Here are the most frequently asked questions received by the AquaKids staff. Please let us know if you have additional questions!

Q. Are Private Lessons available if I feel safer with a smaller group?

A.

At AquaKids, we believe there are many benefits to learning in a group setting. This is our preferred and recommended way of learning. However, we do offer Private Lessons for students with special needs that are unable to participate in a group class. Private Lessons are very limited and may not be available.

Q. How does AquaKids® compare to other Swim Schools?

A.
Small Class Sizes:
We offer 3:1 student/teacher ratio, the smallest class size in the industry! (Waterbaby classes have 7:1 student/teacher ratio)
 
Safety:
All employees are extensively background screened at pre-employment. In addition, all instructors are American Red Cross Lifeguard certified. 
 
Our Instructors:
Instructors must obtain Lifeguard certification and complete 38 hours of in-water training in our AquaSteps™ program that was developed on the foundation of over 30 years of experience in professional swim instruction for children. Next, each instructor completes approximately 6 hours of online content detailing every aspect of our program including every skill and class that we teach. Finally, the instructor will complete a course taught by our Training Manager in a small group setting before taking their own classes. We strive to make sure our customers are receiving quality swim instruction.

Q. How can I register for classes at AquaKids®?

A.

There are many ways to enroll with us!

  • Click the Yellow "Enroll Online" button at the top right of this webpage.
  • Click the Blue Chat button at the bottom right of this webpage.
  • Call/text us at 817-745-1000
  • Email us at swim@aquakids.com
  • Message us on Facebook or Instagram @aquakidsswim
  • Stop in during regular business hours: Mon-Thu 9AM-8PM or Sat 9AM-3PM

Q. Do I need to fill out a registration form?

A.

We no longer keep paper enrollment forms. You will be asked to agree to AquaKids' policies by signing in to your parent portal account. These policies must be accepted before your first lesson.

To access your parent portal go to our homepage and click the "parent portal" button. Your username will be your email address on file with us.  Just click "forgot password" and a new one will be sent to you.

You will be prompted to accept policies immediately after signing in. There are only 2 pages of text in total so please read through the policies.

Q. What is the make-up policy at AquaKids®?

A.

Missed classes will not result in prorated tuition or refunds. Make-up lessons are offered via make-up tokens. Make-up tokens are offered as a courtesy to customers of AquaKids and are not guaranteed as they are based on availability and spaces may be limited. A minimum of 4-hour notice before missed class is required in order to be able to make-up the missed class. Giving notice qualifies your absence as an “excused absence.” All excused absences or classes canceled by AquaKids® are eligible for a make-up token.

Once you notify us of an absence, that spot is no longer yours, and may be offered to other students needing a make-up. Make-up tokens can be requested 7 days in advance of the desired make-up date. Once a make-up is scheduled, it cannot be rescheduled or made up if missed. All make-up tokens expire 30 days after the missed class. Make-up tokens expire on drop date if withdrawing from lessons and do not carry over.

I agree to notify AquaKids® if my child comes under a physician's care during the course of instruction.

We cannot accommodate make-ups for:

  • Missed make-up classes
  • Swim Camps
  • Swim Team practices or meets
  • Semi-Private or Private Lessons (although make-ups may be made up in a group class)

After your child has missed a class that was excused, a make-up token will be generated on your account. You can use this make-up token to book a make-up class via the Parent Portal. Make-up tokens are not available until after your child has missed the regularly scheduled class. 

Q. What age do you begin swim lessons?

A.

We begin swim lessons at 2 months of age in the Waterbaby 1 class and go through the age of 13 years old! We do not recommend submerging babies until 6 months of age. Our Waterbaby program begins with basic water safety and acclimation skills and progresses toward independent swimming for babies. Starting early is great for bonding between baby and parent.

Q. What is the refund policy?

A.

Tuition and registration fee for swim lessons, swim camps, Swim Team, Birthday Parties, and retail purchases is nonrefundable. AquaKids reserves the right to reschedule any class with an enrollment of 2 or fewer students.

Q. What certifications and trainings are your staff required to complete?

A.

Instructors must obtain Lifeguard certification and complete 38 hours of in-water training in our AquaSteps™ program that was developed on the foundation of over 30 years of experience in professional swim instruction for children. Next, each instructor completes approximately 6 hours of online content detailing every aspect of our program including every skill and class that we teach. Finally, the instructor will complete a course taught by our Training Manager in a small group setting before taking their own classes. We strive to make sure our customers are receiving quality swim instruction.

We also hold monthly in-sessions in order to share the latest techniques as well as make sure that your child is getting the best instruction available.

Q. What if I am not sure what level my child should be in?

A.

Contact us through your preferred platform (call, text, social media, live chat) and AquaKids® will be happy to assist you in determining the best class level for your child!

Q. What if I enroll for a class and my schedule changes or my child is too advanced for his class?

A.

As long as there is availability, you are always welcome to transfer to another class for any reason. There is no charge to transfer to a different class.

Q. What should my child bring to his class?

A.

Your child should come prepared to swim with a swimuit, towel, goggles, and swim cap. Changing rooms are available for your changing needs. Children under the age of 3 are required to wear a non-disposable swim diaper. These diapers and other products are available for purchase at your nearest AquaKids.

