This is a paid piece from SafeSplash Swim School.

Simplified: When Jena Burgess first put her daughter, Maddie, in swimming lessons at SafeSplash Swim School, she wasn't comfortable around the water and didn't want to get her face wet. Now, three years later, Maddie will jump in with no hesitation and swim across the pool, and it's all thanks to consistent lessons at SafeSplash Swim School.

Why it matters

  • SafeSplash's entire model is based on consistency, Owner Dan Sobocinski said. Kids come weekly at a consistent time, with a consistent teacher and work on the skills they need to know how to act safely in and around water.
  • That consistency also allows kids to progress at their own pace in a safe, comfortable setting. Students remain in a certain level only for as long as it takes to demonstrate competency, and then they move up whenever they're ready.
  • SafeSplash's small class sizes – never more than four kids in one group – also mean everyone gets individualized instruction and one-on-one attention, which Burgess said was especially important in helping her daughter overcome her fears.
"That's key for me – having someone a face that I recognize, that my daughter recognizes," Burgess said. "She was very anxious around the water, and having someone in there she can trust was the biggest piece for me."

Tell me more about SafeSplash

It's not just the consistency that makes SafeSplash unique – it's also the environment the business has curated to ensure both students and parents are as comfortable as possible.

  • The pool water is always 90 degrees, and the air temperature around the pool is at least one degree warmer.
  • The pool is also only ever used for lessons, so there aren't distractions or other activities going on during class time.
  • Parents have full view of lessons through windows in SafeSplash's comfortable lobby, and for the very young kids, parents have an opportunity to sit poolside or even join in the water with their babies and toddlers.
Maddie Burgess with her SafeSplash instructor. Submitted photo.

SafeSplash also offers a high level of convenience for parents to get their kids enrolled. There's no waiting by the computer to sign up before classes fill. Instead, parents can enroll online, year-round.

  • Classes run consistently year-round, so the start and end date is completely up to what works for your family.
  • Monthly "splash and tell" events give parents a chance to sit poolside and talk directly to instructors about what their kids are working on. Plus, it gives the kids a chance to show off their skills, as well.

Additionally, if your student has to miss a lesson for whatever reason, you can schedule a make-up lesson.

SafeSplash also has an app for parents to be able to check in with how their children are progressing, what skills they've mastered and clear visibility as to what they're working on.

"We're not just a service-provider," Sobocinski said. "We're a partner for developing a life skill."

How can I get started?

You can learn more about SafeSplash's three Sioux Falls locations and get your students signed up here.