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Need Advice Carlile Swim School experience?

Discussion in 'General Chat Forum' started by sharse, Jun 6, 2011.

  1. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    I have a 6 and 7 year old, on whom I've wasted a bunch of money in swim lessons because they hate getting their faces wet, and I'm wondering if Carlile could be my solution.

    I don't care if they become competitive athletes... I just want them to learn to swim well enough to get from one side of the pool to the next safely. I've tried teaching them the breast stroke but of course they don't want to listen to mom. And they don't really care right now that they can't swim. BUT I DO!!!

    Anyway, I see that Carlile has a specific program for school aged non-swimmers, whereas most non-swimmers programs are designed for 3 year olds.

    I'd love to hear first hand experiences. Thanks!
     
  2. redon1

    redon1 aka Aphioni

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    I'll ask my girlfriend- her 3 year old is enrolled there as we speak! I know whe is happy with it so I will see if she minds if i give you her email addy to contact you.
     
  3. holla97

    holla97 New Member

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    i send my 6 year old to Carlile swim school and have been impressed with what i have seen. Although my son is not afraid of the water, he's not fond of getting his face wet and really doesn't like getting in the water with people he doesn't know. i thought they did a really good job of making him feel comfortable and getting him in the water. We've been there for 4 weeks now (2 classes and week) and have definitely seen an improvement in his swimming and his overall confidence- he's getting his face in the water (with goggles) and swimming around and dunking himself. maybe take a tour--the supervisors there are very friendly--maybe talk to them about what the do to get kids to put their faces in the water...etc. overall, i'm happy. good luck!
     
  4. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    msflynn has a very good track record with getting kids who are scared of going under water beyond their fears in no time :)
     
  5. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    If she would l like to offer her services, she knows where to find me! :)
     
  6. mamatothree

    mamatothree New Member

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    ...and you can find her at Carlile!
     
  7. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    I wish I had known that before today... I'd have picked her brain much earlier!! :)
     
  8. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    Yes, she's teaching over at Carlile. I thought she'd jump on here but she must be busy with her 'other' job today at home :)
     
  9. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    She found me offline.
     
  10. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    No just figured I could answer her more directly offline
    Yes I am teaching lessons at Carlile. It is a wonderful program with over 60 years of history and research which eliminates the guess work. I have seen absolutely wonderful results in the kids I have been working with the last 8 weeks some of whom have already advanced to the next level and many who are close.
    All staff has many hours of training and are wonderful with all the kids. If you are even thinking about lessons for your child I would take them over and check out the pool and facility and ask lots of questions - there is a reason everything is done the way it is and the staff is happy to share that info with you.
    The pool is specifically designed to teach swimming so students can learn to be comfortable in the water 1st and the water is always nice and warm so no teeth chattering.


    Staci
     
  11. boomertsfx

    boomertsfx Booyakasha!

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    I got my kids started early (~year or so) with going under water... just blowing in their face makes them hold their breath and we dunked under real quick, and then built from there.... they loved diving with me to get my watch or sunglasses that I "accidentally dropped and needed help from them to get". Then we just started about 4' from the edge and had the kids kick and do a primitive paddle to the edge. My daughter could swim across the big pool as of last summer... she was about 4.5 then... she was able to swim shorter distances the previous summers as well. I guess it also comes down to your kids being interested in doing it too. Also, when the jumped in from the edge, I would just slowly move further and further from the edge as they gained confidence =)

    Now...can someone let me know how to get my son to eat veggies? 8)
     
  12. vacliff

    vacliff "You shouldn't say that."

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    .;)
     
  13. flynnibus

    flynnibus Well-Known Member Forum Staff

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    no.. her OTHER OTHER job :)
     
  14. sharse

    sharse TeamDonzi rocks!!

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    Thought I'd update my own thread with my experience. Quite simply,


    CARLILE ROCKS!!!!!!! They are unbelievable and I highly recommend them for kids (like mine) who got nothing out of "regular" lessons. I don't know what sort of magic they work at Carlile, but it's awesome and I'm thrilled with the results!!
     
  15. Don't Say Cheese Photo

    Don't Say Cheese Photo Broadlands Photographer

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    Has Carlile changed hands recently? Tom Donnelly swim school, or something like that took it over?
     
  16. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    It has not changed hands it has just been re-branded. The Carlile system was an Australian system that Tom (ie Tom Dolan) brought to America with the intent of being able to Americanize it. After about a year he realized the cultural differences between Australia and the US were to great and he was not able to meet the needs of his customers and Carlile was unwilling to allow the changes, thus he decided to re-brand to provide a better service. Tom Dolan swim school is still based on the idea of building strokes from the foundation up with a philosophy of swim thru life. You can check out his philosophy and more about what has changed at www.tomdolanswimschool.com or pm me -I am the AM Coordinator for the school.

    Staci Kapinos
    AM Coordinator
    Tom Dolan Swim school
     
  17. Don't Say Cheese Photo

    Don't Say Cheese Photo Broadlands Photographer

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    Thanks for the info, Staci. The reason I was on their site to begin with was hoping to find info about spring break "camps" for stoke refining. I really hope there are plans to have these intensive week long camps again. They rock!
     
  18. msflynn

    msflynn New Member

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    Sorry I did not get back to you sooner I just saw this post. We are not doing a spring break camp, but we will be doing camps over the summer. Details are still being finalized but I am happy to post the information here once it is.

    Staci
    Tom Dolan Swim School
    AM coordinator
     
  19. BzyCookn

    BzyCookn New Member

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    What is Carlile's experience working with special needs/sensory challenges?
     
  20. Big Blue Swim School

    Big Blue Swim School New Member

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    Carlile is now Tom Dolan Swim School. I have several teachers who have experience with sensory challenges and 1 teacher who is a certified special needs instructor. Why don't you give me a call next week 703 433 2020 and I am happy to discuss your specific needs and see what we can do to help you and meet the needs of your child

    Staci Kapinos
    AM Coordinator
    Tom Dolan Swim School
     

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