Jewelry should not be worn during class. Please leave all jewelry articles at home. AquaKids is not responsible for any items that might be lost or stolen.  

Q. Do I get anything special for referring my friends, neighbors, or family to AquaKids?

A.

Friend/family and word of mouth referrals make up a huge portion of our business. Each location has referral cards that you can pick up to give to friends. For each card brought in, you and your friend will receive 2 free group swim lessons. This card must be presented at the time of registration. Referral cards are combinable.

Q. Does AquaKids offer adult lessons?

A.

We do not currently offer adult lessons.

Q. What is your student-teacher ratio?

A.

Our class sizes are the smallest in the industry! Waterbaby 1 and Waterbaby 2 classes have a student-teacher ratio of 7:1. These classes are parent participation.

All other group classes have a student-teacher ratio of 3:1. These class sizes are perfect for allowing for one-on-one instruction in a group setting. We emphasize quick turns in order to keep the students active and involved.

Q. Are weekly lessons enough for a child to develop strong swimming skills?

A.

Yes! Long-term lessons result in retention and mastery of skills. Our swimmers are successful because our AquaSteps® learn-to-swim program is cohesive, linking one drill to the next and building upon each child’s success from skill to skill, lesson to lesson. Children have short attention spans and 30 minute lessons are perfect for maximizing each lesson. We recommend at least 2 lessons per week for faster progression.

Q. What do I do if my child cries during class?

A.

It is common for young children to feel some separation anxiety when you first come to lessons. When you register for one of our swim sessions, begin talking to your child about how much fun the lessons are going to be. Starting that positive talk and excitement BEFORE coming to class will excite your child and start him out on a path of less resistance. When it is time for class to begin, give your child one final word of encouragement prior to handing him to your Deck Manager. If your child cries, give our staff a few weeks to work our magic as we attempt to get your child to enjoy the water and swim lessons. Make sure to continue with the praise and positive talk throughout the week after the first lesson. The crying usually resolves itself after a couple lessons when the upset child sees the other children in his or her class enjoying lessons. At this point, the child and instructor have developed a bond of trust and the child is likely to begin to enjoy lessons. If your child is still having a difficult time coming to lessons and does not seem to be enjoying them after a couple weeks, speak to your Facility Manager so that we can develop a plan for getting the child to enjoy the water and swim lessons.

Q. What is your Swim Diaper policy?

A.

All children under the age of 3 or children that are not potty trained must wear a cloth, non-disposable swim diaper while in the water. We do not require that you also wear another diaper underneath the cloth diaper but you may do so if you would like. These cloth, non-disposable swim diapers are available for purchase at your facility for $15 for just the diaper or for $18 for a swimsuit with the diaper built in.

Q. What do you do in the event of a pool closure?

A.

In the event that the pool is closed due to inclement weather or a chemical or pool imbalance, a free make-up lesson will be given. If there is inclement weather, call us prior to coming to class if you are unsure if we will be having classes.

Q. Do you have a registration fee?

A.

Yes, we do. There is a $25 annual registration fee per student; a maximum $50 per family.  All registration fees are non-refundable.  The annual registration fee is due at the time of registration and will be renewed and debited to your account each year on the anniversary date.

Q. Are parents required to stay and watch class or can I leave the facility?

A.

Each of our facilities is equipped with a huge observation room. Our observation rooms are air-conditioned and Wifi enabled for your comfort and convenience. Parents are required to stay and watch swim lessons. The last 2 minutes of each class is reserved for the kids to show off what they learned in class and for you to ask any questions that you may have.

Q. What holidays do you observe?

A.

AquaKids® is closed for the following holidays during the year:

  • New Years Eve, New Years Day
  • Easter Sunday
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Halloween (6:00 PM-close)
  • Thanksgiving: Thursday-Saturday
  • Christmas: Thursday-Saturday

We will either prorate tuition or offer a free make-up lesson for the closure.

Q. Do you offer a sibling discount?

A.

Yes! Each child after the second child will not have to pay to $25 non-refundable annual registration fee.

Q. If I enroll for classes or a birthday party, when is payment due?

A.

Payment is due within 24 hours of the time of registration. Payment can be made online, over the phone, or in person at the location that your child will be attending. Tuition for swim lessons and birthday parties is nonrefundable.

Q. Is Auto Billing Required?

A.
Yes!  You will be billed on the 1st of each month for the lessons in that month.  Some months might have 4 or 5 lessons and you will be billed accordingly.
  
Once enrolled in the group lesson(s), the credit card provided at the time of registration will be automatically debited on the 1st of each month.  A card MUST be provided and kept on file.
 
If AK is unable to obtain authorization; a $10 fee will be assessed on your account.  AquaKids does not make "reminder" phone calls regarding monthly payments.
 
Should you decide to withdraw from a class, a 30-day notice is required before you stop coming to class. If you do not give a 30-day notice, you will be charged for the classes whether or not you attend. Notice is given via your parent portal account by "dropping the class."
 
This is the policy if you are dropping out of the program entirely or dropping from 3 classes to 2 classes weekly, etc.