My daughters took a swimming classes for about more than 3 months. They liked instructors and place, but wished more than 30 minutes. Place is decent, not cleanest, classes are overcrowded to only for 30 minutes. Kids are waiting to get turn to swimming about more than half of their time. 3-4 kids per classes only 30 minutes not enough to learn!!! They cancel a classes but they always offer makeup classes. read more

Big Blue Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Buffalo Grove, Illinois

My kids love that place, instructions are very friendly and engaging and kids always have fun learning new skills. The facility is clean and inviting and it's never been crowded when I was there. The manager Sveto is always there for us, ready to answer any question we might have! Overall highly recommend this place to everyone who wants their child to start feeling comfortable in the water and swim like a dolphin. read more

I'm super happy with Big Blue Swim School. We have 4 1/2 year-old twins at different swim levels. Big Blue is always very accommodating and the instructors are top-notch. The rapid (but safe) progress of my kids is just astonishing! The facilities themselves border on luxurious and are always clean and well maintained. I can't recommend Big Blue enough! read more

Big Blue Swim School - One VERY happy swimmer! - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Cameron spent the whole half hour trying to convince my 6 year old to get in the water. He was unsuccessful but they formed a bond. He offered to have us come back later in the day and he would get in with him even though he wasn't scheduled to teach that day. We came back later that day and Cameron got him in the water right away! We couldn't get him out at the end of the lesson. The whole staff went above and beyond to make sure our first visit was a success. Can't say enough good things. read more

Big Blue Swim School - After a second free session they got him to try! - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Buffalo Grove, Illinois

See all

I love that instructors pay close attention to the needs of each student. Personally speaking, my daughter has Down Syndrome, and each instructor she has worked with has made sure to treat her with the same acceptance and respect while still attending to her special needs. Big Blue is a very special place and it's awesome to watch the instructors at work! The way they interact and get through kids, even the tough ones, it's like watching magic. I'm proud to have been part of this "family" since they opened their doors in Hoffman :) PS: And in response to the bad reviews because that's how much I love this place: 1. If you didn't get a call back, you can easily go online and sign up for classes. You're missing out dismissing them for a phone call. A one star review just for not getting a call back is pretty harsh. 2. The facility is far from being dirty. Time will tell but it just opened its doors a year and a half ago. I've been taking my daughter since then. I'm a bit of a germ phobe myself and I never once felt it was not clean. If you're afraid of something getting stolen from the cubby, don't bring it in. You're there for a half hour with your child. If it's a wallet/ purse, just carry it with you (you're either watching your child, sitting or in the changing room with your child for no more than 10-15 min.). You could also leave it in the car. It's not that big of a deal. read more

It is more thank you review since our family is amazed with the results our son achieved in such a short time. Daniel started his weekly lessons on November last year and got a break on May due to vacation. We could not believe our eyes when he jumped to a pool without life jacket and easily started swimming under the water, then on his back. I was crying at that moment. So for that I am thankful to whole Buffalo Grove team from managers (helping with the schedule, since I have two sons) to amazing instructors (helping my kid with sensory issues to achieve such a great results). Thank you so much! Great place with the great people! read more

See all

I'm eating this location one star because rating zero stars unfortunately isn't an option. The facilities are dirty. Classes are cancelled on a regular basis, always sitting ridiculous excuses, not offering make up dates and never issuing a refund for the cancelled class. I'm multiple occasions, I have made attempts to reach out to the manager of the facility. Never once have I ever been put in direct contact with him and have only been left with the option to leave a message. Our of the 7 different occasions I've left a message, I have only received one phone call in response, and the time in which the manager took when speaking with me on that occasion was insulting and completely uncalled for. He made it perfectly clear that I was a large inconvenience to him. If I were to make a suggestion for people, it would be to steer far away from this "school." read more

My daughter's lessons were cancelled more than 4 times last couple of months. Sometime the give even less than one hour advance notice to cancel it. When I tried to schedule make up class, no time spot is available and they don't accept even refund. They are saying the make up voucher is going to expire in 45 days. They have 30 days policy to withdraw. Basically I'm just waiting to waist of $100 value of lesson fee... I commented this feedback. They told me to call them back that they can work out something for me. I called them today and they just repeated their policy that make up voucher has no money value and asked me to keep checking their website until something come up to schedule for make up lessons. Nothing has been solved. read more

