The right class makes all the difference.
A child placed in the right class thrives. Here is how we help you choose.
Choosing the right class is the most common question we get — and it matters. Here's how to think about it. We have three teachers, and our classes follow a path.
Children begin swimming independently at 2½. Before that, parents and caregivers are in the water with their child. After that, they're with a teacher.
support@heldinwaters.com ·
6 to 9 months
Your baby's earliest introduction to the water. A gentle, song-and-play based class where the parent or caregiver is in the pool. We guide you in how to hold your baby, set boundaries that create safety, and begin sensory-led skills — breath cues, going under, back floats, and finding buoyancy. Learning to read your baby in the water is one of the most important pieces of this class.
9 to 15 months
For the baby who is becoming mobile. Parent or caregiver is in the water. We move through song and play, guiding you in breath control, going under, climbing out, back floats, and finding buoyancy. Repetition outside of class is where the real learning happens — we give you the tools to keep building it at home.
15 months to young 3
For the confident mover not quite ready to swim independently. Parent or caregiver is in the water. We build climbing out, turning around, back floats, breath control, and buoyancy. This is the bridge class — what you learn here carries your child into independent lessons at 2½.
Every 4th class across all age groups, students practice with clothes on — knowing what it feels like to fall in fully dressed is one of the most important water safety skills we teach. Goggles and fins are welcome, but we regularly practice without them so children learn to trust their own bodies in the water. Read Hannah's piece on what water safety really is →
Infants – 3 yrs · Special needs · Deep water fear
Wednesday is reserved for the children who need more — more space, more time, more attunement. This private lesson is held in the warm therapy pool. This is non-swim work. It's nervous system work. We move slowly. We build trust before we build skills.
Infants – 3 yrs · Special needs · Deep water fear
A two-child semi-private in the warm therapy pool for infants through 3-year-olds, children with special needs, or children with real, deep fear of the water. We move slowly and build trust before we build skills. This day exists for children who need more attunement than a group class can offer.
Ages 2½–4 · 20 minutes
Children begin swimming independently at 2½ (younger only with special permission). Twenty minutes is where this age maxes out, and we honor that. Tears and fears are welcome here — they're part of the work. We introduce water on the face, going under, buoyancy, back floats, strong kicking, and jumping to a teacher.
Ages 3–5 · Capped at 4 students
For the swimmer who still needs some assistance but is confident getting in, putting their face in, and ready for more. Jumping without help, turning to the wall, rolling onto the back, diving down for toys. Capped at four students — Teacher Hannah has an assistant in the water for more eyes and more safety.
Ages 4–5
For the beginner swimmer comfortable enough to be in class without a parent and without major fear. Face in, jumping from the side and islands, learning backstroke, building confidence. If your 4 or 5 year old still has a lot of fears or tears, please start with Teacher Hannah — this class is for children who are past that stage.
Ages 4–5
For the 4 or 5 year old past fears and ready to put swimming together: arms, legs, and breath. Independent turnarounds, rolling onto the back, diving down for toys. Your child should be jumping in without help and comfortable putting their face in.
Ages 6–8
For older beginners. Maybe your child still has some fears, maybe they're nervous about the deep end. We start every class in the shallow end and slowly, carefully move toward deeper water as confidence grows. Face in, breath control, backstroke, and building real comfort with the water.
Ages 7–8 · Small groups
For the child who may be intimidated by the deep end, hasn't connected breath with stroke, or needs more individual attention. Groups stay small — three students with Teacher Kate, four with Teacher Hannah (who has an assistant). Kicking on the back, big arms, breath control, and — when ready — jumping or diving into the deep end.
Ages 6–10 · Must swim width unassisted
A deep-end-only class. Your child must be comfortable swimming the width of the pool unassisted before joining. Breath control, side breathing, diving to varying depths, all four strokes, and water safety skills. Kat is our diving specialist.
Each teacher works with specific age groups and levels. Knowing who your child will be with — and why — is part of choosing the right class.
Hannah has been teaching in and around water for nearly thirty years — she opened her first swim school at sixteen. Her approach is somatic and nervous-system based: she meets children where their bodies are, not where a checklist says they should be. In the afternoons, Teacher Lora assists in the water. This is her tenth consecutive season teaching in Hood River.
Kate teaches the bridge years between fear and real swimming. She's patient with kids who still have nerves about the deep end and skilled at moving children through the moment when arms, legs, and breath finally come together. Her groups stay small because listening at this age is genuinely hard.
Kat teaches pre-swim team and swim team levels. Her classes are deep-end only — for the child ready to become a strong, skilled swimmer or who wants to join swim team. Originally from Seattle, Kat is 22 years old and has spent the last six years teaching swim lessons to children ages 2–12. She loves helping kids build confidence in the water in a way that feels fun, playful, and supportive. Alongside swim instruction, she teaches the foundations of diving and is an avid kiteboarder who feels most at home in and around the water.
Ready to find the right class?
Register through Jackrabbit. Venue details sent in your welcome email.
Not sure where to start — reach out. We can help.