Welcome to our Mom Around Town feature! We included interview and sample art work from my own twins on the last post from Monart Drawing Studio in Arlington Heights. Today I am sharing about my visit to Chicago Swim School, also in Arlington Heights.
Since many of the business owners I will be interviewing work directly with children and expecting parents, I think it is important to get to know them well. Our Mom Around Town feature will help you do that! Make sure you check out our other Mom Around Town posts!
Business: Chicago Swim School, 2020 E. Northwest Highway, Arlington Heights, IL
Contact: [email protected] OR 847.870.7946
Website: www.chicagoswimschool.com
Chicago Swim School can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google + , Pinterest and YouTube
Chicago Swim School provides water safety and swimming lessons for children ages 4 months through 12 years old. “At Chicago Swim School, we are dedicated to preventing drowning by teaching children and their families to be safer around all types of water. Every progression step has a specific safety skill built in from our StarBaby program thru our most advanced technique level. Additional steps are included to educate parents on practices to create a safer swim experience for their whole family,” as stated on their website.
Their Starbaby Beginner level introduces parents and students between the ages of 4 months and 3 years old to the basics of swimming and water safety. Skills are taught in a fun way with songs and games! All of the families that are new to the Starbaby Program start in this beginner level where they take extra time to explain child holding positions, cues, and skill progressions. I had the privilege to peek in a Starbaby class and both the parents and babies were having a lot of fun. I loved how the instructor had a toy baby doll to show the parents what to do with their own baby. The kids were smiling, splashing, giggling and having fun!
The rest of the swim classes at Chicago Swim School are categorized by color; white, red, yellow, blue, green, purple and black. The classes take place on weekday mornings and evenings as well as on Saturdays. You can view the schedule on their website and choose a time that is convenient for you. Chicago Swim School offers both private and group lessons. The group lessons are very small in size though with only 4 children per class. The private lessons are typically used for students with special needs or other situations where they might not be safe or fully engaged in the group. Besides swimming lessons and swim safety, Chicago Swim School does schedule birthday parties that are 2 hours (with swim time and party room time) and has a whole bunch of fun things included. There are also additional items you can add to your party such as food and goody bags.
The swim table is open and free to any babies/toddlers and their caregivers or parents- you do not have to be enrolled in their swimming lesson program to participate. It is open on Wednesdays from 9:30am-11:00pm.
In fact, a moms group was there together that morning I was there. Little ones and moms really seemed to enjoy it!
I asked Chicago Swim School a few questions at our visit and this is what they had to say!
Erika: What is one thing you would tell new parents about swim safety?
Chicago Swim School: Start early! Create rules around swim safety that you can fold into your family ‘rules’. For example, teach to always ‘ask’ if you can go near the water (if it’s a pool, a bathtub- anything. The sooner you educate this rule, the sooner it becomes automatic for your children), another one is - always have a ‘watcher’ when you are near a body of water: a designated person that is solely responsible for watching your kids. This sounds basic, but it in the busy lives we lead, these crucial rules can be lost unless you make it a priority- and the sooner you create a foundation, the safer your family is.
Erika: What sets you apart from other swim schools in the area?
Chicago Swim School: We really focus on building a foundation around water safety. We teach swimming through stressing responsibility, accountability and that builds confidence, in the water and outside of the water. We stress starting this early in life builds a foundation for your child and it’s incorporated into your family
Erika: Do you have any events or promotions you would like to share coming up this year?
Chicago Swim School: We just did Arlington Heights Trunk or Treat (GREAT event!) We will be decorating a community Christmas tree at Brookfield Zoo that will be sponsored by Chicago Swim School. We are really excited about partnering with some different Moms Groups in the area to educate families/mom on Water Safety, which we are really, really excited about.
Here are some other photos I took at Chicago Swim School during my visit! I love how clean and child-friendly their front lobby/waiting area is! There is coffee set out for the adults and a child play area as well.
Chicago Swim School opens their registration up on November 17th, so make sure you check out all of the great classes they offer! Remember to check them out at www.chicagoswimschool.com.
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