Loves both of my kids swimming at Big blue and awaiting for the whole week to spend their half an hour at class and of course their Crayon challenges read more

Big Blue Swim School - Really nice ,gradual and steady learnings at Big blue- Navdeep - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Buffalo Grove, Illinois

When this facility opened it was outstanding. Both my daughters were challenged, the classes weren't overstuffed and the instructors were very hands on with each student. However, this is no longer the case and this facility is overbooked and understaffed. The turnover has been extraordinary when it comes to instructors. They move up students at a rate that is clearly business driven or class size driven. The more advanced you get the more stunted your growth becomes as the log jam in the advanced classes makes finding a make up impossible. Until they rectify their overcrowding, this is a location to avoid. read more

Classes are so crowded, kids dont get the attention or space to learn. I would not recommend.

I think the class lessons are the best around! Sometimes there seems to be to much sitting but way better than other swim schools. I wish they offered a sibling discount. Paying $300+ for three kids to take 1- 30minute lesson a week isn't something we can do long term. read more

My son just started swim lessons at Big Blue this week. I'm already so impressed! We had tried swim lessons at a local high school, and it was a disaster. Water too cold, too much going on, too much separation from parent viewing area, locker rooms (obviously) not set up for families. Not their fault - just not right for our kid. Big Blue on the other hand is set up so well for families - warm water, awesome locker area, close by but separate viewing area for parents. The staff is very welcoming and even though my son was tentative about his first lesson, he warmed up right away to the instructor and participated with a smile on his face! I was also happy that they were proactive about moving him up in levels - they started him at the lowest level for his age group but decided he needed to move up right away, which I appreciated so we aren't paying for lessons he doesn't need. They are also very tech saavy - automated emails let us know about instructor changes, change in level, reminders about lessons, etc. Only downside...it's not cheap. But after trying a cheaper option (see above) I'm willing to pay a little more for a more fun and productive experience. I'll update my review in a month or two to add the perspective of how the lessons are improving his skills. But he already seems to have a confidence boost and excitement about swimming! read more

DS is a temperamental guy when it comes to 1:1 lessons (or 1:3 in this case). Ms. Julia and Mr. Trevor were great giving him patience and fun with a great balance of "push" to get him going from level 1 to level 2 within 2 months of our being there. Awesome job! The facility is similar to all the other swim schools around the Chicago land (we've been to quite a few both in and out of the city), but one big plus was filtration issue shut down the pool for a whole Saturday (imagine all the frantic parents with their distraught toddlers) one time, we were easily rescheduled to their sister location in Wilmette, and had the class done within couple of hours of the originally scheduled time without DS going all crazy as he really likes his Saturday swim routine. Parking is relatively easy as it's part of a sizable shopping center, staff is very efficient in guiding wave after waves of kids in and out with each 30 min session, and the locker room is relatively clean for a facility built for rugrats. There's also a baby class pool for parents who go into the water with the infant age kids, looks good but we did not experience it. read more

Teachers are great with the kids. Our granddaughter has learned very quickly at the Hoffman Estates location

Great teachers. We have enjoyed the small class sizes and the ease of rescheduling. Lazar and Chris are awesome instructors.

Love the school especially Ms.Emily, my daughter adores her and would come home and talk about what she taught and how she was appreciative of her etc. I have seen her confidence boost each session and she just graduated to the next level. Thanks you Ms.Emily , you were my daughters first teacher ever (at the age of 2) and you left such a positive impact! Only negative I would say is that the 30 mins class is sometimes wrapped within 25 mins which seems unfair, hope that is corrected! read more

Great facility and all the people and teachers who work there. My daughter doesn't like swimming a lot, either the water is cold or the chemicals from the pool are too strong for her ... when her first class at Big Blue Swim School at Buffalo Grove was over, first thing she said was "I really like this school and the teacher". So exciting :) Highly recommended! read more

As other reviewers have said, this place is excellent. I spent a lot of time (and $$) at the local park District for my 6 yo son with sensory issues to make no progress. I brought him to BBSS in Buffalo Grove and the difference was immediate. Miss Jazmin and Mr Leeroy, got him in the pool and swimming within a really short time. He's just graduated to Dolphins 2 and I couldn't be prouder. But really, what's most important is that HE is so proud of himself! The confidence and coaching he has are a direct result of the thoughtful method they use at BigBlue. Full disclosure: they are more expensive than the park district for sure, but the results make the extra expensive ease worth while. read more

