We brought our son here when he was 9 months old and my wife enjoyed the water time with him. Fast forward to three years old, turning four and they were still in the water together! My biggest three gripes were that we were watching younger kids come into the class and we essentially became the co-trainers. My son was so bored he just goofed off and didn't listen anymore because he could already do everything at that level since he'd been in the same class for over a year. We had asked her and she said she could move him up but she had to find spots in her other classes and she kinda seemed like she preferred the parent staying because it would be less work for her. Which goes to my next gripe that the other families in our time had been with us since the beginning! Yet she was willing to move all of our times, while they were still infants, to their nap time but she couldn't find time to transition them to swim by themselves. Since going, we've had the time changed 4 times all on Saturday. As any parent can attest to, messing around with nap times is a huge PITA. You could make the argument that she was being cautious not letting him swim without his mom because she felt he wasn't ready. However, he had been swimming without my wife for over a year already. We had been going to another swim school because she stated there weren't any slots open and weren't seeing much progress with her. The last complaint I have is that we never got what we paid for. The class started 10 minutes late and ended 5 minutes early. For a 30 minute class that's essentially half the class she spent chatting with the class prior, snacking, or ending it so she could snack. That's very unprofessional and should be something she baked into her schedule versus taking time in the class. read more

Ms. Julie is a phenomenal swim teacher. We sadly had to cancel switch to different lessons that were covered by our charter school but will always be so grateful for her patience and wisdom in getting our daughter over her fear of the water! read more

Ms. Julie is an absolutely amazing swim teacher! From the very first lesson, her friendly and knowledgeable approach has made all the difference for my 5-year-old daughter, who has ADHD. In weekly one-on-one sessions that are just 20 minutes long, my daughter has gone from being too afraid to stand in a kiddie pool to confidently moving around, diving, climbing in and out of the pool, and mastering all the essential safety skills to ensure she can get herself to safety if needed. Six months ago, I never would have imagined such progress. Now, my daughter genuinely looks forward to her lessons with Ms. Julie, and it's clear how much she loves her teacher. Ms. Julie's calm and reassuring presence, kid-friendly terminology, and undivided attention have made a huge impact on her physical and psychological development. What's even more impressive is how quickly this progress has happened compared to my son, who is now 13 and a Mission Viejo Nadador. He started at the same location (under a different manager) and it took him nearly two years to reach the same skill level. This has been an incredible investment in my daughter's health--both physical and mental--and I can't recommend Ms. Julie enough. She is proof that positive reinforcement and meeting kids where they are can lead to not just faster progress but truly meaningful results. Thank you, Ms. Julie, for everything you've done for our family! read more

Swim With Phyn - Daughter swimming to the edge of the pool completely alone! - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

We are having a wonderful experience with Julie and her swim school where my daughter is enrolled in private lessons. Julie uses language, examples and methods that are perfect for little minds to understand. She is gentle and encouraging but also concise in her instruction. I had once talked with her about short term goals I had for my daughter and Julie was open and more than willing to slightly pivot some of her lesson work. She helps make the experience feel like a partnership. I like that when class is over she always takes few minutes (or as longer if you'd like) to discuss my daughter's progress, give suggestions and ideas for how to improve at home, and share general swim safety tips and knowledge. It's a lot less of the quickly in and out post lesson feeling we had at our last larger corporate swim school. We are looking forward to our first open swim session this Friday which she hosts for her students to practice what they're learning, which is great for us because we don't have access to a pool. read more

This company didnt respond to my inquiries at first. Tried multiple times too. I think they may have moved.

Excellent swim school. Julie taught all my kids how to swim. She is amazing. She is patient. She's a true professional.

