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Are you for adults or children?
Mockingbird Swim & Total Fitness is a unique facility. We are a children's fitness facility. As an American Red Cross (ARC) Authorized Provider, we teach ARC Learn-to-Swim classes for ages 6 months to adults. We do allow adults to come in and exercise at certain times of the day (early morning, mid-day or evening). We also have a water aerobics class called Hydrobics.

What is your Mission Statement and Philosophy?
Our mission is to teach in a gentle, fun and nurturing way to improve health. We believe that physical activity promotes positive physical and mental health and leads to confidence throughout life. We believe that swim lessons are a necessity and not an option for all children. As the American Red Cross logo States: Together we can save a life.

Are you a Red Cross Authorized Provider?
Yes, we are committed to building a healthier, safer community by being an American Red Cross authorized provider and helping reach even more people with lifesaving training. As an authorized provider we have an obligation to provide the highest quality training possible. Red Cross training is standardized and recognized by national, state and local authorities, proof and validity of training can easily be provided to regulatory agencies.

Commitment and Make-up policy?
Children should not sway adults when it comes to health and safety issues. Your child will do much better if a routine is established by coming to the same class at the same time each week. Because our student/teacher ratio is low (3:1) our instructors are scheduled for your child, we assume your child will attend each class unless they are ill. Please call to let us know should they become ill or an event arises in which your child will miss class. Again because our ratio is so low, we cannot guarantee a make-up class for your child. We will try to be as accommodating as possible to do our best and get a make-up scheduled for your child's absence.

How warm is the water?
Our pool is maintained at a temperature between 86-88 degrees. Our state of the art climate control system maintains the pool temperature and the air in the pool room keeping humidity down and the temperature pleasant for all swimmers.

How quickly will my child learn to swim?
There are many factors to consider: comfort in the water, physical strength, coordination, ability to focus, maturity, interest, and motivation. Often, a child will acquire new swim skills in quick bursts of learning. Yet, after a quick acquisition of new skills, there may be a plateau of struggling followed by another quick burst of learning. This is normal.

Does my child need to be potty trained?
If your child is not potty trained, the health department mandates that he or she wear a swimming diaper. Due to the failure of disposable swim diapers to work effectively, we must require only washable, Health Department approved SWIM BRIEFS in our pool. Swim briefs may be purchased at the front desk.

Is a class once a week enough for a child to develop strong skills?
Yes! Short time, long-term lessons result in retention and mastery of skills. Our swimmers accelerate because our curriculum is cohesive, linking one drill to the next and building upon their success. Moreover, a 40-minute lesson is just right for a child's attention span.

What should I do if my child cries during a lesson?
Crying is a natural expression of a child's emotional discomfort. Babies to toddlers and school aged children all cry for a variety of reason that can include being separated from you, hungry, sick, angry, teething amongst others. Generally the child is just confused and unsure about what is happening. Other times your child may be crying because they feel powerless and it is the only way for them to express some independence. As parents and teachers, it is our job to help children develop coping skills, so they may conquer   their fears. Delaying or avoiding swim lessons can turn imagined problems into gripping fears and even phobias.

By walking up to the teacher and handing your child over to her or him, you are telling your child that you trust the teacher, giving your child confidence they need. If a child has a highly developed phobia of water, private lessons may be necessary.

Why should infants take swim lessons?
Did you know that in the United States drowning is the second leading cause of death in children 12 and younger? Even at a young age children can learn how to learn how to roll over and float. This is a life saving skill that children of all ages should know how to perform.

The 5 advantages of baby swim lessons are:

1. Safety of knowing how to swim
2. Emotional bonding due to skin on skin contact between parent and child
3. Prevention of aqua phobia (fear of water)
4. Uninterrupted quality of time between parent and child
5. Exercise of all major muscle groups

How do I know which class level is best for my child?
Mockingbird Swim & Total Fitness offers a number of different class levels, all with specific pre-requisites and goals. We would be happy to evaluate your child to make sure you register for the proper class. However, if your child turns out to be more advanced or less experienced then evaluated, we will move your child to a level more suited to his or her abilities.