Would definitely recommend! My kid was able to swim at the end of 2 weeks sessions! But I would say, it also depends on the kids' ability to an extent. The earlier kids learn, the better they can grasp read more

My 4.5 year old daughter just finished her third, final session at Farnsworth yesterday. We had such a great experience with Farnsworth from beginning sign-up to Izzy getting her tadpole report card and lollipop. ;) Coming into The swim school early June, Izzy was very scared of the water and would not put her face in at all. She cried the first lesson and wanted to get out of the pool. Jaynie and the teachers are very patient with the kids , but also know how to keep them in the water through the crying to get them to a more comfortable place. I love their approach and how they focused on technique first (big arms, blowing bubbles, strong kicks), and progressed to teaching a little more each day. Leena was Izzy's instructor for 2 of the sessions and I was blown away by what she could do by the end! She was able to go under, touch the bottom of the pool, hold her breath for a few seconds at a time, jump in and go under, and float on her back for a few seconds. Izzy gained a lot of confidence in her swimming this summer. She told me each day she was excited to go in, get rings and put her head under. Most all of this is to Leena's credit. She is so positive and engaging, and is really great at building trust and swim technique. She may not know how to swim alone yet, but by next summer I'm sure she will be able to! ;) Thank you Farnham! read more

Farnsworth Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me

We love Farnsworth Swim School! This was our first time coming and it was fantastic. This school was exactly what was needed to give that extra push to get my 6 year old daughter to learn how to swim. We even signed up for extra classes after seeing how much she excelled in those first few days. The teachers pushed her just enough to get her out of her comfort zone so that she now can swim all the way to the flags by herself. I also signed up my 4 year old and he had a blast. Learning to swim was disguised as fun and he exceeded all my expectations to swim to us and be safe in the pool. I'm looking forward to signing up again next summer to practice their skills and swim better. read more

My kids have had swim lessons here for two summers now. They had no swim knowledge before getting started. When we first started they were 6 and 9 years old. After 2 weeks of daily lessons, both kids could swim a short distance unassisted. That was the first summer. Now, after their second summer, they can both tread water for 2 minutes, they can swim the length of the pool with side breathing, and they can do the backstroke. I am extremely thrilled and impressed by how much they have learned. I tried group lessons for my oldest when he was about 4 or 5 years old, and he made no progress over a summer. Farnsworth really made a huge difference for our kids! Both kids were able to do swim lessons at the same time with different one-on-one instructors. This was convenient and fun for the kids! read more

Farnsworth Swim School is absolutely amazing! We found out about the school from our neighbor who just finished a 2 week lesson for her son. I was a bit hesitate at first since after taking my son to Avac for 5mths straight and he cried every time ( this is due to my son's fear of water and not liking water in his face) After speaking with Jaynie and finding more about their program we signed up for 8 days private lessons. So, day 1: it was expected my son would cry but his instructor Faith was absolutely amazing and had so much patience. Then day 2: there was NO tears at all. Faith took the time to build that trust and comfort with my son and long story short 5 days in- he was going under water, jumping in the pool and really enjoying swim. We were beyond amazed by how fast that was. After 8th day and seeing my son so excited to go to his lesson each day and the regress he was making we decided to sign up for additional 2 weeks! At the end of all his lesson, he is a swimmer now and tadpole graduate. We cannot thank Faith enough for all her hard work and patience she had with my son. He is already looking forward to his next lessons next year! read more

Wow! Where do I start? Jainey was amazing in getting us setup for the classes. We did the 5-day in a row class with instructor, Faith. Our daughter loved her! She was able to pickup kicking, jumping into pool, and holding breath fairly quickly, by the 2nd/3rd day and this was her first lesson at 2.5 years old. Also, she now feels more comfortable around the pool and trying to swim. Doing one-off classes will not work, you have to keep it consistent and do the 5/8 day classes. Do NOT go anywhere else! Farnsworth was well worth it. read more