Julie is awesome. She has the perfect balance of firm and kind with the kids. My 3 year olds confidence has skyrocketed this summer since starting classes at swim with phyn. When the intensive weeks are offered, I highly recommend taking advantage of the concentrated swim time. It's made a huge difference for our daughter! read more

Been going here for a few years now. I've enjoyed this private location with semi private classes. In comparison, I tried a chain swim school and the experience was so different. We get individualized attention here and while we do pay a little more, I believe it's well worth it for my child's experience. My children are comfortable swimmers now. Thanks Coach Julie! read more

I am so pleased with this business that I don't even know where to start. Julie is a highly qualified, experienced, confident, engaging and safety-focused swim instructor. Her swim school stands apart from the corporate run options in the area. She has cultivated an intimate environment where children of all abilities and temperaments can thrive. She created a swim lesson just for our family (4 year old and 2 year old twins). To my amazement, my often anxious daughter took to Julie right from the start and took every opportunity presented to, "Be a leader." Julie manages the typical excitement and distraction of toddlers in a loving but firm manner, which I greatly appreciate. It's not often that one person can handle all 3 of my kids and I just get to relax on the sidelines. We are so grateful that Julie is empowering our little ones in the water. read more

Swim With Phyn - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

This swim school is awesome! Ms. Julie and her kind soul, she is great with my baby and we love how she teaches safety and appreciation of every step. I would highly recommend anyone to this school. Her pool is very welcoming to children, clean and safe. She is very attentive to all and has empathy and patience for every child's learning pace. read more

Swim With Phyn - Swimming Lessons/Schools Near Me - Laguna Hills, California

Our family loves Swim with Phyn and our teacher, Julie. It is a small business owned by Julie who always gives our family a lot of personal attention and love. Our son started swimming lessons with Swim with Phyn when he was 8 weeks old. Now at just 5 months old, he has grown tremendously and thoroughly enjoys the water. Julie creates a safe, positive and fun environment for our baby. She works with his natural reflexes to teach him skills that build upon one another. It is amazing being in the water with our little guy and watching him grow. They just updated and renovated the store/changing/play area at with Swim with Phyn. The changes are very nice. We would highly recommend Swim with Phyn to anyone who is interested in a loving fun and safe environment for your child to learn how to swim. Thank you Julie! read more

See all

Julie is exceptional. She is incredibly attentive & knowledgable about all things infant swim. This special school starts earlier than most because she can handle infants with such love & care while maintaining the goal of swim safety. We drive 30 minutes just to come to this swim school even though we have options closer to home. Her teaching is that good. read more

Not just for the little ones! Fantastic swim lessons for my older boys looking to increase their knowledge of basic swim strokes. Julie has been awesome in challenging them and adapting each lesson to help them improve. Added bonus...she also helps coach the boys with their water polo skills. We can't be happier! read more

My family loves Swim with Phyn! We started with this swim school because it is so close to home, but we've stayed because Julie is an incredible swim instructor! She has a big emphasis on water safety, including a safety day every swimester where the kids get to practice what would happen if they were to fall into the pool with their clothes on. My 6 year old daughter has been attending this swim school for about a year. She adores her weekly swimming lessons and it's been incredible to see how fast she's been growing in her confidence and swim skills with Julie's instruction. I also really appreciate how personal the lessons feel - the group sizes are small and Julie definitely looks to ensure that all of her students are in a group they thrive in. I highly recommend Swim with Phyn to anyone who is looking for a swim school with exceptional instruction, an emphasis on safety, and who want to feel like a valued member of a community instead of just a number. read more

Julie is great with kids and stresses the importance of routine when dealing with our infant daughter. We've been going with her for two swimesters now and really like how she handles the lessons and skills she's teaching. I would definitely recommend her to anyone interested in having their kids take swim lessons! :) read more

