Our family is no stranger to boutique, swim class franchises. Back in Wisconsin we utilized a similar swim class facility for my oldest and really enjoyed our time there. Moving to Columbus we were thrilled to find some of the same characteristics in Goldfish Swim School. My needs were basic. All I was looking for was warm water temperature and small class sizes. Easy enough. Goldfish provided all that and more.

Originally I had low expectations for baby/toddler swim lessons. It's very important to me that my children feel comfortable in water and eventually become confident swimmers but, I certainly wasn't expecting a miniature Michael Phelps after a couple of sessions. This was just supposed to be a fun activity, first sport, and introduction to a basic life skill. Right?

Wrong. (Hold on to your seats while I get slightly hyperbolic) We began swim classes at Goldfish back in April for my eldest son and daughter. It is now August and my son has jumped TWO levels and well on his way to Junior 4. Weekly, I am watching behind the glass with tears in my eyes as if I am watching him win the 100m freestyle. I can barely put into words how amazing it is to watch my four year old swim underwater. In less than 6 months he has gone from just playing in shallow water to swimming 10 feet underwater, diving for rings, and rolling over onto his back to float. I watch with awe every. single. week. How is this possible? Is he a swim prodigy?

After backtracking and actually researching the values and goals of Lisa Armitage and the Goldfish Swim School franchise, it all started to make sense. The breath control, "pulling paddles," rolling over onto their backs, these are all skills that are honed from the baby classes all the way up. They are worked on in tiny increments and gradually each student can hold their breath longer, and swim farther. The same skills that my four year old is mastering, I can see tamed down versions of in my two year olds Mini 3 class.

Big brother dives underwater for a ring in Junior 3

Little sister practices "catching her bubble" to grab a ring off the step in Mini 3.

Listen, I know I'm going to be a tiger mom no matter what sport or interest comes our way next. But every child needs to learn how to swim and you can't beat the learning environment over at Goldfish swim school. They have two locations in the Columbus area, Dublin and Westerville, and you can choose sessions or year round swimming. (I recommend the year round.) Check them out, don't just take my word for it, and you too will be pressing against the glass (sorry about the fingerprints) cheering your mini Phelps to victory.