top of page
Common questions and answers
Questions before booking
- How should I think when choosing a group?
Most levels only have one requirement, but it can still be difficult to know which level is the best fit.
In many cases, it is better to choose a group that is a little too easy than a group that is a little too difficult. It can negatively affect self-confidence to end up in a group that is actually too difficult. It can also negatively affect swimming technique if a student does not complete certain goals before they move up to the next level.
To avoid students falling behind or getting stuck at one level in the swimming school, there are no water skills requirements to advance to the next level. It is also possible to move on to the next step without completing the swimming goals in chest position - meaning that back position also is accepted.
- I have two children who are at different levels - can they go to sibling/friend swimming together?
Yes. Siblings who are at different levels can be booked into sibling/buddy swimming.
If the siblings are not at the same level, you will get the most out of the lessons if these combinations share the time:
Frog and Seal; Frog and Buoy; Frog and Shark; Frog and Candidate; Seal and Buoy; Seal and Shark; Seal and Candidate; Buoy and Shark; Buoy and Candidate; Shark and Candidate.
A Dopping and Frog together work less well because both students need a lot of attention from teachers for the private lessons to be effective.
- How long does it take to learn to swim?
It takes a different amount of time for all children to learn to swim. Students with difficulty concentrating often need more time. Also children who have motor difficulties to make the right movements, students who are afraid of water or who previously learned the wrong technique need more time than average.
Most students at Simläran learn to swim 200 m after 40 small group swimming lessons, i.e. 4 semesters. Some learn to swim 200 m already after 3 semesters, while others need 5 semesters or private lessons (instead of group or in combination with group).
Children learn to swim faster when they get to practice their skills and explore new ones. By practicing dry swimming at home and staying and swimming after swimming school, you can speed up the process on your own and reduce the need for swimming lessons in swimming school.
- Why do the courses have a 4-year and 5-year limit?
Children's physical and cognitive development is the basis for the age limits Simläran has on its courses. Students who are 5 years and older are stronger and have an easier time than younger students to angle their legs and feet correctly and to coordinate legs with arms. Those who have turned 5 also have an easier time taking instructions, doing exercises in a group and doing exercises for a long time. For these reasons, Swimming Learning divides children between 4-5 years into two different groups: Baddare fr. 4 years and Dopping fr. 5 years.
Most levels only have one requirement, but it can still be difficult to know which level is the best fit.
In many cases, it is better to choose a group that is a little too easy than a group that is a little too difficult. It can negatively affect self-confidence to end up in a group that is actually too difficult. It can also negatively affect swimming technique if a student does not complete certain goals before they move up to the next level.
To avoid students falling behind or getting stuck at one level in the swimming school, there are no water skills requirements to advance to the next level. It is also possible to move on to the next step without completing the swimming goals in chest position - meaning that back position also is accepted.
- I have two children who are at different levels - can they go to sibling/friend swimming together?
Yes. Siblings who are at different levels can be booked into sibling/buddy swimming.
If the siblings are not at the same level, you will get the most out of the lessons if these combinations share the time:
Frog and Seal; Frog and Buoy; Frog and Shark; Frog and Candidate; Seal and Buoy; Seal and Shark; Seal and Candidate; Buoy and Shark; Buoy and Candidate; Shark and Candidate.
A Dopping and Frog together work less well because both students need a lot of attention from teachers for the private lessons to be effective.
- How long does it take to learn to swim?
It takes a different amount of time for all children to learn to swim. Students with difficulty concentrating often need more time. Also children who have motor difficulties to make the right movements, students who are afraid of water or who previously learned the wrong technique need more time than average.
Most students at Simläran learn to swim 200 m after 40 small group swimming lessons, i.e. 4 semesters. Some learn to swim 200 m already after 3 semesters, while others need 5 semesters or private lessons (instead of group or in combination with group).
Children learn to swim faster when they get to practice their skills and explore new ones. By practicing dry swimming at home and staying and swimming after swimming school, you can speed up the process on your own and reduce the need for swimming lessons in swimming school.
- Why do the courses have a 4-year and 5-year limit?
