Picture it: your child wakes you up extra early on a Saturday morning with an eager grin lighting up the entirety of their little being. You’re groggy at first, but quickly realize it is the morning of their first real swimming lesson.
For a moment, you are whisked back to your own childhood, when you, too, felt the joyous butterflies of getting into the pool on those first few crisp days of summer. A tender age of 4; still fearful of the mass of blue liquid, but ready to dive in and have a blast, nevertheless. This time without floaties.
It’s kind of a big deal.
Then, as a parent, your heart starts to sink as you hear the booming thunder and pounding of raindrops outside the window. Instead of spit-shining those goofy swim goggles, you may just be delivering some unwelcome news to those wide, sparkling 4-year-old eyes.
But wait! It all becomes clear now. You aren’t going to the community pool today. Today, you signed your baby up for Aqua-Tots, an indoor swimming lesson experience. Boy, oh boy, where is that coffee?!
This was me this past weekend.
Once the goggles were perfectly shined up, the bathing suit snugly fitted, and Mama finally had a hot thermos of coffee in hand, off we were to Aqua-Tots!
Upon arrival, we were greeted with the perfect combination of professionalism and friendliness by the ladies at the front desk. The process was explained very clearly, I signed the necessary waiver, and we were promptly off to watch the classes currently taking place through the floor to ceiling glass walls surrounding the pool.
We had arrived about 25 minutes early, not knowing exactly what to expect. The check-in and information process was so smooth, clear, and concise that we had about 23 minutes left to spare before our class began. I will say, that for our first time, being early was a blessing and a curse. I say blessing because my daughter and I were able to watch how the classes were being taught and how everything worked when classes changed over and new classes were called upon. And curse because it gave my daughter 900 opportunities to ask if it was her turn yet.
The facility was kept extremely clean and there was no apparent, overwhelming smell of chlorine. The glass walls were lined with large red armchairs for the parents to watch their child’s every stroke in extreme comfort. People and classes were constantly coming and going (it was a Saturday, after all), yet not once did I feel the venue to be overcrowded or did I feel my vision was blocked from my daughter’s lane.
The assuring motto “safety first, fun every second” was written in bold letters across one of the walls, and I would say Aqua-Tots wholeheartedly lives up to their words. You could definitely tell safety was a number one priority, yet the only thing the kids were experiencing was fun, fun, and more fun!
My daughter was a part of the Seahorse group. She has never had a formal swim lesson in her life. I could see some of the other girls in her group were older and more experienced, yet their instructor immediately caught on to each of the children’s strengths and weaknesses and worked seamlessly to give each of the four students a quality lesson. Four is the maximum number of students allowed in a given class. An amount that appeared to work beautifully for the instructors and the students alike.
From breath control to backstroke, and freestyle to kickboard exercises, A LOT was accomplished in 30 minutes time. It was just enough time to hold the attention of the young ones and keep the fun alive before any of them became burnt out.
At the end of the class, all of the parents gathered at the pool exit door while the instructors made sure the children showered away the chlorinated water from their delicate skin and hair. This part was especially great for me because at our community pool it is ALWAYS an uphill battle to get my little diva to shower off after pool play.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the instructor took the time with each parent to go over how their child performed and what should be worked on for the future. This kind of attention to detail definitely adds to the sense of money’s worth. That and the fact that the eager young smile from the early morning had morphed into a larger smile of pride and accomplishment.
I dressed my daughter in one of the available dressing stalls, dried her hair with the provided blow dryer, and we were off to lunch in no time. Swimming works up quite the appetite and so does spectating!
Just when I thought my daughter could not top the 900 times she had questioned when it was going to be “her turn,” she broke a new record with over 1000 “Mommy, when can I go again?”s.
A Saturday morning well spent.
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Aqua-Tots Swim Schools invites you to come out and try a class with this special Collin County Moms Blog offer! Mention “Collin County Moms Blog” and receive $20 off your first month’s membership for each child. Expires 8/31/17. *
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools are conveniently located throughout Collin County with 5 locations in Frisco, McKinney, Murphy, Richardson, and Plano. For more information on finding classes near you for your child, visit their website.
WEBSITE :: FACEBOOK :: TWITTER :: INSTAGRAM
McKinney/Frisco
15922 Eldorado Pkwy., Suite 400
Rockwall
3001 Ridge Road
Plano
6505 W. Parker Blvd., Suite 220
Murphy/Plano
601 W. FM 544, Suite 104
Richardson
1330 W. Campbell Rd, Suite 101
** Valid for new enrollments only. Offer is not redeemable for cash. Offer may not be combined with any other coupons, discounts, offers or promotions. Void if altered, copied, transferred, auctioned or sold. Offer not valid for prior purchases. Other restrictions may apply. Limit one coupon per person. Void where prohibited.
