(800) 894-3385 

Houston - Miami - Ft Lauderdale - Palm Beach

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TESTIMONIALS

​​"I want to THANK YOU for teaching our 2 1/2 year old twins pool safety.  Sunday late afternoon, our son was playing with the water hose around the pool.  Before we knew it, he fell into the pool.  He immediately flipped to his back and made it to the side of the pool on his own...he used his monkey arms, and then started to pull himself out of the pool on his own.  THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for everthing you did during their swim lessons!!!  I feel so much better that he remembered what to do and a little more comfort in case he ever makes it outside without us (hopefully never!!!)  I can't imagine what could have happened if we did not start the pool safety.  Thank you again and see ya soon!" -Janet D 


​"Safe Swimming School just makes things so easy!  My child was afraid of the water, and would not even put her feet in the pool.  She would not participate in group swim lessons, and we had lost hope that she would ever learn to swim or have fun in the water.  The instructor came to our house, and was able to figure out what made our daughter comfortable.  He was so patient with her, and made me feel comfortable too.  By the end of the summer, she was swimming the length of the pool!" -Nikki H 


"Because of Safe Swimming School, my kids are water safe." -Megan S 


"Safe Swimming School is the BEST!  The instructors are patient and kind, and the children love working with them.  They are extremely skilled in teaching the fundamental techniques for swimming and also the importance of pool safety.  Both of my children can swim well and have great water confidence now, thanks to Safe Swimming School!" -Jocelyn P 


"Safe Swimming School has the best swim instructors that I've ever worked with!" -Richard H 


"My oldest daughter was hesitant of the water until she started classes with Safe Swimming School.  She got comfortable with the water quickly, and now she can swim seven lengths of the pool all by herself.  The instructor is calm and patient with my kids, she sings songs and makes swimming fun.  They are always on time and very reliable.  If you are looking for a great private swim instructor I highly recommend Safe Swimming School!" -Jacqueline S

Anson Ainsworth

owner

Anson is the co-owner of Safe Swimming School, and the co-founder of Safe Swimming Friends.  He participated in theater, baseball, and swimming through his high school years.  Anson studied Performing Arts and Psychology at Texas State University.  

Anson spent over 20 years in the Hospitality Industry.  He has worked in Management and Customer Service for most of his career.  He has been teaching swimming lessons  for over 15 years.  Anson began his career in the swim industry as a Lifeguard.  He has always loved the water, and spent two seasons as a full time Lifeguard for Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels Texas.    

After moving back to Houston, Anson started teaching swim lessons at a local swim school.  He quickly worked his way up to Operations Manager, and has stayed in the Swim School Industry ever since.  

Anson has a passion for teaching water safety and swimming lessons to swimmers of all ages and skill levels; several of his students are children who suffer from physical disabilities including Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, and Downs Syndrome.  Anson's special needs swimming classes are some of his favorite to teach.  

Anson is currently certified in CPR/AED and has worked as a Certified Lifeguard.  He has attended the National Swim Conference of the US Swim School Association, and has received specialized training for infants and toddlers as well as classes on Overcoming Fear of the Water, Advanced Technique Swim Training, and Specialized Training for Children with Disabilities.  




Cortney Berry

owner

Cortney was born and raised in the Houston area, and participated in softball, swim team and band throughout high school.  She graduated from
Texas State University with a degree in Healthcare Administration.  After graduation, she worked in Medical Equipment Sales for several years.  In 2006, Cortney moved back to the Houston area and took a job at a local swim school as a swim instructor.  It was here that Cortney realized her passion for teaching water safety.  She worked her way up to Director and solely managed the Houston location.

Next, Cortney accepted the position of Aquatics Director for a Country Club.  While at this position, she maintained three resort style pools and managed lifeguards, pool staff, and a team of swim instructors.  She was the head coach of the swim team, coached the Master Swim Program, and wrote and managed the curriculum for all swimming lessons.  

