I recently enrolled my 6 year old son in swim classes at Water Otters Swim School, and he has been having an amazing time learning to swim. They truly meet each child where they are. My son is currently working on remembering his breathing while swimming, and I have already seen great progress. His instructor, Reya, is wonderful with him. She keeps him motivated and offers plenty of verbal praise, which is exactly what he responds to. The facility is very family friendly. There are changing cabanas available to use after class, and the pool area is shaded with plenty of space for parents or guardians to comfortably watch. Classes are 20 minutes long and offered on either a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule or a Tuesday and Thursday schedule, which makes it easy to find something that works. They also offer parent and me classes for babies on the weekends. The owner, Jennifer, is so kind and clearly pours her heart into what she does. You can truly feel her passion for swim safety and for creating a supportive space for kids to learn and grow. We are so grateful we found Water Otters. It has been such a meaningful experience watching my son build confidence in the water. read more

Water Otters Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Winnetka, California

We are so grateful to have found Water Otters! Owner (Jennifer) and instructors have been just wonderful. Unmatched understanding of kids' different needs, personalities, and preferences. I never thought my littlest would make much progress in a short timespan while loving every moment of it. Sylvie (age 6) says: "I love coming and I've learned a lot! All the teachers are so nice and pretty." read more

Water Otters Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Winnetka, California

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Jennifer, Kathy and Megan teach children to swim in the way that would universally benefit any person. The knowledge, respect and kindness is how I wish all adults would teach and guide. My kids have become stronger and exponentially better swimmers in such a relatively short amount of time. They feel comfortable and safe to try new things. I highly recommend them for all ages read more

Water Otters Swim School - Gaining trust and learning comfort in the pool - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Winnetka, California

So thankful to Jennifer for making my children feel at ease in the pool. My 6 year old daughter can finally swim after not even wanting to put her face underwater. Jennifer worked really hard to ensure my daughter felt comfortable and safe in the pool. My 3 year old Autistic son started his lessons this summer and Jennifer was absolutely amazing with him! Jennifer really understood how different his needs were and was super patient with him. Jennifer used different methods and never forced him to do anything he was uncomfortable with. Jennifer respected his boundaries and listened to him while still ensuring he made great progress. I will be forever grateful for this summers lessons and we can't wait for next summer! read more

Water Otters Swim School - Thanks Jennifer ! You're the best !! - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Winnetka, California

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We are so grateful for Jennifer and Meghan. Our son was extremely resistant to the idea of learning to swim, and I was extremely concerned whether this would do the trick.... But it did! Within one lesson he was swimming. Every child has a different journey, so it may not click as quickly for other children, but I can attest to the fact that Water Otters works with each child and helps them realize their own potential. read more

As a local Governess and Nanny, I had the wonderful experience of finding and taking the two young toddler boys I nanny to Water Otters swim school. I found it to be a calm, and confidence boosting atmosphere that was a strong starting point for basic water safety, and beginning swimming skills. I appreciated the kindness, compassion, and consistency that the boys felt, in learning and becoming more comfortable with water and was grateful to have found them locally. read more

I can't begin to express how grateful I am to have found this very very special place! Jennifer has truly created the most loving, well-organized and peaceful environment for children to learn how to swim. We swam with Megan this summer and having to leave last week when they closed for the season was bittersweet. Our 3 year old who was super confident in the water to begin with, but not water safe by any means, ended the summer swimming confidently length wise across the pool, dives down for toys and floats on her back. Its amazing to look back and see the progress she made in just the first few sessions. The one-on-one lessons and how they have them organized got my daughter to where she is now. Swimming 3x per week became our weekly norm and makes all the difference. Swimming 1x per week just doesn't cut it. The frequency she was in the water, I feel is helped to progress her swim ability so fast. The instructors care about the students and know how to speak and interact with young children. There is a wide variety of special toys and games they use in the water and pick ones that your child is interested in. For my daughter the mermaids, baby dolls and gems were her favorite and really motivated her. The facility is clean and has everything you need to be comfortable during and after your child's lesson. If you have been on the hunt for the perfect swim school... look no further. How things operate and run here is just so right and makes sense. Water Otters has a special place in our hearts, we can't wait to be back next season! read more

