FAQ

Absolutely! We are happy to make accommodations and provide additional support for children with special needs, disabilities and physical limitations. Please make a note on your online registration form, and feel free to contact Mindy at 850-519-7603 or tinyturtleswim@gmail.com to discuss accommodations at least one week prior to your class start date.

Swimmers need bathing suit & towels. Goggles are recommended for Preschool & Learn-to-Swim classes. Little ones not potty trained please wear a swim diaper under their suits. Please apply sunscreen at least 30 mins before coming to class and arrive ready to swim! Swim caps, ear plugs and nose clips are all optional.

$150 is due in advance for each 6-week session. Venmo, online or cash payment is due prior to or at the first class. Please bring cash payments in an envelope with child’s name, class time, age & parent’s phone number.

Please plan to arrive 5 minutes early (but not sooner) to help with traffic flow. Please be mindful of our neighbors. Do not block the neighbors driveways. Hold your little ones hands while walking to the pool. Changing rooms are not available. Please arrive ready to swim! Parents who remain for the duration of the lesson will sit in chairs under the patio in the designated area.

Yes. We will continue add classes as the current sessions fill up. Please message, call, email or text if you don’t see a date and time that works for you. If we can put together additional classes, we certainly will!

Please call, text or email Mindy at 850-519-7603/tinyturtleswim@gmail.com as soon as you know that you are not able to attend your scheduled classes. We will do our best to find another date & time that works for you. If a preferred class is not available online, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly so that we can make room, add you to a waitlist, or open a new class.

Children who have been ill should be kept at home. This is in the best interest of their health as well as other class participants and their instructor. Vomiting and diarrhea in or around the pool could cause us to have to drain and refill the pool. Please use an abundance of caution.

In order to maintain the integrity of our classes in regards to content and to size, we do not offer make-ups. We have found that adding swimmers to classes for make-ups disrupts the rhythm, safety and integrity of the class. Please do your best to attend! Sorry, no make-ups for illnesses, recitals, vacations, etc.

If a class is cancelled by the instructor, the instructor will schedule a make-up lesson before the end of the current program session. Not attending a make-up class will not entitle you to a refund or credit, please do your best to attend.

If an extended illness or injury causes you to miss more than one class we will do our best to help find a new session that would be a good fit for the participant.

Don’t worry! Our specially-trained instructors pick up on skill differences very quickly and are aware of the abilities that your child needs to have in order to maintain placement at their level. We understand that everyone learns in their own ways and at their own speeds, which is why our instructors observe and adjust teaching methods as needed. We’re constantly evaluating our students and are very flexible when it comes to working with each child’s individual strengths and weaknesses, so that they see Extraordinary Results!

The Red Cross recommends a developmental series of

steps in a natural progression working towards mastering the following skills: water adjustment, buoyancy, body position, arm and leg development, forward movement and ending with stroke technique. In general, each child’s readiness is influenced by physical development, previous experience and behavioral maturity. The most important thing to remember is to never compare your child’s progress to another child. All children are different and we need to let them learn at their own comfort level. It also depends on what you are looking to get out of the lessons. If you want your child to learn competitive swim techniques, that will take longer than if you want your child to learn basic water safety skills. On average, our typical student could be in the beginner stage for 3 to 12 months.

Repetition is the key to learning for most children. Repeating games and skills gives children something to look forward to. Swim lesson participants also feel a greater sense of success by mastering a skill they have been replicating.

Rest assured that it is not unusual to see tears and hear crying. Most often children experience fear due to separation anxiety or the overwhelming feeling caused by the pool environment. We ask that you trust us in helping your children overcome their fear. With your permission, an instructor may be comfortable pushing your child a little, but there is a fine line between pushing too hard and causing a greater fear, and helping a child realize there is nothing to be afraid of. Our instructors have seen both situations and have developed the ability to know when they can push a little harder and when we may have to say a child simply isn’t ready yet. No matter the decision of the instructor, they will be sure to discuss all situations with you and make sure you and your swimmer are getting the best instruction and communication possible.

Not all disciplinary problems are addressed and taken care of by our instructors. We use positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate class behavior such as self-identification of the problem, warnings and time-outs. If our instructor does not have success with this approach we may approach you in an effort to find a better method that is more effective for your child. We ask that you teach, talk about and review appropriate class behavior and pool rules with your child. We encourage parents to lead by example and to help children understand “respect” for the water, classmates, and instructors.