I wanted my 3 year old son to be water safe so I signed him up for O'Neal Aquatics. It is a…read morechallenging to teach a child to float on their back unassisted but also necessary to help them survive a pool accident if it ever were to happen. After 10 lessons my son is completely water safe. He jumps off the diving board by himself with confidence and is able to get safely to the side. He's now moved on to working on his freestyle and backstroke. This is something he could have never achieved in a group lesson in a month or 2 months even. He loves his teacher Noelle and we look forward to lessons again next year.

I recently started my 2 year here for their survival swim lessons. I could not be any happier with…read moreour experience! My son has severe eczema so finding a saltwater pool was also a requirement for us. He doesn't seem to have any issues with the water solution on his skin or the mass amounts consumed during a lesson, lol. I appreciate how easy it is to schedule and book online. My son loves it and can't wait for his next lesson. I feel confident with the curriculum and the pace they set based on each child. I would highly recommend Utah Aquatics Academy to anyone and everyone! I can't wait to see my sons progression and continued pride with his efforts.

I was supposed to have trial lessons here a few months ago and we walked into the building and it…read morewas very dirty so we decided not to continue. I was here again for a birthday party. And there's been no improvement there's gross ceiling tiles hair all over the floor. There was even poop on the bathroom walls. I was warned about this place but decided to give a chance anyways and I will say I was very unimpressed.

I could not be more impressed with a swim school than I am with Utah Swim Academy. My 2 year old…read more(almost 3) son learned to float within the first 8 lessons and is currently learning to dive and do the back stroke. I am beyond thrilled that I can feel safe with him near open water now. The location is unsuspecting but a great facility with plenty of parking.

It seems odd to me that I'm one of the only ones to leave a poor review here, but all I can do is…read moretell my honest experience and let you decide what you'll do with your kids! We arrived for our first lesson for my 20 month old and I was surprised to see the school is just in someone's back yard. There were two instructors in the pool and no one else from the business around, so after a bit of confusion, we just sat by some other parents and waited our turn. What we saw was horrifying. Both infants in the water were screaming and crying, just desperate to get out. The poor mom next to me was holding her face in agony watching her baby scream like that. In fact, all the parents we saw there had that same agonizing look on their faces. The instructors didn't even seem phased. They must see that a lot, because they just kept going, stone faced with the kids. Eventually one of the kids just started violently vomiting in the water. It was not pretty! The instructor again didn't even seem phased and just took a net and scooped up the floating pieces at the top of the water. Ummm gross! When it was my sons turn I took him to the water and he started playing with some toys. I was hopeful he might not cry the whole time! After he got in, he too started screaming and wailing to be with a stranger in the water. I can understand kids don't like that sort of thing, but it just seemed like the instructor was awful with kids because all he did was, with a monotone voice, say "it's okay. You're okay, etc" which obviously did nothing to calm my child. After 18 agonizing minutes of watching my child's jaw shake from crying so hard, I went to the instructor and asked if that was normal. He said it was, and it usually isn't until the 5th or 6th lesson that they learn how to float and stop crying the whole way through. These lessons are $30 a piece, so getting to 5 lessons would be $150 of your child screaming, choking and wishing they were anywhere else. That night my poor toddler had nightmares all night long! There were snacks for the kids to eat at a table nearby, but they all cost money and you needed to Venmo to take something. The whole vibe of this place is just off! Kids screaming and vomiting in the water, cold instructors who don't seem to care or know how to calm children, and a crazy hot backyard with barely any shade to sit under. (We actually had to sit sideways to avoid the 99° sun during the lesson) it's not worth the money I paid upfront to go back to any lessons. I would definitely not recommend this school to anyone. I'm sure the peace of mind of having your child learn to swim or float is invaluable, but I'll do it somewhere where the journey isn't such a scarring experience for the child and parents alike.

I don't recommend outdoor lesson because the weather is a big factor. If lessons are canceled, you…read morehave no freedom at all to choose the time for the makeup. Backyard Swim School is not generous at all.

All 3 of my kids have been swimming with Backyard Swim for 5 summers. The oldest 2 have grown ti be…read morestrong swimmers, the younger one is progressing just as quickly. The lesson groups are small, the instructors are fantastic, and there is emphasis on correct form and strokes. Once they finish the lesson series, there are swim team options to refine stories and gain strength. Highly recommend.

my daughter has never been so confident, capable, and excited in the pool. she attended swim…read morelessons at multiple facilities and has a fear of putting her head under the water. by class 1 she was diving for objects thanks to the great staff and approach to swimming. she improves every lesson, and now says swimming is her second favorite hobby (just behind her love of drawin). this drastic improvement is due to the skill, approach, and people at Big Blue Orem. the staff are reapinsive, engaged, and easy to work with when we had scheduling changes. it is professionally run! I will recommend this school to everyone.