I love Swim With Phyn. My kids love Swim With Phyn. And now my kids love to swim. We've been taking lessons for over four years - my oldest is now six and swims independently, can tread water, float on her back and loves loves loves the water. My youngest is one and I'm amazed at her ease in the pool. And as a parent, I am now confident in my ability to safely support my kids in the water at every age. Water safety is Julie's top priority, which is creatively taught through developmentally appropriate play and activities. There are toys, chalk for drawing on the bottom of the pool (for intermediate and advanced swimmers), and the beloved treasure chest that gets toddlers and older kids comfortable "hiding their eyes" under the water. Kids learn to find their "safe spot", float relaxed on their back while we sing songs, roll from front to back, and push up from the bottom of the pool (or your lap for the babies). Julie connects with kids of all ages, gets to know each one, finds their motivation, is masterful when kids are shy, timid, nervous, or even not following directions, and creates a positive and supportive environment for all families. Julie has truly developed an amazing, enjoyable and effective approach to swimming instruction. read more

I don't even know where to start with how amazing this swim school is! My son has been coming here for a few months and made such good progress. Miss Julie is so good with the babies and really loves what she does. My son started swim at a year and a half and I've loved watching his confidence grow through classes here! I will refer anyone I know here! The best in town and prices are legit too! read more

We love Swim with Phyn! We started our baby at 8 weeks, he did great and loves the water. Julie is so awesome with the babies, so patient and loving. She teaches them and us parents great skills for swimming and water safety. Highly recommend! read more

Fantastic 1 on 1 classes. My daughter looks forward to her lessons with Julie ever week!! Small private setting with no distractions makes a perfect environment for my daughter who has learning challenges . Thank you Julie:))) I would highly recommend your classes. So much progress in just a few weeks, I'm feeling so much more comfortable with my Montana in the pool!!! read more

This is an amazing swim school. Julie is so kind and talented and has a true gift for teaching little ones to swim and connecting with them. My daughter is 3.5 and has been taking lessons with Julie for a few months now. I have seen such a positive improvement in her skills and overall confidence in the water. Julie makes it fun and playful, yet challenging and meaningful so the kids learn the skills necessary to be water safe and efficient swimmers. My daughter enjoys it so much that even on days we don't have swim class she still asks to go. When we are swimming on our own at our pool, she wants to re-inact what she does with Miss julie every time, so I know that the teaching is effective and my daughter is grasping it. I love how private the pool is and really appreciate how there are not a ton of classes or activities going on and once so little ones are able to stay focused. Highly recommend Swim with Phyn! read more

She did not respond to my texts regarding options to start my son for swimming lessons.

I am so happy i found this swim school for my 2 year old son. We just started our second swimester with Julie and absolutely love everything about this school. Julie is an amazing instructor. She is so calm with the children and really communicates well with them. Every kid is relaxed and eager to learn with her. I love that it is an indoor pool and that only one lesson is going on at a time. It is also great that you always have the same instructor who is experienced and loves her job. We enjoy going each week. An added bonus is there's a really good pizza place next door. We have a ritual of going to swim class, eating pizza afterwards and then my son falls asleep for 3 hours. A perfect day! If you are thinking about swim lessons for your little one definitely try this place out. Originally, I was just going to do one swimester but now we are hooked. Five stars all the way around. read more

Just as an added note, this is nothing against Julie as a person. As I noted, she was really nice and kind and good with the kids. My main issue was the lack of professionalism, mostly from a recordkeeping perspective but also in communication (on her Facebook page right now, for example, there are dozens of parents saying "X won't be at class today because he is sick" and "Can I do a makeup?" Is Facebook really the place to do this? Having a formal system for this would make more sense.) And I felt that she gave some preference to some kids and families. It isn't an awful crime, but just my opinion. I'd also like if reviewers could specify if they have private or group lessons. I'd imagine that those that have had private lessons wouldn't be as credible when discussing how the group lessons operate. FWIW, Ross C. (and his kids) are related to Julie. read more

Swim with Phyn started off well by getting my daughter Alivia more comfortable with the water. For the next session we chose the private classes with Julie and wow! Now she's happily going underwater, asking to take bathes and more confident with water overall. read more

