While we begin to offer classes as early as age 4, some children are still too young to fully gain the benefits of a swim lesson. We have not had much success with the child who is carried in arms to the poolside or with the students who are promised they will never have to put their faces in the water. Teachers, parents and students all need to be brave facing the challenge of this new experience yet sensitive to the individual needs of the child. We treat each child with respect, realizing that development may be varied and inconsistent. For some, swimming will not be learned easily, while others pick up the activity quickly and effortlessly. Each student will be encouraged to progress at his or her own rate.