Our first swim lesson was amazing. My little guy felt so comfortable jumping in the water and was excited to return. Our second lesson was less than stellar (we had a different instructor) BUT I want to say that after speaking to the owner about how uneasy we were with that lesson, he rectified the situation right away. Its not often that you see management so quick to jump in and remedy a situation, so that quickly restored my faith in Big Blue and we continued with our lessons. I am AMAZED at the progress my 4 year old has made in just 6 weeks. When we first started, he was super uncomfortable with the water and wouldn't put his head in. To make the most of our lessons, we attended two classes a week. One class with Mr. Jonathon, and the other with Mr. Robert.. and because of them my son is actually SWIMMING! He goes under water, holds his breath and loves going to his classes. I am more than impressed with the teaching style and techniques that both teachers have used with my son. A huge shout out to JONATHON and ROBERT. You guys are excellent teachers! We did use the Groupon initially, but plan to keep going because the classes are definitely worth the full value! There would only be a few suggestions that I have for the management at Big Blue: Maybe invest in a vacuum because the carpets never quite get clean with that sweeper they use and maybe clean the showers more frequently. read more

My son had his first lesson yesterday and I was so impressed with Big Blue! A year and a half ago, I took him to a different school and there is not even a comparison. Big Blue is clean, organized, and centered around kids and families. Two people came to talk to me during my son's lesson to share his progress. It was very personalized. Their website is also great and you can track progress. My son loved it so much that he didn't want to leave (a complete 180 from the previous school he went to). His teacher, Maggie, was wonderful, and he has requested to go back to her next week. Thank you Big Blue!!! read more

I daughter has swam with Ms. Rebecca for almost 1 year and she is very patient and professional.

Good structure. Easy to work with and wonderful instructors!! We have been at Big Blue for about a year. I really like their online parent portal for tracking progress on skills but especially for scheduling make up sessions. We have had several great instructors. Mr. Trevor, Ms. Anna Maria (I think) and Mr. Erik C. are favorites. Trevor was great with my daughter when she hit a mental block and was afraid to continue. His patience and encouragement were amazing. Without a doubt Mr. Erik has been the cream of the crop at Big Blue. His classes are well run and organized (he keeps the kids on task and keeps the class moving) but he also connects with the kids. His knowledge of every kids abilities and what motivates them is exceptional. Thank you for your dedication Mr. Erik! read more

We love this place!! All of the staff is sooo nice and helpful. They all really know what they are doing. I've never seen them showing any sign of annoyance with the kids and parents..they all seem really enjoy what they are doing and my son loves going there! We all have a great time. read more

My 5 y.old twins have been going to the swim schools for 1 month, they absolutely love it. Mr. Robert is their favorite instructor :) I would give a 10 star if i could, I wish the prices were a bit lower, if the ration is 1:3, that means that we are only paying for 10 minutes per child...vs the advertisement of 30 min.... read more

The BEST swim school out there thanks to their staff, especially Leslie the manager who has gone out of her way to help my daughter get comfortable in the water and start swimming , i can not thank her enough for that! My son has started his lessons recently and his instructor Eric is just as great, you can not go wrong with this place! read more

We took our toddlers to Big Blue for a trial lesson. I would give this review one star if it weren't for the fact that the instructor was good. Both my husband and I were disgusted by how dirty things were - from dirty foot prints all over the changing rooms to a very apparent black film on a large foam mat the instructor was using. There were also black markings all over the concrete around the pool, which had us scratching our heads. I am a bit of a germaphobe, so at first I thought it was just me. However, my husband is the complete opposite and he was constantly commenting on how dirty the place felt. On another note, the facility does not offer any lockers; they have open cubbies in the very back where the changing rooms are. It would be very easy for things to be stolen without anybody noticing. read more

Baby/Toddler teachers Brenda and Miquel are amazing! They are both attentive to the little ones, engaging, and really care about the kids' progress. I'm sad we had to put lessons on hold for a month or so, but we certainly plan to return asap. read more