Lessons an adequate introduction, but nothing spectacular. Teacher favors kids who excel, but not those who have fears. Pool, toys, & facilities became increasingly disgusting over swim semester. Clearly visible black colored mold on ceilings, inside swim fins, and inside swim caps. Pool facilities kept increasing in the smell of chlorine to the point where the air alone hurt my adult eyes. My last straw? The day the walls of the pool under the water were actually pinkish and slimy! ???? I called the owners and complained and their response? Oh we put chlorine in all the time. Save yourself time and look elsewhere... Or go check it out for yourself! read more

My family LOVES Swim with Phyn! I started going there for open swim to "test the waters," so to speak. My daughter, Reese, was only three weeks old and the water was the perfect temperature. The facilities were also warm enough for my little newborn. Julie is very knowledgeable and has so much interesting information to share about babies and how their reflexes work. Reese was hooked. Newborns are fussy. But, Reese loves her swim lessons so much that as soon as we walk in the door, she calms down and, as Julie always cues, is "ready to go swimming." The swimester sessions are 30 minutes. There is a cap on how many little ones come in so we always get attention and Reese is always kept busy floating, going under water, rolling, and playing with toys. She knows her cues on when to "hide her eyes" and Julie's upbeat attitude always makes Reese smile even if she got a bit of water after experimenting (like when she found her feet and wondered if she could still float with a foot in her mouth!). Julie always remembers where Reese is individually (and not as a group) and pushes her to do new things every session. Julie's focus on safety is also very comforting. Of course, I would never leave my infant unattended near a pool, but I know that as she grows older, she will be well-aware of when she could get in the pool and what the safe zones are so she could get out. As for the reviewers that were not pleased with her "books" or "professionalism," I'm quite baffled by it. Julie is a great swim instructor and when I asked about an Axxess discount, she immediately pointed me in the right direction to her assistant. Her Swimester sign up specifically requires parents to agree that they will NOT post on facebook their personal absences or requests for makeups. It says to either email, call, or text Julie personally. I've texted Julie and she responds! I don't get it. You pay for a swimester and you go to class. If you miss a class, you have the option of going to a make-up session. There are signs in the lobby area telling you when the next makeup session is. I'm actually impressed she allows for makeups since each class is reasonably priced and I would gladly pay a fee for a makeup session if I missed a class. I've witnessed parents upset that she can't accommodate their schedules after they have signed up for a swimester. There was only one occasion when Julie asked if she could change the swim time for, what I thought, was a legitimate reason. I was there when all of us in the pool said it was okay. One parent forgot the following week and showed up 30 minutes late. Julie STILL accommodated her by giving her a private swim lesson. Reese loves swim. We love that Julie is so accommodating, even though sometimes I feel bad that she offers to have us drop in at a different time if we weren't able to make it as I don't believe she should be responsible for our absences. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! read more

My daughter has EMBRACED swimming because of Julie's incredible skill and patience! She is by far the best swim instructor and works so well with littles. My daughter looks forward to every Saturday morning with her and she's doing so well, and so quickly. Julie's kindness & skills as an instructor is what drew us in & keeps us coming back! Thank you so much for teaching this little fish of mine to love swimming! :))) read more