My almost 2 year old son is absolutely in love with Jennifer! It took him one lesson to feel comfortable with her, and a few weeks later is still asking to go back! He has become so happy and comfortable in the water after only one 3-week session. We can't wait to start a new session! read more

After going to the fancy country club for a multitude of lessons with no luck and a lack of regard for my daughter's safety I was in search of someone better. What I didn't plan on finding was someone beyond better. The care, level of detail and oh ya, my daughter finally being able to swim was what I found with Jennifer at Water Otters Swim School. I cannot recommend Jennifer enough as she made my daughter feel comfortable and had everything necessary available on site (goggles, restroom (kid friendly), changing area and shade for all involved). Do you and your kids a favor by getting it right the first time so you can finally enjoy summer and those family vacations accordingly. read more

Swim lessons for my daughter are going great! The teacher has really connected with her. Even though it's been hours since our last lesson, my daughter tells her dad what happened when he comes home from work. On Friday, she told him all the details about the lesson. She told him that she was the first person to use the yellow mat. She told him about the snorkeling. She told him about the sticker she got that day. She told him about the word search. (She really liked that one). She told him about the music. (She recognized a few songs that were played during the lesson). It was like she was holding it all in just to tell him all the exciting things that happened to her. She is excited to go to the swim lessons. She doesn't fight with me to get ready. She wants to put on her swimsuit, and she gets herself ready to go. We live kind of far, but I think the drive is totally worth it. My daughter is exactly where she needs to be. Thank you very much! read more

My daughter took their course. She however did not finish. We paid for six classes but only completed 4. We did not finish because of their unprofessional behavior. When our nanny took our daughter to class, they proceeded to gossip about our daughter. They blamed my daughter for her delayed learning. They alluded to her having a neural divergence problem (they did not use these words). I immediately stoped going, went later that week and spoke to them. She is 3yo. If you are not qualified to teach, young and/or special needs. Post it. Do not blame the child. Btw my daughter is 3yo and can swim without assistance. read more

This summer was our best summer yet at Water Otters. We had the opportunity to work with 2 of their new instructors, Kathy and Megan, and they were both fantastic. Both took the time to get to know my 7yo child's learning style and she gained so much confidence with her strokes and techniques! Jennifer has developed an amazing program. I highly recommend! read more

I am soooooo happy I found Water Otters Swim School. It's scary when your child is learning how to swim and it's very important that safety and trust is there to make the experience a good one. When I inquired I spoke to the owner Jennifer who is such a sweetheart. I love their philosophy of how they don't force the child to do what they're not ready to do and that they go at the child's pace. My 4 1/2 year old daughter did not know how to swim without floaties . Megan is a phenomenal teacher! Violet went from sitting on the step to monkey crawls throughout the pool, swimming back and forth in the shallow, swimming to the bottom to catch rings and floating on her back in such a short period of time. Megan is so sweet and she gave Violet the confidence and trust she needed. She also taught her safety measures of getting in and out. Honestly my only regret is not finding this school sooner when my oldest was learning how to swim. I recommend Water Otters Swim school! You won't be disappointed. Jennifer and Megan are amazing!! read more

Water Otters Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Winnetka, California

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We absolutely loved our swim classes with Kathy this summer. Within 2 sessions, my 5 year old has gained immense confidence and ability in the water. The vibe here is constantly calm and peaceful, which has really helped with my son's focus. We absolutely love Kathy - she has been so friendly, clear in her instruction, consistent, and kind. My son has learned so much from her so quickly and we are so grateful!! read more

Jennifer, Megan and Kathy are all phenomenal! My 4-year-old went last summer to a different swim school, and had a terrible experience. Not here! They went at his own pace, treat him with respect and care, while making it fun, and the results are astounding. He is now beginning to swim on his own and is loving every minute of it. His only complaint is that the lessons aren't longer, because he doesn't want to leave. Thank you Water Otters! read more

This school was a fabulous experience. My granddaughter was afraid to put her face in the water before she started. The warm, caring, positive environment and teacher helped to quickly overcome this issue AND by the end of the session she was swimming. She is now pool safe and a lover of swimming. I highly recommend this school! read more

