In terms of swimming, Brooklyn might not have the high-class reputation of Manhattan, but still it offers excellent instruction and sports facilities. Many of Brooklyn’s diverse neighborhoods have year-round swimming classes. New York city, its sport centers and private swimming schools all provide aquatic instruction and indoor swimming in the city’s most populous borough. Landlubber adults can overcome their fear of water, while toddlers and children can get a head start on learn-to-swim programs.

In New York, everyone can choose an affordable option for swimming at own choice: the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation offers free lessons in swimming throughout the whole year at city pools along with some social organizations that provide aquatics and swimming lessons for children, teens and adults. But those who value the personal approach of a qualified swimming instructor and quality above price, choose a private swimming school. Brooklyn offers many schools of swimming, so how to choose the one that would cater best for you? Let us give you some advice and guidelines.

Swimming is a valuable skill that can be a lifesaver. If you are looking for a swimming school for your child or for yourself, here are some things to be kept in mind:

What should be included in lessons:

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, all aquatics programs for children under 4 years old should include:

• Strategies for prevention of drowning.

• Information regarding the motor and cognitive limitations of toddlers and infants.

• The adults’ role in monitoring and supervising children in water.

• Explanation of the risks of water.

Swimming lessons

Adults and older children are grouped based on their age, individual ability and development level. Working in small groups with certified instructors, beginners learn basic swimming techniques such as breathing, general water safety, leg and arm arm movements, and later on — various strokes, as they get more confident and experienced in a pool.

Choosing a swimming class

For those willing to learn to swim, Brooklyn has much to offer. But how to find a right class for you? Ask a doctor, former students or other parents for advice. Speak with the instructor and program supervisor beforehand, and observe the class before signing up.

Other points to be kept in mind are:

• Schedule: Don’t the swim classes take place after another activity? Won’t you be tired by the time you get to class? Find a class that fits into your schedule.

• Class placement: What skills is placement based on? Will your child and/or you be with other swimmers of the same age and skill set?

• Instructors’ credentials: How are the instructors trained and what certificates do they hold? Do they know cardiopulmonary resuscitation? There should also be a certified lifeguard on duty at all times.

• Size: How many people are in one swimming group? For kids, the rule of a thumb is 1 instructor for every 6 preschoolers or 8-grade students. Only keeping to this staff-student ratio allows for each student to get individual attention and instruction.

Choosing a swimming school should be taken seriously: no matter how much research you do, be sure that you will eventually learn new skills you can practice. Of course, you are free to choose any school of swimming Brooklyn has to offer, but we advise you to come and check our school, and we are sure that you won’t want to search anymore. We’ll be waiting for you, since Dolphin Swimming School always welcomes new swimmers to become a part of our growing swimming family!