You’re sitting on the pool deck benches, scrolling through your phone while keeping one eye on your child’s swim lesson. But your attention keeps drifting to the next lane over. In that lane, an instructor has their class engaged—they’re taking turns, listening to instructions, and practicing their kicks. It’s organized. It’s productive.

Then you look back at your child’s lane. It’s… chaos. Two kids are in a splashing war in the corner, another is hanging off the lane line, and the instructor seems flustered, their voice barely rising above the noise. Very little actual instruction appears to be happening.

An uneasy feeling settles in your stomach. You start asking yourself questions: Am I being too critical? Is this just how kids are? We’re paying good money for this. More importantly, is my child actually learning to be safe?

Let us tell you right now: Your gut feeling is valid, and it’s telling you something important. This guide is designed to help you understand what a high-quality swim lesson looks like and to empower you with a clear, respectful plan for what to do when you see the opposite.

Why a Quality Instructor Isn’t Just a “Nice-to-Have”

This situation is about more than just bad customer service. When a swim lesson is ineffective, it has real consequences.

• It’s a Safety Issue: This is the number one priority. A disorganized class is an unsafe class. An instructor who has lost control of the group cannot properly supervise every child, and that’s a risk no parent should have to accept.
• It’s a Financial Issue: Swim lessons are an investment in a life skill. When a class is poorly managed, you are wasting both your valuable time and your hard-earned money.
• It’s a Confidence Issue (for Your Child): A chaotic or negative experience can inadvertently teach a child that the water is a place for fear or unstructured goofing off. This can undermine the goal of building respect for the water and can even make them dislike swimming altogether.

What to Look For: Green Flags vs. Red Flags

It’s easy to spot the difference between a great lesson and a problematic one when you know what to look for.

Green Flags (Signs of a Great Lesson): 

✅ Structure & Control: The instructor has a clear lesson plan and commands the class’s attention respectfully. There’s a noticeable rhythm and purpose to the class. 

✅ Active Engagement: Kids are consistently busy and learning. Even when waiting their turn, they might be practicing kicks on the wall or blowing bubbles. 

✅ Individual Connection: The instructor makes eye contact with and gives brief, specific feedback to each child throughout the lesson. 

✅ Safety is Evident: Clear rules (“walk, don’t run,” “wait for me to say go”) are established and calmly enforced. The instructor is always scanning the entire group. 

✅ Productive Fun: There is plenty of laughter and games, but they are all cleverly designed to teach a specific swimming skill.

Red Flags (Signs of a Problem): 

❌ Chaos Reigns: Kids are running wild, not listening, or splashing disruptively with little to no correction from the instructor. 

❌ Instructor Appears Disengaged: They seem overwhelmed, are frequently distracted by things outside the pool, or worse, are looking at their phone. 

❌ Excessive “Wall Time”: The majority of the lesson is spent with kids sitting on the side, getting cold while waiting for their 30-second turn to swim. 

❌ No Clear Plan: The lesson feels random and disjointed, with no logical progression of skills from one week to the next.

What to Do: A Parent’s 3-Step Action Plan

If you’re seeing more red flags than green, it’s time to act. Here is a clear, non-confrontational process.

1. 1. Observe & Confirm. Before you act, watch one more lesson to confirm it’s a consistent pattern, not just a one-off bad day for the instructor or the group.
   2. Speak to Management Privately. This is crucial. Do not confront the instructor on the pool deck in front of students and other parents. Instead, go to the deck supervisor or front desk and politely ask to speak with a manager. Frame your conversation calmly and with “I” statements: “I’ve noticed my child’s class seems a bit chaotic, and I’m concerned about the amount of instruction they’re receiving.” This is about seeking a solution, not placing blame.
   3. Look for a Resolution. A good swim school will take your concerns seriously. They will listen, thank you for the valuable feedback, and offer a path forward. This might be observing the class themselves, providing more training to the instructor, or offering to move your child to a different class. A dismissive attitude is a major red flag about the entire organization’s values.

Our Commitment at The Swim Advantage

This is a situation no parent should have to navigate alone. A swim school’s philosophy on instructor training and parent communication is one of the most important things to consider.

At The Swim Advantage, every instructor undergoes rigorous, ongoing training not just in stroke mechanics, but in class management, child development, and our specific, proven curriculum. We hire for passion and train for excellence. Furthermore, we believe in an open-door policy. We want you to speak up. Your trust is our top priority, and we view your feedback not as a complaint, but as a valuable tool that helps us maintain the highest standards of safety and quality for every single student.

You Are Your Child’s Best Advocate

Learning to swim is too important to leave to chance. You have a right to expect quality, safety, and professionalism from any program you choose. Trust your instincts. A quality swim lesson should build your confidence in the program just as much as it builds your child’s confidence in the water.

If you’re looking for a program built on a foundation of expert instruction and open communication, we invite you to learn more about The Swim Advantage difference here in Orland Park.