Today another first goes in the books and it could not have gone better! It felt like we had a mini vacation and escaped to this awesome 92° pool for a wonderful summer day of swimming lessons! I cannot speak highly enough about our amazing mermaid ‍ teacher Jennifer Golde! My son always loves being in the water, but today it was a whole different level of excitement and joy for him! An amazing teacher can do that for you, amazing is an understatement about Mrs Jennifer #babyShark read more

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Water Otters Swim School has been such a blessing to my daughter for the past 3 years. It has given her the confidence and safe practices to continue being a great swimmer. Megan and Jennifer have been so gentle and patient and have made the experience super fun! I'd highly recommend Water Otters to anyone looking to take their kids experience to the next level. read more

So grateful with Jennifer and Megan! My son is nonverbal and Jennifer learned how to communicate with him. Both instructors have so much patience and knowledgeable on how to make your child feel comfortable in the water. Thanks to them my son has learned how to swim and pool safety. read more

Water Otters is an amazing swim school! They are very calm and patient with their students. Never forceful. We had an amazing two sessions this summer and can't wait to sign up for more. Jennifer the owner is amazing! Teacher Megan and Teacher Kathy are the best! I would definitely recommend this swim school! read more

What can I say other than I found like we hit the jackpot with Water Otters! This is our second year attending Water Otters. Jennifer and Megan are absolutely incredible! They allowed both my children to feel comfortable in the water and because of this, the both grew so much as swimmers! My younger and more reluctant son (3) couldn't wait to jump in the pool with Megan. We look forward to more lessons next summer! read more

I can't speak highly enough of Water Otters! I rave to everyone I know with kids. After one 3-week session with Teacher Megan, my 2 1/2 year-old-son went from sinking to swimming. It's amazing! He has a whole new sense of confidence and empowerment that has come with every skill taught to him. We've just completed a second 3-week session and he's now just shy of popping his head out of water for breaths while he excitedly swims across the pool, dives for toys, etc. Water Otters has created life skills and the sweetest bond that will last a lifetime. Thank you so much to Jennifer for your wonderful swim school and to Megan for your swim teacher charm (and calm)! #grateful read more

Learning to swim with teacher Megan at Water Otters was THE BEST experience. I'd spent quite a bit of time looking for the right school for my son, so I was thrilled to connect with Jennifer and Megan, who really understood our needs and offered a deep knowledge of children as individuals. Megan paid close attention and used tools and techniques specifically tailored to engage and motivate my son, and the emphasis on safety and developing trust through empathy and active listening really helped my new swimmer develop confidence in the water. With motivation and confidence, he was able to progress so much more quickly than we had expected - definitely more quickly than at another swim school. We highly recommend teacher Megan and Water Otters! read more

Both my children took swimming lessons with Jennifer. My son who is 6 gravitated to Jennifer and learned very quickly. He is no longer afraid and is swimming on his own. My daughter who is 3, was afraid of the pool and hated water in her face. This completely changed and is actually swimming to us as we practice with her. Jennifer is firm yet patient and very nurturing. Both my children enjoyed every lesson. We will be signing up for a refresher next summer. read more

My kids did one session with Jennifer and they loved it. Its amazing to see them getting so comfortable with water while working on their swimming technique. It was a good session. Thanks Jennifer. read more

Jennifer is amazing with kids and was the absolute best with my daughter! She teaches based on how the kids feel and doesn't believe in forcing them into anything they don't feel ready for. Great experience and will definitely be returning! read more