We are extremely impressed with Big Blue! My three boys (6, 4, and 2) are all excited to go each…read moreweek! The teachers are personable and the facility is laid out perfectly. The water and swim room is kept warm! Scheduling is also very easy from the app. I always had a problem with scheduling at our previous school. We are happy!

The teachers have been amazing and my daughter has progressed quickly! We love Jolley's!read more

I took both my girls for an evaluation and it was the worst experience we have ever had at ANY gym…read more Both my girls left crying. They ONLY teach skills on the right and do not let students do anything on the left. they don't even do splits on the left. It states in their information that "all of our students do the same side for classroom efficiency" so basically they don't care about your kids, they just want to make it easier for the instructors. You can make all kids learn on the right, but forcing a lefty to be a righty is child abuse. I don't think anyone should support this gym.

Finding good childcare can be so hard and stressful, and after having a few bad experiences, we…read moreknow firsthand how overwhelming it can feel trying to find the right fit. We truly feel like we lucked out when we found Blooming Mind Montessori. From the very beginning, it has felt more like a loving home than a school where kids are just a number. The teachers are incredibly caring, patient, and genuinely love the children. You can tell they truly prioritize each child and want them to feel safe, happy, and valued every single day. Our older son also attended here after we were told at another very popular Montessori school that he "didn't fit the mold," which was heartbreaking and honestly made us feel like he was somehow a bad kid. Blooming Mind Montessori did the complete opposite. They reminded us how special he is, that every child learns differently, and that he was still just a kid learning and growing. We can never thank them enough for the love, patience, and understanding they showed our family during that time. One of the things we appreciate most is that they really let kids be kids while still creating a wonderful learning environment. The teachers put so much time and effort into preparing thoughtful lessons and always have fun, creative activities planned. There is constantly something exciting going on that keeps the kids engaged, learning, and happy. We also really appreciate that, as a school and not just a daycare, they do a great job minimizing closures, which is so important for working families. Their summer program is also amazing and packed with fun activities. The school is not especially close to us, but we still choose to make the commute because it is absolutely worth it. Having peace of mind knowing your child is loved, cared for, and excited to go to school every day is priceless. We are so thankful to have found such a warm, loving, and fun place for our son and our family.

Heartbreaking Experience with Blooming Minds Montessori…read more I'm writing this review with a heavy heart after a deeply disappointing experience with Blooming Minds Montessori. I visited this school hoping to enroll my 4-year-old son, who has a speech delay due to a brain lesion--not autism, just a delay he's actively working through. During the tour, he fell in love with the place and didn't want to leave--he even cried because he felt so happy and connected there. Unfortunately, what followed was incredibly disheartening. When I called back to follow up, I was told there were no available spots. But a friend of mine called around the same time and was told the opposite--that there were openings. That was the first red flag. I waited a bit, then booked another tour online. The system accepted my appointment. But shortly after, I received an email from the director canceling the tour, saying they didn't feel they could meet my son's needs due to his communication skills. No assessment was ever done--they made that judgment based on a single visit. This felt like discrimination, plain and simple. It's even more disappointing coming from a school that claims to follow the Montessori philosophy, which is supposed to support children's growth at their own pace, in an inclusive and nurturing environment. Instead, I felt like they were using the Montessori name more as a marketing tool than a true educational model. As a foreign family with a child who learns a little differently, this experience was not just a rejection--it was heartbreaking. We were made to feel like we weren't good enough, like my son's speech delay defined him. He is bright, curious, loving--and deserves a school that truly believes in helping all children grow. I hope Blooming Minds reflects seriously on how they treat families and whether they are truly living up to the values they promote.

My oldest son went here for two years and we absolutely loved our experience here. The community is…read moretight night and was so easy to be comfortable sending my child for the first time to another organization for care. I am thrilled to send my next kiddo in line to attend, especially with the new director and staff that are ready to lead the kiddos. Highly recommend!

To every parent and educator: The state of Hilltop has reached a critical breaking point. What was…read moreonce a thriving institution is being dismantled by a board of unqualified volunteers acting without accountability. ​The situation is dire: ​Leadership Crisis: Two highly qualified directors have been forced out in mere months. ​Exodus of Talent: Educators are leaving in droves as the environment becomes untenable. ​Abuse of Power: The board is currently rewriting bylaws to extend their own terms and insulate themselves from oversight. ​Silence & Censorship: Communication platforms are being deactivated specifically to prevent parents from holding the board accountable for their actions. ​This is no longer the school we chose. The current board's trajectory has turned a community pillar into an environment of instability. Parents are pulling their children, and educators are fleeing. Do not enroll, do not apply, and demand better before the damage becomes irreversible.