Farnsworth Swim School - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me

See all

My boys have been at Farnsworth Swim School ever since they were 2 and 3 years old. This year, they will be 6 and 7 - so this will be our 4th year! Why we love Farnsworth: 1 - They offer 1:1 swimming lessons 2 - The instructors, the owner and the people who run it know what they're doing and are 100% professional. 3 - The instructors are super knowledgable and know how to work with all ages - from babies to adults. 4 - Your child WILL swim! If mine can, yours will too :) So let me tell you this - it's a process. When my 2 and 3yo's first started swimming, they were CRAZY afraid of water. Whenever I'd take them to a pool, they'd cry, wrap their legs around my hip and never let go. The first summer we took classes at Farnsworth, I'll be honest, they cried alot. The instructors at Farnsworth were so patient and never got frustrated at my boys even though they practically cried the entire time during some of the sessions. It took a week for them to stop crying and even then, they'd whine every time I took them, but after a week, they got better. I started to see progress. They haven't learned how to swim yet, but they were accepting being in the water, and back then, my only goal was for them to just be comfortable being in the pool. So come summer #2, it was rough at first again, it took them a week to overcome their fears since they haven't swam all year round (which brings me to another topic: you might ask, Isn't it better to swim all year round? You can, many parents schedule in swimming only on the weekends and once a week just isn't enough for your kids to learn how to swim. They have to swim every day, consecutively for them to train their muscles - and memory! Trust me on this, I too questioned it and my kids learned how to swim this way, so I'm a firm believer). OK I got sidetracked, back to summer #2, where they finally got comfortable in the water and started to learn how to swim, but still wasn't able to swim from one side to another yet, but, baby steps. Summer #3 (just last year), my oldest who was 6yo at the time FINALLY learned how to swim from one side to the other (HALLELUJAH!). I felt like all the money I've ever spent on swimming was FINALLY worth it. And get this, he also learned how to do the butterfly and breast stroke, in ONE summer. I think once you get over the fear, you just soar! I think alot of it has to do with age too and practice of course. When my son's instructor knew he wasn't afraid of the water anymore, she knew how to encourage and push him to his ability. It was AMAZING to watch my oldest learn how to swim and my youngest son is almost there too. This summer is going to be great, I know it already. Oh and I need to also add - you don't get ribbons for every little milestone like other swimming classes do. At Farnsworth Swim School, after every 2 weeks, you get a report card, checking off the things you're able to do and if they can't check off all the boxes, you are still at the level you're at until you can move on to the next step. There's ALOT of things you need to complete, which makes completing it THAT much more worthwhile and fulfilling. My boys were so proud every time they got to move up to the next level, they felt a strong sense of accomplishment. If you are looking for a school that will teach your child(ren) how to swim, look no further. read more

I wasn't sure to expect from the swim school because of Covid, but I signed my daughter up Anyways because there wasn't anything else to do. She ended up loving it! She had a great teacher who treated her with kindness and taught her how to kick and do "big" scoops. I can't wait to sign her up again next summer. I know she will remember what she learned and be able to take her swimming to the next level. read more

See all

This swim school is the best!!!!! Instructors were amazing, water and pool were super clean, and my son was swimming a Few weeks later!! Thank you jamie!! You guys rock read more

Wow! We've taken swim lessons at a TON of different locations. We've done it all - group, private, semi-private, weekly, 2-week session. This is such a fantastic swim school! They have the best curriculum by far, and I'm so impressed with the way that they teach certain skills at each level, and introduce skills like diving and treading water, even at very young ages. They were unique in that they really emphasized having the child watch the instructor do it correctly, then having the instructor help the child to do it (moving their arms and legs to activate muscle memory) and having the child attempt it independently. I was astonished by how much progress both of our daughters made in just a few days! We added an additional week, because they loved it so much! The instructors are also fantastic! They only teach private lessons, and your child will really benefit from the individualized attention. They're very encouraging, friendly, and helpful. They set the bar high, but the kids totally rise to the challenge! My youngest was able to swim very short distances when we started lessons and was able to swim the length of the pool in just 4 lessons! My biggest recommendation is to sign up early and do at least 8 classes. It's amazing how much more progress they make when they swim many days consecutively with the same instructor. I was especially impressed that they also taught boat safety, how to wear a life jacket, and how to assist someone who needs help. Thank you for providing such an essential service in a very safe way during this challenging summer due to COVID. You gave our children something to look forward to each day, made them more water safe, and we are SO appreciative! read more