Children's physical and cognitive development is the basis for the age limits Simläran has on its courses. Students who are 5 years and older are stronger and have an easier time than younger students to angle their legs and feet correctly and to coordinate legs with arms. Those who have turned 5 also have an easier time taking instructions, doing exercises in a group and doing exercises for a long time. For these reasons, Swimming Learning divides children between 4-5 years into two different groups: Baddare fr. 4 years and Dopping fr. 5 years.
Questions about the swimming school
- What do the children learn at swimming school?
At Simlärans swimming school, children learn swimming technique, water orientation and safety. The pool swimming school focuses mainly on swimming technique and water orientation, while the summer swimming school also offers more elements of safety training.
The swimming technique is about making the right combination of movements with legs, feet and arms. We practice water orientation by dipping, jumping, floating, sliding and rotating in the water. At the summer swimming school, we practice safety on land in bad weather through exercises in CPR, stable lateral position, alarm routines and use of ice spikes. We also go on a plastic boat with clothes and a life jacket and practice "falling into" the water and saving yourself and others. Some things are also repeated at the swimming school in the pool, such as swimming with a lifebuoy, towing and throwing with a lifebuoy/handline.
- How can I help my child with swimming and the water habit?
In the swimming school's first lesson, the swimming teacher goes through the frog-swim movements on land and you can repeat this exercise at home. If you have chosen swimming school in a pool, you can buy a ticket for the swimming hall and go there and swim an extra time a week or stay and swim for a while after the swimming school. Through play, children learn to dare to explore more and by seeing their parent dip their face, their confidence in their own abilities increases.
- When will my child finish swimming school?
The goal of Simlärans swimming school is for the students to be able to swim 200 m, of which 150 m in the stomach position and 50 m in the back position. Most students meet this goal in Bojen, but some may need to take a 5-lesson course, Hajen, to practice extra breaststroke or backstroke.
To maintain their swimming skills, regular maintenance is needed. Simläran offer a variety of different courses in crawling, lifesaving and long-distance swimming that can be booked after swimming skills have been achieved. If you instead end swimming training after the student has managed to swim 200 m, it is important that you go swimming on your own, preferably as often as possible but at least once a year. The Simborg mark changes color every year and can be fun to collect for the various anniversary marks 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 25 years, 40 years and 50 years.
- Why do you practice swimming legs so much?
When we swim, our legs are our engine and our arms are our steering. We practice a lot of legwork to teach coordination, proper technique and build strength. With proper technique, it is more difficult to make the common technique errors that can prolong the process of learning to swim.
- Which swimming styles do you teach?
Already at beginner level, the Swimming School teaches both breaststroke and backstroke. The students who are estimated having an easier time with backstroke than breaststroke are encouraged to develop this way of swimming more than others in the group because it favors the development and self-confidence of these children to cope with the goals and get marks at the same level as the rest of the group. In this way, these children will have an easier time becoming better swimmers also in the stomach position later.
In Sweden, we also have cold water where breaststroke with the head above the water becomes a necessary way of swimming in emergency situations. In the Swedish school, it is also knowledge of breaststroke and backstroke that is the basis for grades in Sports from grade 6 onwards. Simläran's curriculum therefore does not teach crawling as the first or second method of swimming in swimming groups.
However, there is a wide range of crawl courses with crawl for students who have managed to swim 200 m breaststroke and can swim backstroke. Students who have not yet passed this goal can learn to crawl by taking private lessons. On the advanced crawl courses, students also get the chance to learn butterfly swimming.
- What does the Simläran's lesson plan look like?
At Simläran you can book swimming courses in regular groups or small groups with 5 or 10 lessons. Your child always have the same swimming teacher who carefully monitors the development of each individual student. There is always a swimming instructor in the water throughout the semester or the intensive course.
At Simlärans swimming school, children learn swimming technique, water orientation and safety. The pool swimming school focuses mainly on swimming technique and water orientation, while the summer swimming school also offers more elements of safety training.
The swimming technique is about making the right combination of movements with legs, feet and arms. We practice water orientation by dipping, jumping, floating, sliding and rotating in the water. At the summer swimming school, we practice safety on land in bad weather through exercises in CPR, stable lateral position, alarm routines and use of ice spikes. We also go on a plastic boat with clothes and a life jacket and practice "falling into" the water and saving yourself and others. Some things are also repeated at the swimming school in the pool, such as swimming with a lifebuoy, towing and throwing with a lifebuoy/handline.
