Yesterday, we took our kids, B and Mimi, to their swimming classes.

They have been taking swimming lessons at our local community centre since B was about three years old and Mimi was only eight or nine months old.

When I first tried to register B, I discovered that the class called Guardian Swim included babies and toddlers—as long as a parent or guardian went into the water with them.

Both of our kids were water babies from the beginning. They were never scared or fussy in the water.

Actually, it was the opposite.

They liked the water a little too much. They would get overly excited and try to dive in without any fear.

After about a year, B became bored in the Guardian Swim class. He kept trying to wiggle away from us, and it was obvious that he wanted to figure out how to swim on his own.

Later, he started the Preschool Swim program, which is for children ages three to five. In this program, children go into the water without a parent or guardian.

After completing all the Preschool Swim levels, B moved up to Ultra Swim, which is for children ages five and up.

Mimi started Preschool Swim in April this year. During every class, she jumps into the water at least 20 times.

I am not exaggerating.

She will literally jump into the water five times in a row while I sit there listening to the poor instructor call my daughter’s name over and over again, telling her to stop.

Do Community Swimming Lessons Actually Work?

About a year ago, one of my neighbours decided to register her children for the same program.

Her kids are around B’s age, and they both started in Preschool Swim 1. The older child enjoyed it, but the younger one had a hard time getting into the water. After trying a couple of times, they decided to quit.

Later, my neighbour told me that the lessons didn’t seem very professional. She said she would rather pay more for private lessons so her children could “actually” learn how to swim.

I could understand what she meant.

City swimming lessons are not very intensive. Most of the instructors are young—basically college “kids,” at least from a mom’s point of view. Depending on the instructor, the teaching can sometimes feel a little loose.

How Are My Kids Doing Now?

My kids started swimming at an early age, and it has now been about two and a half years.

We took breaks here and there, but swimming has been the most consistent activity we have kept.

Usually, I take Mimi to her class, so I hadn’t watched B swim in a while. But this week, I finally got to see him.

I couldn’t stop yelling:

“Oh my gosh!”

“Oh my gosh!”

He was swimming like—actual swimming!

Not just splashing around or kicking his legs. He swam about 15 metres without stopping. Then he even came back doing the backstroke!

I couldn’t believe it.

What Are Toronto Community Swimming Lessons Like?

Overall, I agree that these are not intensive swimming lessons.

During most of the year, the class is once a week for 30 minutes. During the summer, there may be options for classes two to five times a week.

There is usually one instructor teaching a class of about six to eight children with a lifeguard’s assistant. So the ratio is actually not too bad.

One tip: winter classes sometimes have fewer children. We have even had classes that practically turned into one-on-one lessons. 😁

The facilities can vary depending on the pool, but the community centre we attend keeps the pool at a comfortable temperature. The showers are also very warm, so the kids don’t get too cold afterward.

The classes are affordable too. We usually pay approximately $108 for nine weeks of 30-minute lessons, once a week.

So, Are City Swimming Lessons Worth It?

For our family, yes.

It took a long time, and the kids didn’t learn through intensive instruction. But honestly, it doesn’t have to be intensive.

Instead, it feels like they learned very naturally—by playing, becoming comfortable in the water and gradually figuring things out.

Private lessons would probably help a child progress faster. And for a child who is nervous around water or needs more individual attention, private lessons might be a better choice.

But if your child enjoys the water and you are willing to keep attending consistently, community swimming lessons can still be a great low-cost option.

And now, both B and Mimi go into the pool by themselves while we sit on the side and watch.

I cannot believe how much easier our lives have become.

Before, all four of us went into the water together. Then all four of us came out wet together. We had to dry everyone, get everyone changed and somehow survive the family changeroom.

But those days are finally gone.

Now I can stay completely dry while watching the other moms and dads play “Red Light, Green Light” in the pool.

Yayayayay!

I have officially graduated from Guardian Swim. 😎