Other Answers to Common Parent Questions

Q: There are so many swim schools in San Diego, what makes your school unique?

A: The model of our school is more like a two-week bootcamp of swim lessons rather than an on-going class spread out over many months (or years).  We've had so many conversations with San Diego parents that were frustrated with the weekly swim lessons that went on and on for years with very little progress.  Our goal is to absolutely maximize what your child can do at their age.  Kids forget what they've learned if they're only attending a class once a week.  We've found much more is accomplished with intensive lessons.  Yes, it's a time commitment for those two weeks! But your calendar will thank you in the long run! Plus, pool parties are much more fun when you are confident in your child's skills. 

Q: What is your pricing?

A: It depends how many students are in the class. For adults we typically only teach private lessons. For kiddos, we teach private, semi-private and group lessons. Semi-private lessons are $425 per kiddo for 30 minutes of just 2 kiddos in the class (our most popular option!). Private lessons are $850 for two weeks of 30 minute lessons. Group lessons are available at limited rented pools and are 4 kiddos for 45 minutes for $355/kiddo . These prices cover the two weeks of tuition which are Monday through Thursday, so 8 lessons total.

We have a new option in 2024: Our Five Day Refresher option is for alumni of Alli Jo’s Swim School only. Classes will be one week long, Monday through Friday. The cost is $325 for a spot in a semi-private class or $650 for private lessons. The Refresher is a fantastic option for busy alumni families, swim team/Junior Lifeguards prep, or an upcoming vacation.  It’s also great for breaking bad habits and brushing up on skills.

Q: Do you teach private or group lessons? 

A: Both! We are happy to talk this through with you to find the best fit. You might not see photos of adult lessons on our website since it’s a more personal experience, but we LOVE teaching adults and do it often!

• Adults and older children lessons are private only.

• We trust you in knowing your child and whether semi-private or private lessons are best for them! We hope to resume group lessons soon, when Covid cases are not so high.

Q: Where are the lessons?

A:  Pool selection is very important to us. Our headquarters is a heated pool near Mount Helix. And when we say heated, it's 88-90 degrees! In 2021, we built a second pool just 2.5 miles away from our HQ pool that we creatively named HQ2! Both pools are heated March through October.

We began renting beautiful, heated rented pools in 2021 and it has been a win for everyone involved. Please email us at hello@allijosswimschool.com to learn more about offering your pool! Please note, it needs to be heated with a gas or electric heater. There have been studies done that when children are warm, they are better able to trust their surrounding and people, and thus go much further in their skills.

Q: What's the youngest age you teach?

A: 24 months old. Swim lessons at an earlier age is great (and until a few years ago, we started kiddos at 14 months) but out of respect for our neighbors, we have decided to raise the age to 2 years old for lessons at our home. Attachment/separation anxiety is such a cause of crying in children under 2. Most times it’s not that they are crying because of swimming, it’s just that they want one of their parents.

Q: Do you give a guarantee?

A: Many parents have spent years doing weekly swim lessons at another swim program and they want results! Just like a gymnastics teacher can’t guarantee a back handspring and a baseball teacher can’t guarantee a home run, we can’t guarantee that you child will swim the length of the pool on their own at the end of two weeks. We don't do guarantees, but we make every effort to get incredible results. Our model is to absolutely maximize what your kiddo can learn in the two weeks instead of dragging on lessons at a lower rate for months and years on end. We can assure you that we've never had anyone not satisfied at the end of our swim lessons. If anything, we exceed expectations for what can be accomplished in two weeks. Yelp or Google reviews might help to compare swim schools, we hope that helps!

Q: What do you think about floaties/water wings/puddle jumpers?

A: We have strong opinions on this topic, we sometimes need to take a deep breath before we answer it. In short, we are not a fan. Here’s why: first, we think they give a false sense of confidence. These devices allow kids to pop to the surface after jumping in. Kids don’t realize that this ability is due to the flotation device and will sometimes jump in when parents aren’t looking- with no floatie on. They don’t pop up as they expect and then the result depends on a rescue from an attentive adult. Talking with firefighters and first responders, we all too often hear stories of their drowning calls and it’s simply heartbreaking. Second, floaties train children to swim vertically rather than horizontally. This can be untaught, but it takes several days. We recognize the draw of these devices, but would strongly caution our families to use them sparingly.

Q: What do we need to bring on the first day of lessons? 

A: Please have students in their swimsuit, bring a towel, put on some oil-free sunscreen, and if you have a toy that is water-safe and sinks, please bring that too.  Rashguards (the longsleeve water shirts) are amazing and help keep swimmers warm. Please do NOT bring floaties or life vests, thanks!

Q:  What is my role as a mom or dad? 

A:  Your role is to be an encourager and cheerleader from the sidelines!  We love parents that clap and cheer and reinforce the victories.  In many cases, we are your child's very first teacher, so anything you can do outside of the pool to encourage good listening is very helpful. A simple thumbs up from the sidelines goes such a long way! We’ll be the coach, you’ll be the cheerleader and your swimmer will go far!

Q: Will my child cry?

A: Maybe. Separation anxiety is especially hard for 2 and 3 year olds. We are a new teacher and it takes a couple days to build trust. Some kids never cry. Some kids cry for the first 5 days and then get breakthrough. We are committed to both safety and enjoyment of the water. That being said, sometimes we have to work through extreme fear and there are tears anytime fear is confronted. We are here to guide and give skills so that fear melts away and turns to enjoyment!

Q: If I'm unable to make it to a lesson, can someone else bring my child to their swim lesson?

A:  Absolutely.  Grandparents, nannies, and friends are common.  We just ask that you convey to them the expectation of minimal feedback from the 'sidelines'.  In some cases, the instructor might need to send away an adult if their presence is more of a distraction than a help. Also please be courteous if you need to bring siblings to class, we want to be respectful of our neighbors and noise.

Q: Speaking of not making it to a lesson, do we get a make-up if we miss?

A: Our normal sessions are only 8 lessons long, so please don’t book when you know you’re going out of town or have other commitments. Each lesson builds upon the previous lesson and we have specific methodologies to get the best results. We understand kiddos get sick with fevers and need to miss sometimes, but we require a doctors note for a make-up. We will not do a make-up lesson for a missed class due to vacation plans, childcare coordination, forgetting swim class, deciding to go to the zoo, or any other reason outside of a doctor’s note. (We’ve heard some crazy ones over the years!)

Q: What is your official policy on cancellations? Make-ups?

A: Thanks for asking!

Cancellations: A cancellation is a real bummer, especially a midnight email the night before lessons start. We understand there are emergencies, but please be courteous to let us know as soon as you are able to. A no-call/no-show may result in losing the opportunity to book future lessons. All cancellations lose their deposit, as it covers admin time to fill the spot(s).

Make-up Lessons: When you reserve a session, you are committing to all eight lessons in that session. In the rare event that AJSS needs to postpone a lesson for lightning or an instructor emergency, we will absolutely offer a make-up option. If you need to miss a lesson for any reason, there are NO make-ups offered without a doctor's note.

Q: How and when should I pay for lessons?

A: Deposits are required once a lesson has been booked- details will be sent to you via email. Payment in full is due by Wednesday of the first week of lessons.  Cash and checks are accepted.  Checks can be made payable to 'House of Houck Inc'. 

Q: Do you give a military discount? A sibling discount?

A: We LOVE our military service members! In fact, we were an active duty Navy family for years.  That being said, the only discount we give is for twins or other multiples!