- How can I help my child with swimming and the water habit?
In the swimming school's first lesson, the swimming teacher goes through the frog-swim movements on land and you can repeat this exercise at home. If you have chosen swimming school in a pool, you can buy a ticket for the swimming hall and go there and swim an extra time a week or stay and swim for a while after the swimming school. Through play, children learn to dare to explore more and by seeing their parent dip their face, their confidence in their own abilities increases.
- When will my child finish swimming school?
The goal of Simlärans swimming school is for the students to be able to swim 200 m, of which 150 m in the stomach position and 50 m in the back position. Most students meet this goal in Bojen, but some may need to take a 5-lesson course, Hajen, to practice extra breaststroke or backstroke.
To maintain their swimming skills, regular maintenance is needed. Simläran offer a variety of different courses in crawling, lifesaving and long-distance swimming that can be booked after swimming skills have been achieved. If you instead end swimming training after the student has managed to swim 200 m, it is important that you go swimming on your own, preferably as often as possible but at least once a year. The Simborg mark changes color every year and can be fun to collect for the various anniversary marks 5 years, 10 years, 15 years, 25 years, 40 years and 50 years.
- Why do you practice swimming legs so much?
When we swim, our legs are our engine and our arms are our steering. We practice a lot of legwork to teach coordination, proper technique and build strength. With proper technique, it is more difficult to make the common technique errors that can prolong the process of learning to swim.
- Which swimming styles do you teach?
Already at beginner level, the Swimming School teaches both breaststroke and backstroke. The students who are estimated having an easier time with backstroke than breaststroke are encouraged to develop this way of swimming more than others in the group because it favors the development and self-confidence of these children to cope with the goals and get marks at the same level as the rest of the group. In this way, these children will have an easier time becoming better swimmers also in the stomach position later.
In Sweden, we also have cold water where breaststroke with the head above the water becomes a necessary way of swimming in emergency situations. In the Swedish school, it is also knowledge of breaststroke and backstroke that is the basis for grades in Sports from grade 6 onwards. Simläran's curriculum therefore does not teach crawling as the first or second method of swimming in swimming groups.
However, there is a wide range of crawl courses with crawl for students who have managed to swim 200 m breaststroke and can swim backstroke. Students who have not yet passed this goal can learn to crawl by taking private lessons. On the advanced crawl courses, students also get the chance to learn butterfly swimming.
- What does the Simläran's lesson plan look like?
At Simläran you can book swimming courses in regular groups or small groups with 5 or 10 lessons. Your child always have the same swimming teacher who carefully monitors the development of each individual student. There is always a swimming instructor in the water throughout the semester or the intensive course.
Questions about booking conditions
- Will the lesson be canceled in case of bad weather?
No, from a safety perspective it is positive that the weather is not always calm and sunny at the swimming school. In this way, the students are given the opportunity to get used to swimming in rain, wind and waves and are therefore better prepared should they ever accidentally fall in. However, should the temperature be 16 degrees and lower or if the waves are so high that it is considered inappropriate to swim at all or for a longer time, the swimming time in the lesson will be shortened and more time will be devoted to dry swimming on land. Similarily, we make sure to maximize the time in the water on calm and sunny days.
We never swim during thunderstorms, but the lesson will not be cancelled. It is instead replaced by an indoor lesson in HIF's club house. There, students learn about safety in and around water. According to age and swimming level, we have briefings and exercises in CPR, stable lateral position, alarm routines and use of ice spikes.
- Can I cancel a booked course or lesson?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to cancel summer swimming school and private lessons or friend/sibling swimming. Swimming school in the pool can be canceled within 14 days of booking against an administrative fee.
- Is it possible to change groups if I have chosen the wrong level?
Yes, it is possible to change groups within the same course start period, subject to availability. If the right level is fully booked, it may in some cases be possible to change groups if someone in the right level also needs to change.
- Do I get money back if my child gets sick during or misses a booked lesson?
If a student gets sick during a small group lesson in the pool, there is a catch-up lesson at the end of the semester that you can book into if space is available. Students who are ill at the summer swimming school are not offered a collection opportunity. Students who become ill or miss a booked private lesson are not offered a rebooking or cancellation, but subject to space, may be offered a lesson later in the semester if another student cancels at short notice. These offers and collection opportunities are a service Simläran offers, but according to the booking conditions there is no guarantee.