When I started my search for swim lessons for my 2 year old in May of this year, I had no idea that I was already late to the party. I called SO many places trying to get someone to come to my home and do swim lessons. I finally called Water Otters and left a message. Jennifer immediately called me back! We chatted and she walked me through different methods of swimming lessons and then explained the Water Otters approach. It's a gentle method that lets the child gain confidence in the water through various activities and fun! Jennifer even made sure to ask me what my wants are as a parent for the lessons. Sign-up was a breeze and we loved the first session so much, we wound up doing a second. We did wind up taking him to the Water Otters pool instead of having someone come to the house as there was no availability for that. Parking is on a residential street and easy. The pool is heated and completely shaded, with plenty of seating for parents/caregivers. I didn't even feel the need to put on sunscreen on my son. They do line up the students back to back, so coming in 5-10 minutes early is highly recommended. Our instructor Kathy was so sweet with my shy son, he really wound up looking forward to the lessons. After the two sessions, he's now feeling so much more confident in the water! He can now hang onto the side of the pool and inch along with his hands, he can put his face in the water and even go under with someone holding him. Since he's only two, the big thing for me was that he could hold onto the side and inch back to the steps. So happy to see him doing it! He also learned several new "games" to play that are fun for us to do at home. I also want to give a shoutout to Megan who we had as a sub, and is also just awesome! If you are looking for someone to introduce swimming in a gentle, fun and caring way, this is your place! Give them a go! Thank you Jennifer! read more

An amazing swim teacher, the instructor is a preschool teacher so has plenty of experience with kids! The approach is gentle and respectful of the child. There is no throwing a child in the water abruptly. I was apprehensive about looking into swimming lessons for my 2 yr old since I'd heard that's a common approach. However, I'm so happy I found Sea otters!! My son has never been pressured into doing something he is not ready for! We've been going to Sea Otters for 2 years now, my son always looks forward to Summer swimming lessons!!! Highly recommend!!! read more

i regret to say it but when i called in today and wanted to get some information about kids swimming a woman gave me the time and price ,then the soonest i told her i have kids are autistic she said she is booked for this season. i am so sorry that these people treat kids/people with special needs differently it is wrong,not everything is money . read more

Jennifer is absolutely amazing at walking that fine line and knowing when to encourage and teach and when to let them play and experiment. It is the perfect balance of play and instruction. She never pushes and never makes them do anything they aren't comfortable with. It is a gentle guidance and she communicates in a respectful way. I have no doubt that any child will thrive in this environment and walk away with a positive experience. Both of my sons have learned to swim from her private lessons and they looked forward to each and every one. read more

Jennifer was really in tune with what my daughter needed in the water. We took two summers of lessons including Mommy and Me and then took a few private lessons. We had a little incident at our pool at home and my daughter was pretty freaked out after it. When we took her back to Jennifer and told her what happened at home and she took her time and made her feel comfortable in the water and go at the pace my daughter set. She was really observant and her level of awareness of body language and comfort was nearly a sixth sense. Thanks to Jennifer my daughter was able to recover from our scary pool fears. Jennifer truly has a gift with teaching kids. I wish she taught more things now that my daughter has learned to swim. Her respectful methods of instruction have taught me a few things too. She really has a gift. read more

Highly recommended! Jennifer is by far the best swim teacher out there, and we have tried a few! She is gentle, patient and clearly experienced in both working with children and in teaching them how to swim. As a special needs therapist myself, I could instantly recognize what makes her so effective. She respects children, sets clear expectations, has lots of fun and novel games, and knows just how far to push them without going too far. We put both our children through swim lessons with Jennifer over the past several years, and we couldn't be happier! A little bit about our personal experience with her. Before going to her, my son attended two different swim schools. They pushed him despite his fears and as a result he was very scared and anxious in the water, and would not want to swim even though he had actually learned the physical ability to swim. With Jennifer, she promised him to never do anything that he wasn't ready for. By starting with the basics and gently encouraging him to put his head under water to blow bubbles, she not only gained his trust, but he quickly learned that he could be safe in the water and enjoy swimming. She helped him develop confidence from within, and that was the single most valuable thing she has given him. I also think that the pool setting is part of the key that helped my son do well at Jennifer's. At the other swim schools, there were several students and instructors in the pool at the same time. It was noisy, chaotic and smelled highly chlorinated. Of course, to be expected, there was at minimum one crying, terrified child being forced to get into the pool. I could see the nervousness and fear in my son's eyes. You would never see this at Jennifer's. There it's only her and the student in the pool. It's nicely shaded, the water is just the right temperature and doesn't reek of chlorine. She also always has some nice music playing in the background. I personally looked forward to relaxing by the poolside, watching my son swim! So to sum it up, just go to Jennifer! I only wish we went to her sooner, and didn't waste time and money at the other swim schools. I can't imagine you'll be disappointed. read more

