Living in Florida is essential to start our little ones young when learning how to swim. Goldfish Swim School has a great infant program with songs, games and parent and me opportunities to bond as we teach our little ones.
I’ll share with you my experience and when is the right time to start with swim lessons.
- What is Goldfish Swim School?
- Where is Goldfish Swim School Located?
- Our Goldfish Swim Story
- Why I’m Starting Swimming Lessons Before His First Birthday – And You Should Too.
- My Experience taking Goldfish Swim Lessons
- What I love about Goldfish Swim School
- What to expect at a Goldfish Swim Class for Infants
- What to bring to Class
- participating in a Mommy & Me Meetup Class?
What is Goldfish Swim School?
Goldfish is a swimming facility for kids. They offer group lessons and private lessons in their heated pool. They recently opened a facility in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
Where is Goldfish Swim School Located?
9821 Pines Blvd
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
Our Goldfish Swim Story
While I knew that living in Florida was super important to teach my baby how to swim at an early age someone suggested I couldn’t do it until he was 9 months old.
So anxiously I waited.
Only to then learn that babies can start their swimming classes much younger.
I started with a private instructor at our private home pool and if you read the post when to start swimming lessons you could see that we didn’t have a very good experience then.
Later on, I partnered with Goldfish to do a social campaign for where I could take my son to lessons at Goldfish Swim School and share my experience.
We participated in the Mini 1 class
Mini 14-15 Months |Adult Participation Required | 6 child limit per class | 30-minute classes
Little did I know, Manu had the best time of his life in class. What a different experience than they screeching crying from before.
I honestly hold tears of joy inside. Ok fine, I cried a little.
But for me this was huge! I needed him to be comfortable AND safe around water.
I was hooked! I was in love with the program. I became an advocate and even after my contract was over, I still recommend their facilities and host events there.
I created a huge Halloween Party! It was so much fun!
Why I’m Starting Swimming Lessons Before His First Birthday – And You Should Too.
Ever since I learned we were pregnant, I knew that our baby will receive swimming lessons early In life. What I didn’t know – and learned later – was that you can start them really young. You can even do water activities before their first vaccine!
“Every day, about ten people die from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries”
CDC Report on Unintentional Drowning
We live in Florida, therefore we are always around water. We love the water so much we even have a boat! because our definition of fun usually means boat+water.
Our weekends are constantly enjoying the Florida weather and it’s beaches so for me water safety is a #1 priority.
I asked a friend who is a swim instructor when was the right age to start Manny in swim lessons, she suggested that we could start at 6 months. Now I learned, that you can actually introduce them to the water before 6 months. While they are not learning actual swimming skills so young they can still enjoy the water, work on sensory development, and just get comfortable in the water. Water play is even a great exercise for them. They will even enjoy a long nap after that. You are welcome!
You might say that I am exaggerating by putting Manny in swim classes before his first birthday, but I don’t think I am. I think the younger they learn how to be safe in the water the better. Swim lessons allow them to enjoy the water in a safe manner.
Am I expecting him to swim by his first birthday with these swimming lessons? Absolutely not. Am I expecting for him to be one of those babies that flip to their back on their own and swim to the surface? I don’t know much about this technique or the research behind its effectiveness in child safety. I’m open to this method if it will make him be safer or other methods of water safety techniques.
What am I expecting? I’m expecting to have the peace of mind that I am giving my son valuable tools for him to learn how to have fun and enjoy the water in a safe manner.
At 9 months, Manny took 5 swimming lessons with a private instructor.
During those swim lessons Manny has learned:
- How not to reach in into the water. A danger he could lose balance trying to reach out for a toy and fall.
- How to sit, STOP, and then roll to his belly and back into the pool.
- He started understanding the concept of playing in the stairs and the concept to kick while being supported to reach a toy.
- He started to learn and trust to float on his back – although he still needs a lot of work with this. He still gets very scared.
Manny might have a long way to go, and repeating the same exercises over and over again might be boring to me, but I understand the importance of this repetition for him to get comfortable with the concepts.
If you choose the right class setting, your kids will take these classes as a fun activity vs. a torture event. Manny cried for three classes and I quickly realized that he needs me inside the water with him along with the instructor. He is still very little to be with just the instructor.