A wonderful neighborhood swimming school for small kids. If you are looking for summer swimming lessons for your little ones, this is the best place! read more

We have loved and raved about them to friends and neighbors for years. Their structure of daily one on one lessons is the only way to go in my opinion. Their instructors are amazing no matter the age group, but are especially great at getting young ones that are afraid of the water past their fear. Thanks Janie and Christina read more

EXCELLENT Swim School! My Grandson has taken swim lessons from Farnsworth Swim school this past year and has improved his swimming skills 100%! The swimming teacher's techniques, communication and individualized attention made learning fun, enjoyable and easy. Their encouragement and positive environment along with teaching safety protocols is top-notch! I am grateful for the valuable skills my Grandson gained under their swimming guidance and feel confident that others will find the same level of excellence in their swimming instruction. read more

We were fortunate enough to be on their email list and reserve our spots for the whole summer. Our experience was nothing but positive. My son came with some fear of water and not being able to be on his own for more than a single stroke. Within the first week he was swimming short distances and looking forward to each lesson. He progressed fast, swimming across the pool on his own by the mid of the fourth week or sooner and by the end of the eighth week he was swimming on his own across the pool using freestyle technique, breathing on the side, and also using backstroke. We could easily compare our experience to other pools where we had our older kid take classes once a week and the progress there was way slower after a year of attending. The organization and ease of registration were also top notch. Cannot wait to continue lessons with them again next summer. I will wholeheartedly recommend giving them a try! read more

We did 3 weeks of one one one sessions for my daughter this summer and it was amazing. This is the second summer with Farnsworth and my daughter (age 5) has made so much progress. She's had 4 different teachers over the last 2 years and they have been amazing. As a former swimmer I can tell they know what the are doing. I would highly recommend. My daughter was so excited each day to get in the pool. We look forward to coming back. read more

Farnsworth Swim School - Working on backstroke. - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me

This review is long overdue. My daughter went to Farnsworth Swim School at age 3, 4 and 5 and is such a strong swimmer. She does not want to swim competitively, but after 2 week intensive swim lessons, I felt much more comfortable with my daughter around the water. My son could not stand to be in the water. I started his lessons at 18 months, just to get him comfortable. He was the kid that you would attempt to dip his feet in the water and he would raise his legs to his chest to stay out of the water. He cried every time we went to lessons until he finally gave in. Now I cant get him out of the water and he is so confident! The one on one lessons every day are the best way to go. I have friends who went elsewhere once a week for a year (group) and still aren't confident enough to be in the pool without someone close. read more

My son started taking private swim lessons at Farnsworth Swim School the summer of 2019 when he was 2 1/2. He cried a ton the first few days but the owners of the school assured me that was normal and it was OK, and sure enough, by the end of the week, he was loving every minute of class. He was back with them again this summer (2020) and he is now an amazing swimmer and is always eager to get to class. And he's not even 4 years old! It is such a relief to watch him swim the length of the pool without needing any assistance and to observe him having so much confidence in himself. He is proud of himself! I also have older stepchildren who are in their 20s now and they remember taking lessons at Farnsworth Swim School with the original founder/owner... Quite a legacy for this well-run community business. They are a local treasure! read more

A fantastic place to learn to swim. One on one instruction has been ideal for my grandchildren, who all started lessons between the ages of one and two. They are now 16 months, 7 years, and 9 years old and been going every year. My husband and I first found the Farnsworth School years ago, when my own children were young and they took lessons. They are now 44 and 36. They took lessons for several years and my son even got up to pre- lifeguard level. I was happy to see the school was still in business for my grandchildren. Great, caring instructors, safe and clean environment. read more