Jennifer is the best instructor for kids! She is really patient and kind. She has been teaching my daughter for the past three years. Lauren has made so much progress every summer. She has started teaching my son this summer who was very hesitant to swim at the beginning. He is getting more comfortable and building skills every lesson. Her patience and knowledge of child development is amazing. It really shows in the work she does with each child she works with. read more

Jennifer is an outstanding swim teacher. She is incredibly patient and kind, she is always encouraging and she brings out the very best in my daughter. I never imagined my daughter who has some sensory issues would be willingly putting her face and head into the water the first lesson, but Jennifer creates such a safe environment that my daughter was surpassing my expectations by that very first lesson! I will absolutely be signing my daughter up for swim lessons with Jennifer next season. I am very thankful to have found her (wish I had found her even sooner!) and highly recommend her swim school. read more

I was so exciting to have my daughter swim with Jennifer after reading all the great reviews. Unfortunately, our experience was not as positive. My daughter was already proficient in the water and I spoke with Jennifer about our goal of working on swim strokes and she agreed. However, when the lessons started Jennifer claimed that children at this age (4) can't learn swim strokes. It was particularly disappointing because we had discussed this before the lessons even started. Jennifer worked on diving, but my daughter was already strong in that area and that was not the goal of the lessons. All in all, it was disappointing that we didn't see any progress with the lessons. I think Jennifer may be best suited for new swimmers who are not confident in the water. read more

Jennifer is amazing! She is skilled, fun, creative, compassionate, gentle, and nurturing! I can't believe my 3 yo sons progress just after three classes. We have now finished a session and just signed up for another. After a bad experience with another local instructor my son was apprehensive about the water, but that changed immediately! He loves the water now and has asked several times to go swimming with Jennifer. Her priority is to make the child feel comfortable and have fun in the water. I'm shocked that after about 3 lessons our son was actually swimming! He can roll into the pool and float or swim about 6 feet. He is having so much fun exploring the world under water with his goggles. He is diving for rings and treasures in the shallow water. I never would have She's taught him so much and we couldn't be happier! read more

My sons have flourished in the water thanks to this swim school! The instructor is so patient and works at the student's speed. My sons, age 5 and 7 have learned to swim and are completely comfortable in all areas of the pool, including the deep end. The instructor knows how to connect with students well and it is this connection that helps students succeed! I highly recommend Water Otters!! read more

I want to be like Jennifer as a mom! She is patient with the kids, firm yet uses a calm and reassuring voice, easily reads each kid's individual needs and strengths, and really cares for her students! Both my kids have been with Jennifer (Water Otters) since last summer. My son, Luke (2 years old), takes the parent and me class. He is fearless in the water-which is good and bad. Jennifer has taught me how to work with both his adventurous side and how to insure safety. He wears goggles and swims a few strokes under the water to and from the ledge. Lily (4 years old) has blossomed with Jennifer. Jennifer gently pushes Lily to the next level which has been amazing for her swimming growth. We practice her new learned skills each night. Lily is confident and happy in the water. And now swimming across the pool. As a parent I can't thank Jennifer enough! My goal from swim lessons was for both kids to gain confidence and learn safety! Both kids have gone beyond this expectation thanks to Jennifer's dedicated teaching skills and passion for swimming. read more

Water Otters Swim School - Lily's first private lesson with Water Otters - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Winnetka, California

Water Otters Swim School is the absolute best! Jennifer is patient, kind, and extremely knowledgeable! She has taught all 3 of my kids to be confident swimmers and to be water-safe. Two of my children would not even get their face/head wet and now I can't get them out of the pool! She has an unbelievable ability to work with babies and children in and out of the water. This is the only place to go to teach your child to swim and be safe in the water! read more

My daughter has learned so much, so quickly. She loves every minute of her swim lessons with Jennifer. We couldn't wish for a better experience. The techniques Jennifer uses to teach children to swim are remarkable and are conducive to making children not only comfortable and safe in the water, but to truly love to swim. I would highly recommend Water Otters to anyone. read more