
Swim classes cost $40 to $80 per hour for private lessons or $100 to $160 per month for weekly classes with a small group of people. Fees increase for extended sessions longer than 1 hour and for teachers who were professional competitive swimmers.
During a swim class that's typically 30 to 60 minutes long, you should expect to learn:
Supplies to bring to a swimming class include:
Extra tips: The swimming pool may offer some of these items for free or at a fee. For girls learning to swim competitively, a 1-piece bathing suit is necessary.
People without a fear of water need 15 to 20 hours of swim classes on average to learn swimming. Those who must also overcome their fears of drowning will need more time and practice to swim confidently.
A good age for a child to take swimming lessons is from 2 to 5 years old. After this age, the lungs of children are strong enough to hold their breath underwater long enough to swim.
Good to know: Introducing a child to the water at 1 year old helps them feel comfortable in a pool, although they won't be able to swim yet.
Closely supervised infant swim classes are typically safe for children from the age of 6 months onward. However, infant swim classes don't guarantee that a child will learn enough to stop themselves from drowning.
Note: Some doctors also caution that children prone to respiratory infections shouldn't swim in chlorinated pools until they are more than 2 years old.
You can get swimming lessons as an adult at most pools with private instructors. Call ahead to ask for the schedule of adult classes, age requirements, and a list of anything you should bring with you.
Use this checklist before booking classes at the local pool to find a good swimming class:
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Ask questions, confirm their availability, and hire the right instructor when you're ready.