When to start swimming lessons? my answer would be as soon as they get out of the womb!
The sooner they start getting comfortable with the water the better. From playing in the steps to learning how to get in and out of the pool in a safe manner, diving and swimming are a skill that they deserve to have. Kids deserve to have fun when playing in the pool, and parents deserve the peace of mind that their kid has learned a few techniques and water safety rules to follow to do this safely.
We are looking forward to starting swim lessons through a new partnership at the new Goldfish Swim School facility that recently opened in Pembroke Pines. #Goldfishpartner
My Experience taking Goldfish Swim Lessons
Manu was about 9.5 months when we started, and just after four lessons, he was able to climb out on his own.
I was beyond impressed – again- because of my previous traumatizing experience with a teacher that was good with older kids but not infants.
The staff is always friendly, Miss Emma used to carry Manuel while I would get out and get ready to change. She sang to him, and her passion to teach was always showing. It felt like family and I loved her classes.
Related readings: Why I’m starting swimming lessons before his first birthday
As a forgetful mom, I have left many things at home when it came to getting ready after class. The worse was the day I forgot Manu’s diapers.
We live 20 minutes away, how was I supposed to take him home without a diaper?? thankfully, they have a box behind the counter for moms like me that forget the essentials.
What I love about Goldfish Swim School
I love their 90 degrees heated pool – I hate cold water.
I love their colorful, welcoming facilities and staff.
I love the games, songs, and activities that are embedded in the lessons. It is really well thought out and engaged the little ones through play.
I loved it so much I approached the manager to host a Mommy & Me Swim class so other moms could experience the fun class program they offer.
We had over 25 moms signed up! we had 6 instructors and the whole pool to ourselves! it was the beginning of something great. You see, it was my first local event and the beginning of something great.
I had no idea moms wanted more, more classes, more events. more meetups, and from this, The Ultimate Mom Tribe was born.
What to expect at a Goldfish Swim Class for Infants
You would expect to get in the pool and meet some other cool mommies.
You should expect to have to put your baby under the water (just a little) and you can expect it not to be a big deal.. its a great feeling – honestly!
You should expect to have to purchase and use a reusable swim diaper.
You can expect to end up loving such iplay swim diaper and will probably never use a disposable diaper again.
Family swims at Goldfish are great because:
– You can teach your child about water safety & introduce him or her to the water
– You can tour the facility with no long term commitment
– You can relax in their 90 degree pool while your swimmer shows you his or her skills
– Your child will feel more comfortable with you in the water
– You can determine if your child would benefit from their swimming lessons
and if that’s not enough, spending time in the pool together is a great way to get energy out with the security of lifeguards.
Call the #PembrokePines facility at (954)998-0630 and sign up to the next Family Swim!
What to bring to Class
a reusable swim diaper
The iPlay reusable swim diaper is a swim diaper for your little one and your little one must wear it when entering the pool.
It replaces the disposable diapers you regularly use when going to the pool. It holds everything in case of any accidents.
I can testify this to be true.. as I got my proof at a cruise ship last year. It really holds it inside !
If you attend a Mommy & Me Swim class with me, you get to choose one (they have super cute prints) and you get to keep it and use it over and over again!
So I hope this gives you a bit of information about the facility and what to expect in class. I hope you can meet us at one of the Mommy & Me Swim Events and join us at our local Facebook group The Ultimate Mom Tribe where we share tons of events, activities, and meetups for babies (0-3).
participating in a Mommy & Me Meetup Class?
Although you can go and ask for a trial at any point, it is better when you do it with friends. So from time to time, I host a Mommy & Me Swim Class at Goldfish for Moni 1 and Mini 2. Where we get to experience the class with our mommy friends and then hang out after to bond and meet other mamas. I usually buy donuts from across the street 🙂
If you like their style of teaching you can request a free trial lesson at one of their regular class schedules.
BOOK YOUR SPOT AT OUR NEXT MOMMY & ME EVENT
**** NO CLASS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED *** join us at our local Facebook group The Ultimate Mom Tribe where we share tons of events, activities, and meetups for babies (0-3) to stay tuned for our next event.