24 criteria. Three schools. One confident decision. Score each cell ✓ (good), ~ (okay), or ✗ (no) — or jot the number they give you.
WaterWiseKids.com — Free water safety education for families
Screen by phone first (section 1), then tour your top two or three with this sheet on a clipboard.
| Criteria | School A: __________ |
School B: __________ |
School C: __________ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safety & Supervision | |||
| Safety staff on deck lifeguard or safety-trained staff besides instructors | |||
| Emergency procedures posted rescue equipment visible and reachable | |||
| Survival skills taught early back float / rollover-to-breathe in beginner levels | |||
| Background checks & abuse-prevention policy answered directly, without flinching | |||
| Parents may observe every lesson clear sightline to the whole pool | |||
| Instructors | |||
| Ratio for my child's age write the actual number, e.g. 3:1 | |||
| Instructor certification & training what credential? how many training hours? | |||
| Same instructor week to week low turnover, consistent teacher | |||
| Instructor in the water, at eye level observed during a real class | |||
| Kids engaged & moving not waiting on the wall | |||
| Curriculum & Progression | |||
| Written level progression clear skills ladder they can show you | |||
| Mastery-based advancement move up when skill is shown, not when session ends | |||
| Year-round / continuous enrollment skills fade over long breaks | |||
| Progress reported to parents how, and how often? | |||
| Pool, Comfort & Logistics | |||
| Water temperature write the number; 88–92°F ideal for young kids | |||
| Facility clean, warm changing areas | |||
| Drive time that survives winter minutes from home/school | |||
| Lesson times fit our week | |||
| Fair makeup / cancellation policy | |||
| Cost & Value | |||
| True monthly cost tuition + registration + annual fees + gear | |||
| Free trial lesson offered | |||
| Sibling discount / family pricing | |||
| No long prepaid contract required month-to-month or easy pause is the friendlier model | |||
| Guarantee / scholarship options | |||
| TOTALS (count the ✓ marks) | |||
Keep reading — expert guidance for choosing the right program.
Formal swim lessons reduce drowning risk by up to 88% for children ages 1–4 — and quality, safety-first programs teach survival skills from as early as 3 months old, year-round. Find programs near you that score well on this worksheet.
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