Having been a competitive swimmer, someone who taught swim lessons myself and a past life guard, it was very important for me that my son become water safe and comfortable in water. I have been nothing but happy with Julie at Swim With Phyn. We started our son with group lessons at 5 months old. When that little the group lessons are instructor guided. She tells you what to work on, and how to do so. The important thing I learned right away was to trust Julie to actually show me the techniques with my son. I could then mimic on my own with confidence. By the time my son was 9 months old he was propelling himself forward under water for 2-3 feet! Kick, kick, kick...it was awesome! He knew where his 'safe spots' were, and was on his way to knowing how to get there on his own. Now, at 22 months, he has been in the more structured group lesson format. There is a set curriculum. I love it. Not only do I know what to expect, but so does my son. He knows what comes next and I think that builds confidence. He can swim for 5-6 feet with his head under water, and is starting to get his head up for a breath now and then. He knows to, and can, grab the side of the pool, and 'monkey monkey' (move down the wall) on his own an entire length of a 25 yard pool! It is amazing! He knows how to do 'tigger jumps' off the bottom of the pool, which allows him to push up for a breath if he happens to fall in the pool. I see improvement each week. I will say, he went through a tough stage, fighting lessons, resisting new things, and generally being a pain. But we stuck it out, Julie helped us with some ideas and different options at times and he came around. One last comment; when comparing my friends kids who take lessons elsewhere and my friends comments about those lessons, I have learned that Julie definitely pushes the kids and parents a bit more. She gets the kids to submerge (usually it is the parent's issue and not the kids anyway) sooner as well as being fairly firm in the rules of safety setting up safe water play and awareness from the beginning. read more

If you want a best place for your kids to learn swimming professionally don't wait you find it. Julie is best that you can choose. She knows her job and know how to be with kids. Try her you will find a different. She is awesome she teach my daughter she is 2 years old and she can swim perfect. read more

Julie(owner) actually is the one and only swim teacher that could get my kids into the water, calm and relax them, and completely make them focus on learning the techniques of safe swimming... I actually saw her with an infant in a private lesson, and the baby was so chill, and at ease. Julie is a natural at this stuff.... she definitely has a gift with kids! Thanks Julie see you next swimester! read more

We love Julie! Its rare to find an experienced teacher working with children who values a parent's perspective more than her own. She is the expert with teaching but very respectful of the expertise that Mommies have with their little one. Julie is an amazing kind and gifted teacher. We feel very blessed to have found her! read more

We have been coming here for a year and a half (since my daughter was 7 weeks old) and love this place/lessons with Julie. We have also had Bridgette as an instructor a couple of times and she is also fantastic. It's very calming and quiet in the pool during group classes, as well as super warm so everyone just relaxes. My daughter is so excited to go swimming every week, and has been showing amazing improvement in her confidence in the water. Julie has very consistent verbal and physical cues she teaches the kids and the parents. She demonstrates everything really clearly before offering parents the opportunity to try it with their kids. If you are unsure (i.e. an underwater exercise where kids "dive" in with assistance), she will help or even do it for you with your child. Even in a group class, she seeks me and my daughter out to see how she is doing and challenge her to do something new. She also remembers if we had to miss a week or if my daughter is going through a hard phase and will scale it back for her appropriately. There are very consistent things that happen here every week, which kids LOVE and thrive on. I think it allows them to challenge themselves with the new things knowing everything else is always reliable. The set-up/dressing room has everything you would need, and actually there were a lot of really nice updates done this year both in that room and in the pool room. There is even a fun play area where my daughter gets some special play time after each lesson. She loves it all. Julie is really all about creating a community feel, as well, which we like being a part of. Signing up for classes is also very easy and straightforward. My only request for improvement would be a tile floor in the dressing room instead of carpet. That's it! I just wear sandals instead of bare feet. read more

I am so thankful we found Julie at Swim with Phyn. We previously had spent a lot of money on swim classes for my son at Waterworks Aquatic in Irvine but the large pool setting (with multiple classes going on at once) was not a right fit for him. At Swim with Phyn there is only one pool, with one class going on at a time - which a lot less chaotic for little ones who are new to swim class. My son cried his first time there but by the end of the session Julie was able to gain his trust and he had so much fun! It's now been a few months and my son has definitely shown vast improvement in his relationship with water. Julie does a good job of not only teaching them how to swim but how to be safe in and around a pool. I would recommend this facility to anyone who has not had luck in the larger chain swim schools and wants a more personal experience with their swim teacher. Julie is the sole owner and swim instructor at this school and we love supporting this small, woman-owned local business in our community. read more

