Private Swim Lessons FAQ

Yes. Most of our lessons happen in amenity pools in doorman and condo buildings, plus backyard and private pools across all five boroughs. Your building needs to let a guest instructor use the pool with your family at a set time. Many buildings have guest rules or reservation systems, so check with your management office or concierge first. The pool should be clean, chemically balanced, and at least 3.5 feet deep. If you're not sure your pool works, your instructor can look at it before the first lesson.

Every instructor on our team is certified, trained in CPR and AED, background checked, and fully insured. That matters when someone is coming into your building and working with your kids. The team is led by owner and lead instructor Harrison Alvarado, and several instructors teach under him using the same approach. After every session you get progress notes, so you always know what your child worked on and what comes next.

We start babies at 4 months. At that age, lessons focus on comfort in the water, floating with support, breath control, and getting used to the routine of a lesson. A parent or caregiver is in the water for the first several sessions, holding the baby while the instructor guides each step. As your baby gets more confident, the instructor takes on more of the hands-on work. Toddlers follow a similar path with more active skills added.

For infants, yes. A parent or caregiver gets in the water for the first several sessions so the baby feels secure while learning. For toddlers and older kids, it depends on the child. Some do best with a parent nearby on the deck, and some focus better when the parent steps away. Your instructor will tell you what is working. Teens and adults take their lessons one on one with the instructor.

Our standard private lesson is 45 minutes. That gives enough time to warm up, work on new skills, and practice them without wearing a young swimmer out. We also offer 30, 40, and 60 minute lessons. Shorter sessions often suit babies and young toddlers, who tire quickly in the water. Longer sessions work well for older kids, teens, and adults working on stroke technique or endurance. We can help you pick the right length.

Most kids show significant improvement within 5 to 8 lessons. Every child is different, and some move faster. One parent told us, "He learned to swim in one lesson." Babies and toddlers build safety skills first, like floating, turning back to the wall, and holding their breath, before working on swimming distance. Consistent weekly lessons make the biggest difference. Your instructor's progress notes after each session show you where your child stands.

Fear is common, and we see it all the time. Private lessons help because there is no group to keep up with and no crowd watching. Your instructor goes at your child's pace, starting with sitting on the steps, splashing, and getting their face wet before anything else. Trust comes first. Swimming in their own building pool, a place they already know, also makes a nervous child more relaxed than a busy public facility would.

The first lesson is a trial, charged at the regular rate. Your instructor meets your child at your pool, checks the water, and spends the session finding out what your child can already do and how they feel about the water. That sets a baseline. From there, the instructor plans the next lessons around specific goals. You'll get notes afterward explaining what they saw and what they recommend, including lesson length and how often to schedule.

We accept Zelle and QuickPay, and you can pay monthly or buy a 10-lesson package up front. We don't accept cash. Cancel 24 hours or more before your lesson and there is no charge. Cancel inside 24 hours and you pay 50% of the lesson rate. Same-day cancellations are charged the full rate. We don't offer makeup lessons, because your instructor holds that time for your family and turns down other bookings to keep it. If your child is sick, tell us as early as you can.

We teach across all five boroughs. In Manhattan, we're regularly at pools on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Tribeca, Battery Park City, Hudson Yards, Chelsea, Gramercy, Midtown, and around Columbus Circle. In Brooklyn and Queens, we teach in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, and Long Island City. We also travel to the Bronx and Staten Island. If you have a residential pool anywhere in the city, call 917-755-0378 and we'll work out scheduling.

Yes. We teach teens and adults as well as kids. Plenty of New Yorkers never learned to swim, or learned enough to get by and want proper technique now. Adult lessons are private, one on one, in your own building pool, which takes away the awkwardness of a group class. Some adults start with basic comfort and floating. Others want to work on freestyle, breathing, or swimming laps without stopping.

Not much, since the lesson happens at your pool. Have your child in a swimsuit and ready a few minutes before the start time. Bring a towel and something warm to put on after. Babies and toddlers who aren't toilet trained need a swim diaper. Goggles are useful for older kids but optional. Your instructor brings the teaching equipment. If your building requires guest sign-in, have that sorted before the instructor arrives.

Our pool requirements are that the water is clean, chemically balanced, and at least 3.5 feet deep. We don't have a separate temperature rule. Warmer water does help, especially for babies and young toddlers, who get cold faster and stay focused longer when they're comfortable. If your pool runs cool, a shorter lesson can work better for little ones. If you're unsure about your pool, your instructor can check it before the first lesson and recommend a lesson length to match.