Hubbard Family Swim School has been around since 1998. They specialize in teaching kids aged 2 months to 11 years various programs to help them build confidence in the water.

We firmly believe in starting them young, which is why we really appreciate their range of programs. Apparently, one of their most-availed offerings is the baby splash program, which has proven cognitive benefits for developing brains.

They also work with the New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development to better educate their instructors and the parents on all the wonderful benefits of the program.

All their instructors were also extensively-trained and continuously receive training throughout the year. The school regularly sends their instructors to several conferences, as well, to stay updated on the best teaching techniques.

And as the child ages, the program ages with them. The school redirects the focus of their swim lessons depending on the skill set and capability of every student.

However, some parents feel that this method is too slow. Even though the child steadily progresses in skill set, a few of them claim that there are better programs out there that could teach much quicker for a relatively lower price.

And while we agree to some extent, we also believe that some kids need that slow and steady pace. We do hope that the school comes up with a compromise, or at least create a flexible program for those who’d like a faster learning option.

You may have probably heard of Aqua-Tots Swim School as they’re popular all over the country. They’re known to be a reliable swim school, and their Ahwatukee facility is no exception.

For starters, the place is clean, well-maintained, and has a nice, colorful design. It’s very much a child-friendly environment, but not too childish that would make an adult feel uncomfortable.

What we’d like to point out is how varied their program offerings are. Apart from the usual by-the-age lessons, they also offer swim lessons for children with special needs, adults, and a fast track program for quick and efficient learning.

Not a lot of swim schools out there choose to be so inclusive, which is why we have to give them major props for their thoughtfulness.

We also really appreciate their relatively low student to instructor ratio. Only a maximum of 4 students are taught by 1 instructor (for the group sessions), which is truly one of the lowest we’ve seen in the industry.

This means that they’re able to thoroughly pay attention to every student. Parents have also mentioned noticing their kids having more fun learning in a small group than in private sessions.

A downside, however, is that they’re not very flexible when it comes to attendance. If you happen to miss a class, you won’t be refunded for it and apparently, having it rescheduled is subject to fickle availability.

Another well-known swim school franchise across the valley is Goldfish Swim School, but we’re partial to their North Scottsdale branch.

First off, it’s modern and has a state-of-the-art facility designed for indoor classes. The pools are always kept warm at 90°F, there are air-conditioned viewing galleries (with Wi-Fi!), and there’s a convenient snack bar and swims store inside.

What we really like about them, though, is their Science of SwimPlay approach to teaching. This is their own unique program that combines guided play and educational techniques for optimum fun and cognitive development.

On this program, they give kids constant encouragement, awards for milestones, and a curriculum incorporated with fun games. We think this is awesome and would really help kids with great fear of the water. 

We’ve also heard a lot of parents say that this program made their kids look forward to attending classes. 

And when it comes to safety, know that their lifeguards are certified and trained by their International Lifeguard Training Program. They’re all highly-trained in case of an emergency and are actively on-standby during lessons.

All these do come at a steep cost, though. Their tuition fees are significantly more expensive, but we do think they’re worth the splurge considering the quality of learning and safety provided.

Who said swim lessons are just for kids? At Bolle Adult Swim School, adults of any age are given a chance to conquer their fear of the water and learn to swim in just 4 days!

Think of their school as a swim retreat. Since 1976, they have taught thousands of adults with their own Bolle Method that guarantees unassisted pool crossings on the last day of class.

Classes typically begin on Fridays and end on Mondays. You may choose to join mini-group, small-group, or group classes.

36 lessons in 4 days may sound intimidating and tiring, but we’ve heard that students barely notice the time as they’re usually having fun. Apparently, the instructors are super friendly and communicate swim techniques really well.

They do this method as they believe that muscle memory is best formed without long time gaps. In comparison to the usual once or twice a week swim lessons, this allows for better water familiarity and water fear management.

Classes are also surprisingly relatively affordable. And, they have in-house accommodations that you can avail of in case you don’t live around the area.

If you’re looking to learn fast, we highly-suggest coming here. But if you’re not really in a rush and are unable to fit an extended weekend in your schedule, this may not be your best option.

Jr’s Swim School is another unconventional facility that offers customized swim programs for kids and those with special needs.

They pride themselves in using non-traditional teaching methods, or ones that are specifically-curated for every student’s skill set. Their main goal is to promote not just confidence in the water, but independence as well. 

Their lesson plans are designed to enhance strength, balance, and motor planning. They also have sensory classes for those with physical disabilities that incorporate land-based therapy to maximize the student’s potential.

What we like most about them is that a few of their team members are Swim Angelfish-certified. This means that they’re trained in adaptive swim methodology designed to help anxiety, trauma, or simple discomfort one may face in the water.

This is also great for children with autism or those that have trouble in sensory and motor coordination.

Of course, these specialized classes do come with hefty fees as well. Swim lessons typically go for around $40 per session, but theirs will set you back over $200 per month.

We do appreciate their scholarship program for low income families, though. The requirements and guidelines for approval are duly-stated on their website.

Also note that they don’t have regular operating hours. They only offer private and semi-private lessons, which is why their schedule depends on student appointments.

Despite being very young, we think it’s important for our young ones to have survival skills.

This is why we like Water Guppies and how they’re dedicated to teaching babies and children survival skills. They like to make sure that they can swim confidently.

Kristina Ludwig, the owner, became certified with AquaChild, one of the leading swim schools in Florida, in 2016.

In 2020, she trained in Colorado with Infant Aquatics to receive more certification with more than 100 additional hours of in-water training, and academic study & testing in the areas of child development, behavioral psychology, anatomy, and infant physiology.

She currently holds adult/child/infant CPR/AED (Automated external defibrillator) and First Aid Certification as well. We think she has the necessary experience and certifications to teach young ones how to swim.

We’re all for her mission of reducing the instances of pediatric drowning, while developing the love for swimming in each child.

We like that they instruct babies as young as 6 months old and that they besides first time classes, they have refreshers and maintenance lessons too.

They’ve helped many children learn how to swim and many families are extremely happy with their classes. We highly recommend!