I attended Farnsworth Swim School during summer. I was skeptical when I joined. I've previously tried a couple of other swim schools and wasted a lot of money. Farnsworth is expensive but totally worth it. Initially, I signed up for 1 week to see how it goes but I loved it so much that I ended up taking lessons entire summer. My instructor Emily was awesome. She is extremely skilled in teaching. She is good-natured and at the same time no-nonsense. I am thrilled with how much I've improved. Before joining I could swim breaststroke and elementary backstroke but I was struggling with freestyle and could not tread water. Now I am in much better form and able to do side breathing and swim freestyle back and forth across the pool. I am also able to tread water for up to 10 mins without any problems. Emily also helped improve/correct other strokes. Thanks to Jaynie and Emily for tracking my progress, adjusting the lessons accordingly, motivating and pushing me to achieve my goals. Emily thanks for coming early mornings to fit my tight schedule. Overall, I just love this swim school and am so grateful to have found it!! Like some of the other reviewers mentioned, I wish Janie can offer her classes year round. I plan to sign up my little one next year..... read more

My friends daughter has been going here for some time now and she absolutely loves it. She has taken her swimming skills to the next level.

I wanted to give a great review of a special swim school that is really focused on trying to help families with their swimming needs. We have a family member who has some special needs when it comes to swimming. Jaynie was more than gracious about being flexible in trying to meet our needs, especially since that family member has real fears. We appreciate the entire team and their flexibility for us as a family. If you want a team that really cares about you and your family, pick Jaynie and her team. They are more of a ministry than a business, and really care about you. read more

We started at this school about 2 years ago with my older son . He was not yet there when we would do the once a week swim lessons at a major large fitness complex . I spoke to Jaynie back then and found her very patient and understanding . She recommended 2 sessions for him and sure enough he managed to float at do freestyle by the end of those . As far as safety was concerned this was huge for me since we travel overseas frequently and swim a lot . For my younger one who is 5.5 due to coronavirus , we were not able to get him in the pool for 2 years I knew he had anxiety in water and had forgotten about the one session he did at farnsworth with his brother few years ago . Jaynie recommended 2-3 sessions for him since he was a total beginner and had a high level of anxiety . He started with Leena who was excellent from the beginning . She was not able to continue with him and he needed session 2 . Neel helped him get to almost floating but we ran out of days due to non availability . We practiced regularly and My son was able to on his own get to floating based on skills taught by the school . They had asked us to practice his kicking regularly and that gave him confidence to float on his own . We wrapped up with one more session with Leena so with a total of 3 sessions my son is floating and doing strokes along with diving . Along with that he loved his teacher and it was a very pleasant fun experience for everyone . I recommend this school to everyone who is looking for an accelerated program for their kids to learn within a few weeks . Thank you jaynie for being so great . read more

My three daughters have been swimming with Jaynie and Co. for three or four years now. I highly recommend this program: I am pleased and impressed with the level of skill my daughters have achieved. They have developed confidence in the water, learned excellent safety skills, developed graceful strokes and dives, and just generally have a love for swimming. Jaynie is a second-generation swim instructor - her late mother founded the school back in the day - and it shows; she has a great teaching method that really works! Swimming is a survival skill for kids especially in California, blessed as we are with so many pools and beaches: competence in the water saves lives. If you are looking for positive, supportive, competent swim instructors to help your kids (or yourself!) learn to be safe and have a good time, you will be happy you tried Farnsworth Swim School. read more

We completed our second year of lessons with the Farnsworth Swim School and we're incredibly pleased with the results. Our son, now 4 1/2, is comfortable in the water, comfortable swimming with his face down, as well as diving, floating on his back and treading water. Jaynie listened to my water safety concerns and goals and was able to exceed my expectations. I find the school very professional and the instructors talented in working with children. My son is learning valuable life/survival skills and still had fun while doing so - he looked forward to every one of his lessons. Thank you, Jaynie! read more

