Swim Lessons

The Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy (LKSA) is designed to help children as young as three months old develop muscle strength, confidence, and self-esteem in and around the water.

One of the key features of our program is its flexibility. Swimmers can enter the program at any time and progress at their own pace, without having to wait for a new class to start. This allows your child to work at a pace that is comfortable for them, building up their skills and confidence over time.

In addition to building physical skills, we emphasizes water safety, teaching even infants essential safety skills.

• We teach our students the SwimRight® method, which utilizes the swim-float-swim technique as the foundation of our swimming lessons.
  • Survival swimming refers to the ability to float and breathe independently in the water for an extended period of time, regardless of the depth.
  • One of the most important survival swimming skills we teach is how to roll from a face-down position in the water to a face-up independent back float. This is crucial because infants and toddlers cannot lift their heads to take a breath if they fall face down in the water. By learning to roll onto a back float, your child will have the skills they need to stay safe in the water.
• Swimmers track their progress in personal journals filled with fun exercises and positive reinforcement.
• Every eight weeks, they participate in safety tests, which allow them to demonstrate their proficiency and move on to the next level with a sense of accomplishment and pride.

We understand that water can be intimidating, and we work to create a supportive and reassuring environment for all of our swimmers. Our experienced instructors will help your child learn and build upon the fundamental skills of floating, breathing, and propulsion, turning swimming into an enjoyable and healthy activity. With your commitment and perseverance, your child will be able to achieve their goals in the water.

We conduct evaluations to help us place each swimmer in the appropriate learning level. We also work with you to place them with the right instructor to meet the needs of your schedule. To schedule an evaluation and enroll in the program, please contact us by phone, at 617.558.6442, or by email, at lksainfo@jccgb.org.

• For children under the age of two:
  • Parent-tot: If you want to be actively involved in introducing your child to the water, parent-tot classes may be the right choice. Once your child has learned the basic skills and is ready to progress, private lessons are the next step.
  • Private lessons: If your child has leveled out of parent-tot lessons, or if you want them to develop independence and water safety but don’t want to get in the water yourself, private lessons may be a better fit.
• For children aged two and up:
  • Group lessons: These are recommended for children who are comfortable and cooperative in swim instruction. The student-teacher ratio for beginner classes is 4:1.
  • Private lessons: If your child is more hesitant about swimming with a group, you may want to start with private lessons, and eventually move on to group lessons.

Consistency is key when learning to swim, and practicing two or more times per week can be helpful. However, even taking lessons once per week on a year-round basis can help your child develop this important life skill. If your child needs or wants additional support, the frequency of lessons can be increased at any time. It is helpful to discuss your goals for the lessons with your instructor so that they can support both you and your child in achieving them.

All of our instructors are certified instructors in the SwimRight® method.

• If you need to schedule around a vacation or other break, here’s what you need to know:
  • Swim lessons are billed on a monthly basis, either by invoice or electronic funds transfer (EFT).
  • If you have a vacation or other hiatus planned, you need to notify the aquatics department at least 24 hours before the first class your child will miss. You can contact us by phone, at 617.558.6442, or by email, at lksainfo@jccgb.org.
    • If you fail to notify us, you will be charged for the missed lesson(s). There are no exceptions to this policy. To ensure that you’re not charged for missed lessons, it’s important to communicate your plans in advance. Please be mindful of your instructor’s time!

To participate in swim lessons, you’ll need to bring the following items:

• Bathing suit
• Towel
• Swim cap (provided when you register for lessons)
• Progress book (provided when you register for lessons)
• Additionally, all children ages 3.5 and under must wear a swim diaper and waterproof vinyl swim pant under their bathing suits. Be sure to come prepared with these items to ensure a successful and enjoyable lesson.

There are several ways you can support your child’s swim journey outside of class:

• Encourage them to make use of free swim time to reinforce their love and respect for the water. By providing your child with opportunities to practice and reinforce their skills, you can help them make the most of their swim lessons and continue to progress in their abilities.
• From time to time, your instructor may also suggest an activity or technique to practice. Please feel free to ask for ideas!