do a different lesson duration or arrangement for my specific student or group of students?

Probably! Let me know your situation and what you want, and we can work something out. Usually for kids 7 and under, 30 minutes is about the limit of how long they can focus and learn new things, but for kids older than 7, and especially for teens and adults, longer lessons may be beneficial. I generally scale the price up from the 30 minute price.

Can I do multiple lessons per week?

This depends on my availability, but generally yes, especially if you plan to be in lessons for a month or less. Let's chat about it!

I want to practice outside of lessons. What should I practice?

That's awesome! Let me know, and I'll give you homework at the end of the lesson and text you a list of things to practice. I may recommend against practicing certain new skills without my supervision, until the student has a better grasp of the skill and I am more confident they can practice it without reinforcing bad habits.

My ears/my child's ears hurt or are clogged after getting in the water, what can I do?

You can get swimmer's eardrops at a pharmacy, or make a 1:1 mixture of rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. After swimming, drip 3-5 drops (or whatever the packaging instructs) into the affected ear. Tilt your head so that the drops get deep in the ear, wait 5 seconds, then tilt the other way and hold up a towel so that the drops drip out. Allow the alcohol to evaporate on its own. If the earache is extreme enough to interfere with daily activities, or doesn't go away, it may be an ear infection. See a doctor and do what the doctor says.

My child has a medical condition, neurodivergence, etc., and I'm worried that it will make swim lessons challenging for them. What should I do?

Let me know! Tell me what you're concerned about, any accommodations that have helped your child in the past that may be relevant, and anything else you think may be relevant so that I can work with you and your child to make a lesson plan that works for them. Examples of lesson accomodations include: Sticker charts for completing tasks, stretches before lessons, and replacing or reducing certain activities. The same goes if you are an adult with similar concerns about swim lessons - we can work together to come up with a lesson plan that works for you!

My student is really scared of lessons/putting their face underwater/swimming unassisted, should I be worried?

No worries, that's normal and I have lesson plans for that! Just let me know in your initial messages to me and I'll plan for it.

Why is your website doing that?

I made this website myself, and I am not a web developer, so it may have some quirks! If something's broken, feel free to email me at eleanor.crotty@gmail.com and I'll try to fix it. Site Credits

Flowchart visually representing the information from the group lessons FAQ