See all

We started Farnsworth Swim School 3 years ago when our daughter was just 2-years-old. We understand safety comes first and wanted her to try swim before any other type of sport. We found Farnsworth by searching on-line. We knew from the beginning, we wanted private one-on-one lessons. We didn't mind paying a bit more either. We also wanted a salt water pool, which this pool is, only 15% chlorine. Jaynie, the Owner rents a pool from a resident in the beautiful neighborhood in Alamden. The parents are provided chairs and a shade canopy to watch their children during their lesson. There is also a pool/guest house on the property to change the children or go to the restroom, if needed. The past 3 years have been awesome! Our daughter enjoys her classes and swims well! All of the instructors have been so amazing! Jaynie, the Owner knows what she is doing and hires very qualified instructors. We now have a second child the age of 20 months and we put her in this Summer and she loves it! Kim is her instructor and is the sweetest girl and my daughter loves her! It makes me feel so good knowing that my girls are in great hands. I have no doubts whatsoever! If you read the history behind Farnsworth Swim School that will make you want to support this company even more. Jaynie, has taken over the program in legacy of her Mother and that warms my heart so much. I also feel it's very important to support small business's. Jaynie, is such a sweet person and we are so fortunate to have found a swim program like this. This is a little Gem! We can't wait till next year and look forward to our lessons every Summer!! read more

The teachers are fantastic and really want to help your child learn to swim. We took lessons most of the summer and my sons have drastically improved! Swimming on their own and very well!!!! Yay happy momma here . I love that each lesson is private and the teachers are able to customize the lesson to each child! I highly recommend this school for lessons. It's worth every penny and water safety is SO important! A bonus is the pool they are currently using is mostly salt water and my kids love it! read more

My 3.5 year old daughter had an amazing time this past summer. First of all the covid precautions they took helped me feel safe. My daughter had an amazing instructor who understood that we wanted to build a relationship first before my daughter began to trust. She was kind, patient, and positive. We were so happy that my daughter had an amazing time learning and wants to go back again. We can't wait for next summer with the Farnsworth Swim School! read more

I actually found Farnsworth Swim School through Yelp about 3 years back. My oldest son just finished up his third summer of lessons here and he is at intermediate level. He definitely progressed a lot this past summer and he is confident in the pool. My son's classes were are all 1:1 private sessions which costs more on the front end but it saves you a lot of money and time in the long run because the kids progress so much more quickly with private lessons. All of the instructors are great with the kiddos and the owner, Jaynie is really accommodating and works with you if you have a certain situation you need to work with her on. My son will be back next summer again. read more

My 3 year old had a week lesson with Jill, he connected so well with her style of teaching and personality such that it was transformative in his continued interest in swimming. We hope to join next summer! read more

I was petrified of swimming before I took the class. However, my instructor Samantha, helped me ease into it and be comfortable in water. She taught be the basics and the physics as well which helped a lot. I learnt the freestyle, backstroke and diving. Jaynie has also been very co-operative and even though they had a tight schedule, she did make sure to consider any need of rescheduling. In fact, when I could not attend the last session as I fell sick, even though it was last minute and they did not have a replacement, she refunded me. That means a lot and I would definitely like to continue the next summer. It is good to see people and business who still care. I would definitely recommend Jaynie for all age groups. read more

I found the Farnsworth Swim School on Yelp, and decided to give it a try. Without a doubt, this is one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am a 34 year old mother and police officer, and I did not know how to swim. For 34 years, I waded in the shallow end, sat at the edge of the pool, missed out on pool parties, beach days, snorkeling in Hawaii, and many other water-related adventures due to my fear of the water. Deciding to learn to swim was an easy decision to make because I knew that my children's lives and the safety of the community I serve depended on it. I just needed the right person to guide me. I signed up for five 40-minute private lessons and I was fortunate enough to have Jaynie Farnsworth as my instructor. I was apprehensive that I'd actually learn to swim in 5 days, but I had an amazing instructor who was extremely knowledgeable, personable, patient, genuinely cares about water safety, and made learning really fun. After five days, I was swimming freestyle, backstroke, floating, treading and diving!! That's insane and I could hardly believe this is my body doing all these things! Jaynie taught me the importance of proper breathing, which made a world of difference. She has a motto of "swimming smarter, not harder" and it totally makes sense. Swimming feels natural and easy to me now, it's amazing. I'm very excited to get in the water with my family and continue learning and building on the foundation that Jaynie laid for me. I definitely recommend Farnsworth Swim School. It was worth every penny. Thanks Jaynie! read more

