FAQS

If you love teaching children and helping them grow confidence, check out our Careers page for a full list of requirements. We provide Swim Associates with certification and 100+ hours of Big Blue training before they teach their first swim lessons.

If you are interested in becoming part of the Big Blue franchising team during this exciting time of growth and opportunity, please apply here.

We bill on the first of every month for the number of scheduled weekly lessons that are to be held in that month. Depending on the length of the month, there will typically be 4-5 lessons. We do require that a credit or debit card be on file for payment.

If your location charges an Annual Membership Fee you will only be charged once per year per student, regardless of multiple enrollments.

If your location charges an Annual Membership Fee, it is charged once per year per student when they enroll, and then again on their one-year anniversary while enrolled in lessons. You’ll always be able to view your upcoming billing in your Big Blue app.

If your location charges an Annual Membership Fee, the membership fee covers benefits like:

1. Scheduling flexibility and 15 free make-up lessons per year
2. Family discounts for siblings and additional weekly enrollments
3. Enhancements to reporting tools to improve lesson availability and overall customer experience
4. Progress tracking in our app
5. Bringing centralized communication with customers in-house via phone, text, and email, so you interact directly with staff at the pool and not a call center
6. Graduation ribbons
7. One tote bag per family during initial enrollment

Depending on the location you attend for lessons, your student may be subject to an Annual Membership Fee when enrolling in any type of lesson for the first time, or when enrolling in lessons again after a break. This will allow us to continue to provide high-quality swimming lessons, maintain our state-of-the-art facilities, and provide an industry-leading mobile app without raising our per-lesson cost. An Annual Membership Fee is applied for up to two swimmers per family. Additional swimmers are not charged a fee.

We would be happy to discuss scheduling options to accommodate all family members in different lessons simultaneously, making it convenient for you.

Children who have physical, cognitive, and sensory needs may require extra time, attention and/or conversations surrounding their specific needs. At Big Blue, we encourage parents to speak with their local team to understand how we can best serve all swimmers. Additionally, select locations offer lessons with an instructor certified and trained in the Swim Whisperers® method. To contact your local team to learn more, visit our locations page.

For any child, learning to swim is an ongoing process and making progress can vary from child to child depending on a number of factors including age, needs, frequency of lessons and more. Our team will be able to better assess quickness of progress once lessons begin, and continue to update each family throughout lessons.

Our instructors certified in the Swim Whisperers® method are trained specifically on how various sensory needs and outputs can be adapted into the Big Blue curriculum.

We offer both private and group lessons, and which you enroll in is based on your child’s needs. Please reach out to your local school to talk with the team and learn what would be the best fit for your child.

These lessons are held weekly for optimal growth and learning, but we recommend that you reach out to your local school if there are concerns regarding frequency.

The lesson price varies by pool. Please reach out to your local school to learn more about cost.

While we don’t offer any lessons to children younger than 3 months, it’s best to reach out to your local school to understand the best age for your swimmer to begin adaptive swim lessons.

All Big Blue instructors are dedicated, caring and highly trained. Additionally, select instructors are certified and trained in the Swim Whisperers® method, which was created by Swim Angelfish®. To learn more, please reach out to your local team by visiting our locations page.

A swim cap can be especially useful for swimmers with longer hair to keep hair out of eyes and prevent tangles and post-swim brushing battles. Swim caps can also help keep goggles on. At Big Blue, swim caps are recommended for children whose hair covers their ears. If your child doesn’t want to wear a swim cap, a hair band will do!

No need to worry. Our instructors are experts who know how to handle a variety of situations, including water anxiety. We’ll work at your child’s pace, using fun activities and positive reinforcement to help them feel comfortable and confident in the water.

Talk to your child about what to expect and make sure they are well-rested so they can be alert and focused. Also, arrive a few minutes early to get them comfortable with the environment.

Your child should wear a comfortable swimsuit and, if they are not potty-trained, a snug-fitting reusable swim diaper over a disposable swim diaper. Don’t forget to pack a towel and a fresh change of clothes for after the fun!

If you forget either the reusable or disposable swim diaper, both are available for purchase in our pro shop. Please also make sure your child’s diaper is checked, or that they visit the bathroom, before the lesson begins.

Every child who is not completely potty-trained must wear two layers of swim protection at all times while in the pool:

1. A disposable swim diaper
2. A snug-fitting reusable swim diaper worn over the disposable one

This dual-layer policy helps maintain a clean and safe environment for all swimmers.

Yes! At Big Blue Swim School, we offer lessons for children between 3 months and 12 years old. The level each swimmer is placed in is based on both age and skill level.

Our instructors will focus on making your child comfortable in the water through gentle introduction and fun activities.

This will vary depending on the age and needs of each swimmer. All children who are not potty-trained are required to wear a snug-fitting reusable swim diaper over a disposable swim diaper under their swimsuits. All children should have a swimsuit, and we recommend bringing a towel and a change of clothes for after lessons. Parents should also bring their swim gear if they are attending a baby class. Children may wear goggles and/or a swim cap if preferred; however, these are not required. For more information on what to expect and what to bring, click here.

Unless otherwise directed by a medical professional, it is always a smart idea to consider enrolling your child in swimming lessons. Whether they have little experience to none, Big Blue can help them on their journey!

We would recommend consulting with your pediatrician regarding medical or behavioral conditions that may restrict a child’s participation in Adaptive Swim lessons. If you have specific concerns or questions on what our team is able to offer, please reach out to your local school.

