Frequently asked questions
What should we wear?
Babies and children:
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resusable swim nappy bathers, from places like Speedo, Kmart, Aussie Babies 2 kids
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disposable swim nappies
Ensure the fit is SNUG around the waist and legs in case of an accident!
Toilet trained children
If your child is definitely toilet trained, bathers are great. Still make sure the fit is SNUG around the waist and legs in case of an accident! It may have never happened before, but it can happen!
Leave sunsuits for the beach if you can, as the pool water reduces the UV protection in them. And you won't need a wetsuit!
Adults
Wear bathers, and/ or clean tshirt or shorts if you prefer. You won't need a wetsuit! our
At what age can I start my child?
Our teaching programs will cater for beginners of any age.
Although we are never too old to learn, beginning learn to swim classes earlier rather than later will ensure a better learning outcome. Healthy babies can begin swimming lessons at 3 months of age.
"How often should my child swim?
The simple answer is the more often the child swims the more they learn.
In today’s time poor society most parents choose to have lessons once a week. We will cater for and encourage lessons more often. Those parents who regularly swim with their child outside of lessons help their children learn water skills.
Whether lessons are taken once a week or more often, a consistent attendance is a vital aspect of learning success for your child.
Repeated breaks in the learning process (such as stopping for a term or two) can delay the learning time frame considerably. When the child returns to swimming it is not unusual for many weeks to be spent relearning skills that have been lost during the break, not to mention the financial cost of these lessons.
Absences due to illness are unavoidable but “make up” lessons are available and encouraged.
How long does it take to learn to swim?
Learning is an individual skill. The time taken to learn to swim is affected by age, health, attitude to water, attitude to learning, consistency of learning, ability to learn and encouragement.
Being able to swim safely and competently requires a long term, consistent approach.
There is also a vast difference between knowing how to swim and being able to swim. Being able to swim is not like being able to ride a bike. The breathing skills required to swim require regular practice to maintain ability. Otherwise the distance that can be swum competently reduces rapidly.
What about ear infections?
If you are concerned or your child gets ear infections, we recommend SwimSeal. When a few drops of SwimSeal are inserted into the ear before swimming, a naturally protective barrier containing no alcohol covers the inside of the ear.
Check with your doctor is this is fine for your ears if you have recurrent infections.
What if I'm scared to go under water?
Unfortunately some people have developed a fear of water. Our swim teachers are trained to help beginners to gently overcome these anxieties. Do not despair, with patience and persistence we will overcome your fears.
Do I need to be in the water with my child?
No.
A care giver must be in the water with their child for baby classes.
At around three years old, depending on your child’s abilities, it may no longer be necessary to accompany your child into the water.
Older children join in a group class without parents
How far should I (or my children)be able to swim to consider myself a safer swimmer?
The Royal Life Saving Society’s statistics show:
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Most drownings occur within 20m of safety
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After unexpectedly entering water, swimmers are only able to swim 10% of the distance they can comfortably cover in the pool
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Therefore the minimum distance necessary is 200m.
We recommend a minimum of 400m continuous, comfortable freestyle is necessary to be considered safer in and around water.
Does swimming put my child at greater risk of infectious disease?
Our pool is always presented in a crystal clear and clean condition.
Our pool is a private swimming school catering for far fewer swimmers than a public pool. We adhere to strict industry guidelines for cleanliness of our pool.
Swimming lessons will present similar risks of infection as your local preschool and play groups.
To avoid infecting others with the common cold, gastro and other infectious diseases keep your child home until they are well again. “Make up” lessons for missed lessons are available if the available times are convenient for you.
Also, the health and fitness benefits of swimming will give your child a greater resistance to infection.
Do not attend if anyone in your family has covid at present as you can be infectious even when asymptomatic.
Will the pool water affect my child's skin?
Our pool’s chemical balance is automatically monitored and adjusted every few minutes to ensure this should not happen.
Our pool water is Magna mineral water. Mineral water is much gentler on hair, skin and eyes than normal chlorinated pool water or salt water.
Our pool’s heated water will certainly exacerbate any allergy and possibly irritate a swimmer’s eczema, causing extra itching. In some situations a light covering of baby oil over the skin before entering the water can help.
Making a habit of showering after swimming will limit any skin reaction.
When will my child be safe around water?
The best protection against drowning is for care givers to CONSTANTLY SUPERVISE children in, on and around water at all times.
Swimming lessons will teach children to be SAFER near water, but even the most experienced swimmer may still accidentally drown.