Bear Paddle: the swim school that turned a terrified kid into a swimmer

From howling to happy

My daughter started swimming at Bear Paddle swim school about three months ago, and getting her into the pool was torture at first. She howled and cried so loud you could probably hear her next door. I thought maybe she just wasn't ready for swim lessons. The instructors assured me and asked me to give her some time.

Her instructor, Coach Zack, held her for the entire half hour of the lesson. For the first two lessons, he spent an extra ten minutes one-on-one with her after class. That did wonders. By the third lesson she was looking forward to her swim lessons — and now she thoroughly enjoys swimming. She wants to go to Bear Paddle every day.

We had tried another large gym's program before signing up, but it wasn't the right fit for a frightened beginner — the instructors there expected the parent to do the motivating. At Bear Paddle, the instructors treat it as their job to make the child love swimming. What a burden off a parent's shoulders.

Why it works

Beyond the personal touch, the class sizes are small — about a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio — and the instructors keep children engaged through story-based lesson plans.

The logistics are parent-friendly too: open enrollment means no waiting for a spring, summer, or winter session — you enroll when you have time — and switching classes is easy, no questions asked. They offer both private and group lessons, and it's one of the few places where group lessons are genuinely worth your time and money.

And the water is a warm 92 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes swimming comfortable even when it's below zero outside.

Where to find them

They're conveniently located by Monkey Joe's on Route 59 at 4308 E New York St, Aurora, IL 60504, and they've opened another location in Woodridge too. Their motto: "unleash your paddle power!"

If you have a child at home who is afraid of the water or dreads swim lessons — give Bear Paddle a chance.

Community review, March 2013. Find them at bearpaddle.com.