Cortney has a current CPR/AED certification, has been trained in First Aid, and has worked as a Certified Lifeguard.  Her training includes National Swim Conference,Annual Swim School Training Conference, Specialized Training with an Olympic Gold Medalist, classes on Infant/Toddler Swimming Lessons, Overcoming Fear of the Water, Advanced Technique Swim Training, Muscle Lines and Brain Development as Related to Children and Swimming, Speed and Endurance Optimization, Open Water Competitive Swimming Techniques, and Specialized Training for Persons with Disabilities.  

Founders of Safe Swimming School photo

Meet our founders

Safe Swimming School Logo


HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM?  

This varies by the age, skill level, and motivation of the swimmer.  If there is any fear of the water present, expect the learn-to-swim process to take longer.  After 10 swim classes, most are comfortable with the water, and have made significant progress on breath control, water safety, floating, kicks, and freestyle arms.  Advanced swim technique and proper breathing will take months, even years to develop.  


HOW MANY TIMES PER WEEK SHOULD I SCHEDULE SWIM LESSONS?  

We suggest scheduling swimming lessons at least 2-3 times per week to see progress.  Our recommendation for a beginner student is to start with two to three weeks of Monday-Friday swimming classes (4-5 swim classes per week), and then transition to a 2-3 time per week swim program.


CAN AN ADULT LEARN TO SWIM? 

Yes!  Everyone can learn how to swim.  We teach many adult swim lessons in Houston and South Florida, and specialize in those afraid of the water.  


WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME TO MY CHILD GET READY FOR SWIM LESSONS?  

Practice bubbles and floating in the bathtub.  This will help to prepare your child for what to expect during swim class. Encourage your child to have fun with bath time.  This will help facilitate positive associations with water activities.  


IS IT NORMAL FOR MY CHILD TO CRY DURING A SWIM LESSON? 

Yes.  Many children cry during swim lessons for a variety of reasons.  Some children have a fear of certain aspects of learning to swim.  Our instructors are trained to customize your child's swim class to focus on what they need to accomplish.  Although the best thing to do is to allow the instructor to teach the class, and praise your child after the completion of the swim lesson.  


SHOULD I PUT "FLOATIES" ON MY CHILD?

No.  Flotation devices that attach to the child are dangerous because children cannot differentiate when the floaties are attached to their body and when they are not.  Floaties also make it significantly more difficult to learn to swim with proper form.  


how to prepare

Every swimmer should wear proper swim attire to swim lessons.  If the child is under 3yrs old and/or not toilet trained, a swim diaper is necessary.  Please bring your swimmer a towel, applied sunscreen, and water. Goggles are optional.  Your swim instructor will provide toys, dive rings, kick boards if appropriate.  


How to overcome fear 

If your swimmer is experiencing fear of the water there are a few things that you can do. Speak in positive words when discussing swimming lessons. Use words such "safe" and "fun." Practice in the bathtub! Work on skills such as floating and bubbles during bath-time.  Practice, practice, practice! The more exposure your swimmer gets to the water, the faster you will achieve the desired results.   


should i get into the water for my child's swim lesson? 

In most instances, your child will learn to be water safe much more quickly with one-on-one swim lessons with their swimming instructor.  However, we do offer mommy-and-me style classes if that is more appropriate for your swimmer  


should i sit beside the pool during my child's swim class?

It is best if you watch the swim lesson from somewhere that your child cannot see you. It is most often distracting to the swimmer to have a parent, sibling, friend, or other family member in the pool area during swim class.  We ask that the deck be clear during all swim classes 


can my swimmer eat before a swim class?

We recommend that no food or beverage (other than water) be consumed one hour before swim class.  Two hours is best to wait after consuming any dairy food products. 


what happens if it rains?

In the case of inclement weather, please email info@safeswimmingschool.com to reschedule. If your instructor feels the weather conditions are unsafe, you will be contacted to reschedule the swim class.  

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