I have never even been in the Big Blue Swim School with my grand daughter because the number given is a central number and no one, including a manager returns phone calls. I called inquiring about a baby blue program at Buffalo Grove. First left a message on an answering machine, waited a week and called again. Spoke with a Brittany that could not answer my questions about when the baby blue class was being offered. She was unfamiliar with other locations (this is a central number for all locations!!). I left my name and number and was assured that a manager would return my call with the class information. It has been 2 weeks without a call. If this is how Big Blue is run, I do not want to bring my grand daughter there. read more

We love big blue. We never have any issues like rescheduling or canceling or even changing teachers . Small groups and concentrate on each kid. Teachers are great. read more

We're very happy with Big Blue and the progress my son has made since starting! We started lessons when he was 19 months, the first 2 levels the parent was in the water with the child. I will say there was one class that the ratio was too heavy and the instructor didn't really get to observe/help each student but we switched to another time and it was much better. A tip here is to do a super early class on the weekend to have a mostly private lesson! We're now in a class where the parent is NOT in the water and there is a 3 student max per lesson. What I like about Big Blue is while there are skills the kids have to master in each level, they tailor it to where the student needs more help instead of a set lesson plan each class. It's more personalized and I really feel the teachers care about their students and moving them to the next level. We've been really happy with the instructors we've had over our 4 levels and the communication from Big Blue to the parents is great. Another perk for my little one is the free sucker after each lesson. read more

Both of my kids go to Big Blue. My daughter has been going there for a year and had Miss Ashley until she got promoted. Now that she's a manager, she does an amazing job of always keeping us informed on the kids progress. My son has Tyler as an instructor and he is just the best! Can't say enough good things about him! He's always got a smile On his face, is very patient and makes it fun for the kids to learn. I've actually referred him for my niece who just signed up for lessons as well. Big blue is a wonderful place and both kids have learned so much! Love it here!!! read more

My kids always enjoy their swim lessons at Big Blue! The changing rooms are clean, there is ample space in the parents' waiting area with a great view of the kids, and the online scheduling system is easy and convenient for scheduling makeup classes (which we have to do often for my son's soccer games). The staff was very understanding and accommodating when my daughter refused to go in the water with a male instructor and we had to switch her schedule for a female instructor. The instructors make it fun, even for kids who hate the water like my daughter, and they move the kids up quickly to new skill sets so my son has progressed at a very impressive speed! read more

I took the children I Nanny for to a make-up swim lesson, and was very impressed with the whole facility and all the staff, and Alias the Instructor! Awesome place! That's coming from a P.E.Tchr./Nanny/Eled.Teacher/Mom! read more

My daughter was having a hard time and not wanting to swim but Jonathan was wonderful. He spoke with my daughter and moved her to a female teacher to make her feel better and accommodate her being nervous. I cannot say enough positive things about Big Blue and the leadership here. read more

The teacher has been incredible and has worked hard to build trust and rapport with my daughter. However, it is impossible to reach anyone at the front desk or get a call back. No one from the location you call ever answers (you are rerouted to different locations) and no one ever returns a call. I am extremely frustrated, as you would think communication and customer service would be first on their priority list. I am thoroughly disappointed! read more

Very clean. Well trained staff and best part is student and teacher ratio. I will definitely recommend Big Blue to all parents to bring your kids here and learn the swimming in just few weeks. read more

This swim lesson facility is awesome. Both of my kids go here, and both started lessons at about 6 months old. Big Blue is super clean and has very friendly staff. Teachers are really amazing and they work hard to march you with a teacher that suits what you're seeking as a parent, and a best match for your child and their personality. The teachers we have loved most there are Janelle, Leeroy, Lazar, Brad, Robert and Jasmine. They are as flexible as possible with class times and have worked with me to get classes that fit our family's schedule. We have seen several teachers move to new positions within the company, and while we're sad we lost the teachers for our children, they really do focus on employee development here! The teachers all seem to really be happy at their jobs, and they're always really nice. I can tell they all have fun at work. I'm so glad that we have this swim school nearby. read more

My kids have been here for almost a year now. We had a great experience with all the teachers. Special shoutout to Coach Juliane of Jr swim team 2!!!! Our daughter loved being in your class and misses you. read more

Love big blue! I've seen such growth in both my little swimmers! We've been fortunate enough to have quite a few amazing teachers! Ms. Sam is absolutely awesome and knows exactly how to get my little one to swim even when he refuses with anyone else! I highly recommend big blue to anyone looking for swim lessons for their kids! read more