Overstimulation is common, but our instructors certified in the Swim Whisperers® method are trained on sensory input and output to help prevent sensory overload. Big Blue does have a flexible lesson makeup policy, however, so please talk to your local school if there are times where your swimmer just needs a day off!

Yes, as each child and their needs may vary, our instructors use their knowledge and training to cater to the individual needs of each child.

Most children with a fear of the water need a gentle touch! Going slow, explaining the process of the skills, focusing on skills in sections, and praise helps children who might have fear coming into classes.

Every sensory processing disorder is different, therefore there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to adapting. We work with caregivers to better understand their child’s strengths and focus on areas we know will benefit the child based on the Big Blue curriculum!

Yes, our instructors have been certified in the Swim Whisperers® method to teach children of all abilities.

Building a relationship with our swimmers is key with any nervous child, which is why our instructors are all dedicated and caring, and why we focus on and celebrate progress and offer consistent and regular classes to help ensure your child’s growth!

Yes, these can be tracked within the Big Blue app or parent portal.

For baby lessons, a parent or caregiver is required to be in the water with the child for the full lesson.

For all other levels, parents and caregivers can watch from the lobby to allow our instructors to build a bond with the swimmers and provide an easier transition to swim skills. However, if there are any specific needs, we encourage you to talk to your local team to determine the best method for your child.

All of our instructors are first aid certified, and we would recommend that children with mobility challenges or seizures enroll into private, 1:1 lesson.

Our instructors work with caregivers to understand the easiest and most beneficial methods of motivating their child and focus on the child’s safety during the class. Redirecting and providing break time is critical for most children at preventing disruptions.

Yes, depending on the needs of the swimmer, there are several tools our instructors may use, including flotation devices.

Please contact your local school for more information on accessibility tools.

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Depending on location, your swimmer may be eligible for our Progress Promise, which is a free lesson for swimmers who have not graduated from their level after 24 lessons. Eligibility for this program varies by location.

You can access the Parent Portal from here, where you can create an account or sign in from our website. Our app can be found on the App Store and Google Play by searching “Big Blue Swim School.”

Thank you for spreading the Big Blue difference! Our fantastic referral program can be found in the parent portal or the mobile app.

Lessons are 30-45 minutes in length, depending on the curriculum level.

Every child will progress differently based on their individual needs and experience. Attending weekly lessons consistently is key in developing your child’s swim skills. With our perpetual weekly lesson model, your child will be moved once they have demonstrated all key skills at their current level rather than waiting for the next session to start a new level.

For the safety of all students, all students are initially placed based on their age-appropriate level. Students are evaluated at each lesson by our trained staff to determine their skill levels using Big Blue’s curriculum. It is not uncommon for swimmers to move up levels quickly if they have previous swim experience.

We find the most effective way to understand a child’s unique needs in the water is through a direct conversation. To determine how your local pool can best serve your family, please call your local pool. Additionally, select Big Blue Swim School locations offer Adaptive Swim lessons with an instructor certified in the Swim Whisperers® method. To learn more and see the list of pools offering Adaptive swim lessons, please visit our Adaptive Swim page.

Our class sizes are developed with a small swimmer-to-teacher ratio, depending on the curriculum level, to provide fun, social lessons plus individualized attention. If you would prefer private lessons, availability and price per lesson varies by location, so please contact us to learn more.

If you would like to cancel lessons at any time, we require a 30-day notice to withdraw you from classes, as noted in our policy.

As included in our diaper policy, every child not fully potty-trained must wear a snug-fitting reusable swim diaper over a disposable swim diaper each time they are in the pool. If you do not already have a reusable waterproof swim diaper, or if you forget the reusable or disposable diaper, we have them available for sale in our pro shop at the pool. Please make sure to always check your child’s diaper or have your child visit the bathroom before lessons begin.

As noted in our policy, if your child has a fever or contagious disease, please be considerate of other families and staff by keeping your child home from lessons and taking advantage of our make-up lesson policy.

We care about your swimmer’s safety just as much as you do. A parent or caregiver must be present throughout the entirety of your child’s swim lesson. In the event that you or another responsible adult is unable to be present for your child’s lesson, we advise you to reschedule the lesson for another day by logging in to the Parent Portal or mobile app.

Our policy states that if you are late to your swimmer’s lesson, we may not be able to accommodate you in an effort to minimize class disruptions and to maintain safety in the pool area. We recommend that you take advantage of our flexible make-up lesson policy if you are running late.

Learning to swim and the importance of water safety is a vital life skill. As children learn to swim, their confidence is boosted, helping them to discover that they can accomplish whatever obstacles in life come their way. At Big Blue Swim School, our mission is to teach kids they can do anything by unlocking their full potential in the water!

Our lesson rate is set per 30- or 45-minute lesson and billed the first of each month. Our lesson rates vary by location, so please visit our locations page to find the pricing at your local pool.

We have pools open across the country, with more coming soon! Please check out our locations page for a list of current and upcoming locations as well as their hours of operation.

Visit our locations page to find a pool near you, then click “View Schedule” to find the best day and time for your lesson.

The best way to build swim and water safety skills is through consistent, formal swim lessons, so our perpetual weekly lessons are scheduled for the same day and time each week. We do not run on a semester or session basis, so you are encouraged to start at any time and always able to withdraw with 30 days’ notice. You are welcome to add drop-in or second weekly lessons as well, which can be found in the Parent Portal or the app.

Our make-up policy allows you to miss up to 15 lessons over the course of a year. Make-up lessons can be booked within the next 7 days after your request is processed. Ensure that you let us know you are missing a regular class and would like to book a make-up lesson through the app, chat, email, phone, or SMS.