This is the best swim school ever! Our two kids have grown in confidence and have learned how to swim here! The teachers are incredible and the customer service is excellent! We're grateful for the experience every summer! read more

I chose Farnsworth Swim School for my 4.5yo daughter, because I was looking for 1:1 lessons that would yield results. I couldn't be happier with my decision, and I highly recommend this school for many reasons. My daughter was extremely nervous about learning to swim, and I knew there would be tears. She did cry quite a bit, particularly about putting her head underwater; but the instructors coached her with firm gentleness to push past her fear. They focused her attention on learning this new skill, breaking it down into manageable pieces - making bubbles, touching her forehead to water, kicking, etc. After 10 20-minute lessons, she can swim halfway across the pool freestyle. She has gained a new measure of confidence that comes from facing your fears and learning a new skill. I couldn't be happier to see how my child has grown. Definitely a great investment. read more

I've had both my boys go through Farnsworth swim school as toddlers and loved it! Having a private 1:1 lesson is really the best experience especially when they are just learning how to get comfortable in the water. Jayne and her instructors are patient, competent, and very knowledgeable. They made the lessons fun and the feedback after the lessons were always positive. I liked the daily lesson approach as my boys remembered what they learned the day before and made it easier for them to learn more. I'd recommend this to everyone!!! read more

This is our 3rd year with Farnsworth Swim School and I can't say enough good things about it. I have 2 boys and this year they really advanced with their technique and safety knowledge. If you want your kid to swim, this is the best school to sign up for. read more

I would highly recommend this swim school. I was a complete beginner where I didn't even know how to back float. I would give all the credit to my amazing swim instructor Grace. She is the best. In just 4 days she taught me how to tread in deep water, back float, back stroke and freestyle. Their 1:1 strategy and everyday class speeds up the learning process. I wished they were open for more time and not just during summers. I will be definitely enrolling back again to practice more next year. read more

Hands down best swim experience for our kids! Amazing to see the progression of our boys after two weeks with Jaynie and her crew. They love coming to swim lessons and starting early in the summer helps maintain their skills for a long swim season. We've come back for now a third year because we love it so much. We've told a lot of our friends and Farnsworth has been transformative for their kids too (they also have come back for more summers). read more

I found the school through a casual Google search and I am glad I did it. Having spent more than a year going to typical once a week group classes not seeing much progress, I decided that 1:1 was the best approach for my son. And as expected he picked up so much in 2 weeks what could not do for months. Now he is encouraged by his own progress that he is motivated to get better. Janie is very helpful and she in fact was the instrutor of my son for a 2 weeks session. Other instructors who work for her are also super nice. I even signed up my wife who for her life is scared for water. Now she is water safe and all motivated to learn. I wish Janie can offer her classes year round. read more

My daughter took swimming lessons at Jaynie Farnsworth's swim school last summer. It was a positive experience for both momma and child. Jaynie made it easy to sign up for classes on her website and had a nice shaded area for me to sit and watch Annika's lesson. Annika had just turned 3 before her 8 day lesson with Katie and could swim while holding her breath and kicking her legs. After her lessons with Katie (who was awesome by the way) she was jumping in the deep end and using her arms and legs to swim, taking breaths and swimming with her head above water. I was so impressed. I think the 30 minutes and day for 8 days program helped Annika remember and practice the new skills. This sort of program keeps it fresh and repetitive. Love this swim school. Highly recommended. read more

We had a wonderful experience with our 2.5 year old daughter this summer. These were her first swim lessons ever, so she was a little bit fearful. Her teacher did an amazing job of being extremely patient and caring, but she also pushed her the perfect amount. It was really hard to listen to her crying the first few days, but I'm so glad that we stuck it out because she was smiling and laughing by day 4! SO happy with the whole experience, we'll definitely be back next year! read more