This post was done in partnership with Goldfish Swim School in Springfield, NJ and we received free classes, however, all opinions are 100% my own.

If you follow us on Instagram, you probably have seen that the kids are taking swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School in Springfield for the last few months and I wanted to share our experience with swim lessons because they’ve been such a positive asset to our lives.

I’m not a parent who like to over schedule my kiddos. I believe in extracurricular activities, but I really cherish our time home and not having to run from event to event yet. However, I also believe that swim lessons are a MUST. Summer is coming soon and we are basically always around water and having a sense of ease knowing my child can get to safety in case something happens is a top priority in my book.

My four year old son Gabriel took a few swim lessons when he was a baby. He has always been happy around water. But I am always worried about his safety if he were to ever fall in the deep end or a lake. Drowning can take seconds and we want to prepare our kids to save themselves.

My youngest Raphael who is now two years old had never had lessons before and was terrified of having his face under the water. He started out happy to play around at swim lessons but soon learned that he was actually learning how to swim and be confident in himself. After a few classes he was going under the water and following all the directions the instructors gave.

Goldfish Swim School offers lessons from 4 months to 12 years old. Their instructors offer their expert guidance in proper swim techniques while also demonstrating and teaching water safety. With a maximum of 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio, you can feel confident that your child is getting the attention, experience, guidance and instruction they deserve.

The boys each get 30 minute lessons every Thursday, conveniently at the same time even though they are in different classes.

Gabriel is in the Junior 1 class for 3-4 year olds where he’s learning things like: flutter kicking with a barbell, breath control in underwater dips, superman glides, crab walking along the wall and climbing out of the pool using the “fin, fin, belly, flipper” method.

Raphael is in the Mini 2 class for 16-35 month olds where he is learning things like: comfort in the water and in a class setting, kicking with a barbell, pulling paddle swim, wall hold, water dips and Superman glides. This class requires that a guardian goes in the water with the kid.

Among these techniques, they are learning other water safety skills, like how to turn right back toward the wall after they jump off the side, for example. All the exercises are fun and engaging, and even Gabriel (who is typically very shy) is eager to participate!

At the end of the class the instructors give parents a report of how the kids are doing on their skills. Kids will get moved up as they master all the skills in that level. Gabriel loves getting little ribbons when he master a skill, he is always so proud to show me!

Goldfish offers a number of different classes at different times throughout the week. Whichever class you choose, your child will have the same teachers every week. This gives the kids the opportunity to build a relationship & trust with their instructors, setting them up for success in the pool.

This school is inviting, friendly & fun. The space features bright colors and a laid back Caribbean vibe, making it perfectly welcoming for kids, especially those that may be afraid of the water.

There are easy-to-reach cubbies that allow kids to storage their belongings independently.

Parents can relax in front of the viewing window while their kids are in the pool. It’s close enough to watch your kids progress in the pool.

You don’t have to worry about your kid being cold. The 90 degree heated pool is perfect and your kids can enjoy lessons year round!!

The poolside showers is the best thing ever! Kids can rinse off chlorine before heading inside to get dressed! They feature soap dispensers so the kids can get nice and clean before heading home. The boys love that they can take a shower “by themselves” lol.

Then you head to the dressing rooms which have fun colored doors, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. There’s a little bench inside where you can set your bag and hooks where you can hang towels or wet suits when changing.

After changing, you can use the dry bar to dry kids hair. This is especially helpful in the winter, so you don’t have to go out in the snow with wet hair! They have an adorable setup with a surfboard for the kids to sit while you dry their hair.

Another perk is the swimsuit dryer. You just throw your suit in and push down on the top to make it work. I love the fact that I don’t have to carry dripping wet suits home!

Once we are ready to go home, the kids head towards the front desk to grab their “prize of the week”. This is one of their favorite parts. Every week they prepare treats for the kids like stickers, toys, coloring pages, etc.

Overall, we love our experience with Goldfish Swim School and the kids are learning a lot. They aren’t quite swimming on their own completely, but these perpetual lessons are really ensuring that they get weekly swim practice, feel comfortable in the pool, and understand water safety.

Thursdays has become their favorite day of the week! 😀 You can watch a little tour I posted on Instagram here. Plus a little insight of our weekly classes!

If you have any questions about Goldfish Swim School, I’d love to help answer them! Feel free to leave a comment or send me an e-mail and I’ll get back to you. Also to learn more about their programs, please visit their website or follow them on social media.