I was quite pleased with the instruction given in the pool. I didn't notice any overpowering chlorine in the 2 semesters I participated. The changing facility isn't exactly proper, but it gets the job done: a couple folding tables for the kids, and a few stalls with curtains for adults. I was put off by the overall cleanliness of the place. It's stated that the facility doesn't have a housekeeper come by, so they ask to clean up after yourself. Cleaning up after yourself is fine, but it only goes so far. There are community toys in the waiting room, as well as the pool, and I question how often, if ever, those are cleaned. Granted, as a parent, if you find a toy disgusting, then don't let your kid play with, but we all know that doesn't happen. You're in the water and toys go from one kids mouth to another, so it would be nice to know that they're disinfected periodically. My biggest complaint is the fact that the place has carpet! That place is a staph infection waiting to happen. Parents and kids walk around bare foot. I always elected to wear sandals. If it was tile, then it could be bleached every night, but I do understand that this is an owner/operator facility and remodeling might be out of the question. As I stated before I attended for 2 semesters, so my issues obviously weren't too great to not re-enlist after my first semester here, but the more I came the more grossed out I was by the environment. Although the love that my boy had for the pool out weighed my level of grossed-out-ness. read more

Julie is a great swim teacher. She is patient and really works to get to know your child and their personality. My daughter loves her and has learned so much. Julie has also taught my husband and I so much about how to help our daughter learn to swim and what safety practices to put in place when we are around water with our daughter. We highly recommend classes and especially privates with Julie! read more

Julie who is the owner and amazing swimmer who teaches my 2.5 year old son is amazing! I was a competitive swimmer so watching her teach with creative expertise and challenging my son with the utmost safety and expertise is incredible. My son is now swimming with find! You need to let go and trust her to teach your child to swim she pushes them and this is fabulous as they learn! It is not a lame class where you sing sings and sit in the pool. If you want your child to learn to swim this is the place and Julie is awesome! Thank you! Brandy read more

It was really important to my husband and I for our daughter to be comfortable in the water. We really wanted to get a jump on swimming lessons. After asking friends where we could begin swimming lessons for an 11 week old the overwhelming response was Swim with Phyn. We signed her up and are so happy we did. Julie is a phenomenal instructor and is very knowledgeable on infants and swimming. The class size is perfect. My husband, daughter and look forward to our classes! read more

Miss Julie is an amazing teacher. My 3 and 4 year old are both students at SWP and they love it. She's patient, caring and truly understands each child's pace and works with them accordingly. I highly recommend her to anyone who is thinking of starting their child in swimming. You won't regret it. read more

I have to agree with Katy P. We swam with Julie for a year and a half. In the beginning, she was great...swim classes were small in size and yes, she gave equal time to each of the children. Her methods of teaching and basic swim instruction were great for infants and my daughter learned quite a bit, including basic water safety (as much as an infant and early toddler can learn), as Ross C states. My issues came mostly with her record keeping, billing/accounting and lack of communication. My biggest frustration was that I was never aware of what class I was on within my session and when Julie DID notify me, I was already 3 weeks into my next session. Once I started keeping track, I was more on top of it, but her records and mine were never the same (and she didn't have anything I could look at on any specific day). When I began open dialogue with her about this is when we started to lose out in the pool. Julie began to ignore me and my daughter, focusing more on the other children in the pool, even ignoring me in the waiting room. I felt that she just didn't want us there anymore. I think that Julie is a great swim instructor and her knowledge of how to train young children is spot-on. We left because of the billing/accounting issues and the fact that we no longer felt welcome. I had hoped to stay with her longer, but if you are looking for a short term fix...go for it! read more

Our daughter loves going to Swim with Phyn. Julie is a great instructor with a great program. There is something new to learn at every lesson and details of what words to use with the kids or how to hold them are all well thought out. We used to think all baby/toddler swim classes were similar, until we had Julie. Our daughter has made more progress in 9 weeks than she did in the 9 months she was with another school. read more