My eldest went to Wolfies through a partnership with Mays School just down the street when she was 4. They got a 30-minute lesson per week and I didn't see any of it since the school brings them there and takes them back. However, my daughter did like it so I kept them in mind and she was comfortable in the water, which is great.
She's now 7 and I enrolled her and her 3 year old brother over the summer in the same class. Now, because I take them, I get to see it all first hand.
First off, the staff are all helpful and attentive. No problems on that end. There's an annual membership fee plus $120 per month per person, though they do offer a free trial class before you make it official. The cost includes one 30-minute GROUP class (2-3 people) per week and if you want more swimming days, it's another $120 per day each week.
I was going to shop around but my daughter liked Wolfies so we stuck with them. You drop them off about 5 minutes before their time slot and the teachers wind down about 3 minutes before the end of the time slot. Because of that, I wouldn't say it's exactly a full 30 minutes you get, but it's close. They do talk to you about your child(ren's) progress or any notes when you pick them up, which is nice.
You make an account on their website and it's easy to mark an absence and schedule a make up. You can mark the absence up until the minute before your class begins so that's great.
My only complaints:
- Because my daughter started in the summer and we had the bad luck to choose a time slot with an instructor who would be leaving 2 weeks later, there were a number of weeks where their instructors kept on changing, especially when school started and one that seemed settled changed because of class conflict. That really set her back from getting promoted to the next level.
- Within our 4 months at Wolfies, we've had 3-ish classes that were cancelled on their end due to accidents (vomiting/defecating) in the pool. In fact, 1 of those times, I was en route and the second, we were already there. You do get an automatic make up credit but it can be difficult depending on other commitments. I have both of my kids in the same time slot so I have to hunt for make up classes with 2 openings.
- You'll need more than just 1 class per week to see results unless you've got easy access to a pool to practice in. They do offer special classes (every day during certain times of the year, private, and holiday camps) and I highly recommend those if you want to get your child that edge and have the financial means. I saw a marked improvement with my daughter after she participated in summer camp (albeit 3/5 days because she got sick the SUNDAY before - no credit/refund without a doctor's note, by the way) 2 months into classes. Her instructors (2 different ones) for the 2 classes after said she was ready to test to the next level, but then some cancelled classes and instructor changes later, she's now "almost there but not quite ready yet" which honestly irritates me a bit. Progress will feel stagnant eventually from when I've spoken to other parents unless you get in extra time.
- Only the front office and upstairs room where parents can sit and wait/watch are air conditioned (but it's not very consistent). The pool, changing rooms and bathrooms are NOT and I am dripping with sweat after I help my kids out of their bathing suits and into their regular clothes. I don't mind too much about the pool area but those changing and restrooms are stifling with full on humidity and heat. The pool has these garage type doors that are opened and... I really hate summer. Hah. Pool area has some air flow so not as bad but not so much for those enclosed changing rooms..
- Thirty minutes isn't that long, especially if your class has the full 3 people in it. That's roughly 10 minutes per student and even less if one of them is upset. Instructors do try their best to give each student an equal amount of attention though.
It's been 4 months and my eldest is still Level 2. To think she could have gotten promoted 2 months ago! They do the same thing in every class for that level so the content is predictable. We'll stay here until the year is up and go from there and I really hope she'll get promoted by then if not sooner. The good thing is my kids do seem to like it and the instructors try to make it fun and comfortable for those on the fence. read more