​Whether you have a kid who’s dying to get into the pool this summer or is afraid of getting his feet wet, one of these local swimming programs will teach him all he needs to know.
629 Central Ave., New Providence
908-665-7946
Get them started early in Baby and Me classes, where they start learning at six months. Water orientation (ages two and up) is an active 30-minute class that teaches kicks, basic arm strokes and blowing bubbles. Children 3 and older learn to cross the pool on their backs in the 30-minute Get Wet class. There’s also an Advanced Beginner class for kids 4 and up who’ve mastered kicking and rotary breathing and an Intermediate I course for those 9 and older who want to learn fly and breaststroke.
80 Fifth Ave., Hawthorne
973-423-4040
Lessons are available for infants four months to a year old in the safety-centric Polliwog program. Fishies-in-training (1 to 3 years old) learn to swim with a parent close by before graduating to Tadpole School, where they’ll hammer down the basics and perfect their stroke.
Locations in Cherry Hill, Deptford East Hanover, Eatontown, Edison, Galloway, Princeton
Swim lessons start at 6 months old for kids, up to age 12 for lessons. There are stroke development lessons for 5- to 15-year-olds. The pools are salt water instead of chlorine.
Locations in Manalapan, Mount Laurel, Princeton, Red Bank
There are lessons offered for baby, beginner and intermediate swimmers, including the Swim Force swim team.
Various locations
866-307-SWIM
The Baby and Me program gets your little one comfortable in the water by teaching him how to blow bubbles and get his face wet in small, semi-private classes. Future pros start at Level 1 with putting their heads underwater and learning to kick on a board, then work their way up to Level 12 where they learn breaststroke and start swimming 100 yards or more.
424 Rte. 46 W., Denville
973-947-6298
Toddlers adjust to the water by using flotation devices, going underwater and getting in and out of the pool alone. The older set learns freestyle and backstroke at their own pace. Kids can also sign up for diving classes that tackle everything from spring to racing dives.
424 Vosseller Ave., Bound Brook
732-560-8000
Kids as young as two months splash around with Mom in the Bathtime Babies class geared towards teaching pairs to bond and socialize in water. Once she gets a little older, sign her up for the Toddler & Me class or group lessons, where she’ll learn to float without help and how to safely put her head underwater. Older kids ages 6 to 12 learn backstroke and how to swim.
Multiple locations
888-422-SWIM
Beginners will practice holding their breath underwater, floating and kicking. There are semi-private and private lessons available for little fishies who get hooked. If you have two kids, try the sibling lessons.
Locations in Brick, Florham Park, Manasquan, Roxbury, Sparta and Warren
Babies control their breathing by putting their heads underwater in Water Babies I (ages 6 to 15 months) with you by their side. In Water Babies II (16 to 30 months) they learn to move in the water. The summer program uses a smaller pool to help them get comfortable.
30 Brower Ln., Hillsborough
908-359-3600
Babies 6 months and older get their feet wet in group or private lessons that run for an hour every day. There are group lessons for swimmers of all ages and skill levels, and a choice of semi-private or private lessons.
Plainsboro and Princeton Fitness and Wellness Center
1225 State Rd., Princeton
609-683-7888
7 Plainsboro Rd Plainsboro
609-799-7777
Get your 3-and-up water bugs started in 30-minute Mommy and Me classes before they hit the pool for basic swim lessons. There’s also Competitive Stroke for kids ages 6 to 17, which is all about improving endurance, strength and speed through drill work. Private and semi-private instruction is available.
Various locations
Kids get comfortable in the pool in the Parent-n-Me class that focuses on water safety and bonding with your baby. This school has 10 additional levels that teach guppies everything from floating to freestyle to long-distance swimming. There’s a summer camp and swim team open to the older set.
1 Castle Point Terr., Hoboken
201-216-5590
She gets used to everything splish-splash in this Mommy and Me class with fun, musical games designed for your mini-me of 6 months and older. There are also group lessons available for the older kids.
Locations in Millburn and Whippany
973-258-4023
This stunning indoor pool hosts private, semi-private and small group lessons alike for all ages and abilities. Lessons are given daily. The Millburn location’s pool was built specifically for kids’ lessons, so it’s shallow from end to end, perfect for little beginners. Call to schedule a swim evaluation.
Take Me to the Water Swim School
Locations in Englewood, Montclair, Paramus, Park Ridge and Ridgewood
888-794-6692
Babies as young as 6 months old get to splish and splash with Mom by their side in Baby and Me. Once they’ve mastered the basics, sign them up for group lessons for beginners ages 5 and up. There are private lessons for kids with hydrophobia and other special needs.
Park Street Branch, 25 Park St., Montclair
973-744-3400
Geyer Family Branch, 159 Glenridge Ave., Montclair
973-783-7640
Choose from Swim Starters (ages 6 months to 3 years) where little ones build confidence, Swim Basics (all ages) so children get comfy in the pool and Swim Strokes (school-aged) to help them nail a mean breaststroke.
