The address is 604 Centennial St. There is an open gate on Gharkey St. you will walk through to the backyard. There is a sign on the curb right outside the open gate- which should make it easy to find!

Yes! It hovers around 77-80 degrees. Please try to avoid wearing wetsuits in lessons. It gives kids a false ability to float.

If your child gets distracted easily and has a hard time focusing around other kids, I suggest privates. If your child does better seeing other kids try new things, group lessons would be great!

You can email me through alivia@lessonsfromalifeguard.com and I will get back to you within 72 hours during business hours on the weekdays. Please do not contact me through my personal phone number.

I suggest trying swimmer ear plugs and nose plugs. The nose plugs are only made in one adult size, so depending on how small your child is it might not fit, but is worth a try! You can find the ear plugs/wax and nose plugs at big 5, cvs or amazon.

No. Please have a guardian with them at all times at our lessons.

Swim Club is the ONLY time a parent/guardian can drop off their child.

Different ages is okay, different skill levels is not. If they are on different levels, they should not be in the same class. We can split 30 minute lessons between siblings for a Group Lesson price! Email alivia@lessonsfromalifeguard.com to set up.

We are open 7 months out of the year.

April-October

Yes! I teach out of my childhood home on the west side of Santa Cruz.

The shallow end is 3.5 feet and the deep end is 8 feet, with a ledge inside that goes all the way around the deep end.

At 3 years old. The previous class to this would be Mommy & Me.

Please read the Honest Cancellation Policy page.

I do! I have worked with a handful of older adults for lap swimming and perfecting their strokes. There is no age limit on swim lessons!

Bath tub and shower! If they are not ready for the bathtub, practice in the shower and stand where the water is going over there face, with and without goggles.

For the younger kiddos, try learning a new thing together outside of class and relating it back to swim lessons that trying new things is fun. Sometimes being little, it’s hard to understand why we would want to do something we’re scared of!

For your older children, explain the importance of learning water safety so if they want to go to pool parties and show their friends what a cannon ball is, they need to learn how to be water safe first!

The more time your child can spend in the water, the better. Get them in it as much as possible! Including the ocean.

No, I don’t recommend pulling them out. Every child goes at their own pace. Being patient and encouraging them is our approach. Swim lessons are an investment!

One summer they might find it impossible and the next summer they are willing to try. We lay down the building blocks this summer and build on them next summer. That is a very common pattern and a typical example of progression!

We will try to make it the smoothest transition we can. If your child is in privates, we might have you in the pool but off to the side so your child is working with the instructor. If your child is in groups, sit on the side of the pool with your feet in so they can see you and talk to you if they need to. Please ask me before doing any of these options.