Everyone loves swim nights at Goldfish Swim School. The kids love that they get to swim even when it’s cold outside and I love that all three kids get lessons at the same time!
My kids have taken private swimming lessons in the summer for several years and we had a good experience. But this winter we started lessons at Goldfish Swim School in Urbandale and there’s no going back! 
5 Reasons to Check Out Goldfish Swim School
1. Easy scheduling
I have 3 kids, ages 4, 6, and 8. They are each at different levels in their level of comfort in the water. Goldfish assessed their levels and placed each of them in a level that suited them. We have been able to schedule their lessons either all during the same 30-minute timeslot (hallelujah!) or back to back. This is amazing!! There is also a discount when you have multiple kids in lessons which is always helpful!
Goldfish has a rolling schedule so you don’t have to wait for a session to start to begin lessons. Once your kid passes the level they immediately move up.
2. Consistency
When we took lessons in the summer we would go every day for a week or two and then be done. I appreciate going once a week so the kids can build confidence over time. My 8-year-old has progressed to the Pro 2 level and will have the opportunity to join the Swim Force team when he passes it if he’s interested. Swim Force is a recreational swim team that practices for one hour a week. Students work on perfecting strokes and participate in quarterly swim meets
3. Facility and Staff
As soon as you walk in the door of Goldfish, you feel like you are in a tropical oasis. The air is warm and the atmosphere is festive. The changing rooms look like tiki huts, there are surfboards at the hair drying stations, and there’s even a palm tree! The temperature in the pool area is a balmy Pool temp is 90 degrees and the air temp is 92 degrees meaning no shivering kids, win, win! Everyone who works at Goldfish is friendly and quick to answer questions. The teachers are patient and remember my kids’ names and update me on their progress at the end of their lessons each week. The classes are small with a maximum of 4:1 student/teacher ratio.
4. Celebration
Who doesn’t love a ribbon or reward for a good lesson? My kids love getting ribbons after they master a new skill. When they pass a level, they get to ring a bell! I love that these simple celebrations mark milestones and make them special. We also love the weekly coloring sheets and prizes like balloons or candy.
5. Swim as play
The philosophy at Goldfish is to treat swimming as play. The Science of SwimPlay® Curriculum is focused on teaching swim and safety skills while building character through guided play. This is important for all ages, but especially for my 4-year-old. She was the most timid going into lessons and now she can’t stop talking about how much she loves them! She has gained so much confidence, I can’t wait to go swimming with her this summer and not have her clinging to me like a wet monkey.
Connect with Goldfish Swim School
Website
Facebook
3771 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322
704-741-7260
Two Goldfish Swimmers, Two Different Stories
Goldfish Swim Team, Swim Force
If you are interested in learning more, call to schedule a free trial swim lesson and make sure to mention Des Moines Mom!
