FAQ

All of our instructors are required to go through the American Red Cross Professional Rescuer Lifeguard and CPR course. They become certified in CPR, Lifeguarding, and First Aid. In addition to that our instructors undergo 40+ hours of training both in and out of the water. They also receive swim lessons taught in the “miller method.” Finally, before taking their own classes, instructors observe and co-teach with seasoned instructors.

Our training program has been developed so that our instructors are able to observe various types of class situations and have the opportunity to interact with various student personalities and temperaments. They also read and discuss articles and scenarios of fearful and/or upset children and are trained how to be sensitive to the child’s fears and how to best handle that situation with both child and parent. Our instructors are trained to use and gentle and supportive approach to first time swimmers.

• Monday-Thursday: 9am-12pm and 3pm-8pm
• Friday: 9am-6pm
• Saturday: 9am-1pm

• Family Swim: Saturday 4pm-6pm and Sunday 3pm-5pm
• Lap Swim: Tuesday and Thursday 8am-9am

Our indoor pools are kept at 89-90 degrees year round

Based on our experience, 30 minutes is the ideal amount of time to capture a child’s focus. It also ensures that we can keep the child interested and work at a good pace the entire class time.

Our experience with teaching swimming has shown us that typically, children perform better in a group setting. Our small class size (4:1) allows time for each child to have sufficient individual attention and instruction, as well as the opportunity to interact socially with the other students in the class. Having more than one student also allows for learning through observation and demonstration. We do, however, recommend private lessons for individuals with special needs and/or those who have a time line to meet a specific goal.

We encourage parents to let the instructor do most of the teaching. Children learn from repetition and songs/games associated with specific skills. Bath time is a great time to reinforce skills learned in swim class. You can refer to our “Homework” page for more at-home practice ideas!

We have two observation rooms built specifically for the viewing pleasure of our parents. The rooms have glass windows so parents can watch their children swim anywhere in the pool area. We have found that children are often distracted when parents are poolside. Our goal is to have the child focused on the instructor and the lesson for the entire 30-minute class time. Parents are welcome to step out on the deck with 2-3 minutes remaining in class to take pictures and participate in a “show and tell” time with their child’s class.

Since you’re the parent and not the instructor you aren’t able to make that promise. Advise your child to express those feelings to the instructor. This will increase the bond of trust between child and instructor and will also allow the instructor to approach that specific skill with more sensitivity.

No. We believe that abruptly removing your child from a lesson with only reinforce any anxieties or fears that they currently have. Some children may simply be suffering from separation anxiety and this will go away as soon as the child gets to know and trusts the instructor. As any new activity, anxiety may be associated with the unknown, and a few tears may be shed, but this too will go away with time. Our instructors are trained to be sensitive to these fears and anxieties and will help ease the child into the water compassionately. Patience, reinforcement, and lots of love and encouragement from both parent and instructor are key in this situation.

While continuous progression is ideal for any activity, we are well aware that children excel at different rates. Factors that affect this progression may be: prior exposure to water, time spent practicing skills at home, parental attitudes and expectations, acceptance of new learning situations, and the child’s natural learning abilities. We do our best, at Miller, to make progress as rapid and consistent as possible. Therefore, we recommend maintain classes throughout the year in order to maximize skill retention.

As soon as a child can crawl, they are at risk for drowning. Water safety then becomes a necessity. At Miller, beginning lessons at 6 months of age allows a pleasant bonding time for child and parent as well as a necessary water safety education for both child and parent. Swim lessons can enhance psychological development through stimulation of the senses and socialization as well as improve the development of gross motor skills. Children at this age also do not know fear, so learning to respect and enjoy the water will create a positive association with water activities.

No, it is not harmful for young children to swim. Sometimes this statement is made because people feel that if a young child is taught to swim, then the parents will be more likely to let them swim while unsupervised. The skills that your children learn at Miller are NOT a replacement for parental supervision. You may also refer to the revised APA statement regarding swim lessons from 2012 on the blog section of our website.

Absolutely not. Water related accidents occur regardless of an individual’s swimming ability. We strongly advice parents to supervise their children at all times, in and around the water. Never assume someone else is watching your child. We also encourage you to participate in our ThinkSafe program where child and parent can become educated about water safety in and around the pool.

No. Moisture remaining in the ear canal causes bacteria to grow, which causes infection. You may speak with a deck supervisor or a pediatrician about ways to remove the water from ears after swim lessons, showers, and baths.

Yes! Refer to our Songs and Lyrics page on our website for songs most commonly sung in Diaper Dolphins, Flippers, Minnows, and Level 1 classes. We encourage parents to learn these songs and sing them along with their children during bath time to reinforce the skills learned during class.

We, at Miller, believe that floatation devices give children and parent’s a false sense of security. We encourage the children to feel the water and to recognize how it affects and moves their body. The floatation devices allow the children to swim in a more vertical body position and do not allow children to discover their natural buoyancy.

Yes! All items found during the day or at night in the locker rooms are placed in a blue tub right outside of the Family Dressing Rooms. If, you find an unclaimed item, please turn it in to the Front Desk and we will place it in the lost and found. After several months of items remaining in the lost and found, they will be donated to Goodwill.

A Deck Supervisor is available to answer your questions regarding your child’s progress, a technique we are using in swim lessons, a discrepancy during ribbon week, or any other concern you may have on the day of your swim lesson. We encourage you to speak with the Deck Supervisor regarding special needs or learning styles of your child, concerns you may have with instructors or any other swim related need!

All children not potty-trained are required to use a reusable swim diaper. Per the Health Department children must wear a washable, reusable swim diaper, not disposable swim diapers or any other diaper that may dissolve in our pool. We do have the required swim diaper for sale at our facility, should your child need one.

For your convenience, we have a women and men’s locker room, equipped with showers, toilets and changing areas. We also have family dressing rooms where you may change multiple children of different gender. Miller does not allow children age 5 and over in the opposite-gender locker room.