No, from a safety perspective it is positive that the weather is not always calm and sunny at the swimming school. In this way, the students are given the opportunity to get used to swimming in rain, wind and waves and are therefore better prepared should they ever accidentally fall in. However, should the temperature be 16 degrees and lower or if the waves are so high that it is considered inappropriate to swim at all or for a longer time, the swimming time in the lesson will be shortened and more time will be devoted to dry swimming on land. Similarily, we make sure to maximize the time in the water on calm and sunny days.
We never swim during thunderstorms, but the lesson will not be cancelled. It is instead replaced by an indoor lesson in HIF's club house. There, students learn about safety in and around water. According to age and swimming level, we have briefings and exercises in CPR, stable lateral position, alarm routines and use of ice spikes.
- Can I cancel a booked course or lesson?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to cancel summer swimming school and private lessons or friend/sibling swimming. Swimming school in the pool can be canceled within 14 days of booking against an administrative fee.
- Is it possible to change groups if I have chosen the wrong level?
Yes, it is possible to change groups within the same course start period, subject to availability. If the right level is fully booked, it may in some cases be possible to change groups if someone in the right level also needs to change.
- Do I get money back if my child gets sick during or misses a booked lesson?
If a student gets sick during a small group lesson in the pool, there is a catch-up lesson at the end of the semester that you can book into if space is available. Students who are ill at the summer swimming school are not offered a collection opportunity. Students who become ill or miss a booked private lesson are not offered a rebooking or cancellation, but subject to space, may be offered a lesson later in the semester if another student cancels at short notice. These offers and collection opportunities are a service Simläran offers, but according to the booking conditions there is no guarantee.
Questions about badges and payments
How many swimming badges will my child get and how much does a badge cost?
Swimming badges are used as a carrot in teaching and increase motivation among many children. The number of badges students get at the swimming school depends on the level they are at, how easy they are for different parts and how much they dared to challenge themselves in the parts that are difficult for them. Sometimes a student gets a lot of swimming badges because they passed two levels within the same course. Students who attend the 4 swimming school levels usually take approximately 3-7 marks per term. The distribution per course usually looks something like this:
Dopping: about 1-3 pcs
Frog: approx. 3-8 pcs
Seal: approx. 5-10 pcs
Buoy: about 4-8 pcs
After swimming school, students can continue swimming in crawl courses and/or tag taking.
The distribution of these courses usually looks something like this:
Shark: about 6-10 pcs
Candidate: approx. 1-3 pcs
Magitern: approx. 1-2 pcs
Crawl course: approx. 3-4 units
1 swimming badge costs SEK 45.
- When I booked, it said pay on site but also that payment must be made within 14 days - what does this mean?
Payment should be made to Swish 123 437 42 86 or account number 9060 28 487 17 within 14 days of booking. It is also possible to pay at the start of the course or at the end of the course.
- Is it possible to postpone the payment?
Yes, it is possible to postpone the payment of a booked swimming course without any additional fee.
Swimming badges are used as a carrot in teaching and increase motivation among many children. The number of badges students get at the swimming school depends on the level they are at, how easy they are for different parts and how much they dared to challenge themselves in the parts that are difficult for them. Sometimes a student gets a lot of swimming badges because they passed two levels within the same course. Students who attend the 4 swimming school levels usually take approximately 3-7 marks per term. The distribution per course usually looks something like this:
Dopping: about 1-3 pcs
Frog: approx. 3-8 pcs
Seal: approx. 5-10 pcs
Buoy: about 4-8 pcs
After swimming school, students can continue swimming in crawl courses and/or tag taking.
The distribution of these courses usually looks something like this:
Shark: about 6-10 pcs
Candidate: approx. 1-3 pcs
Magitern: approx. 1-2 pcs
Crawl course: approx. 3-4 units
1 swimming badge costs SEK 45.
- When I booked, it said pay on site but also that payment must be made within 14 days - what does this mean?
Payment should be made to Swish 123 437 42 86 or account number 9060 28 487 17 within 14 days of booking. It is also possible to pay at the start of the course or at the end of the course.
- Is it possible to postpone the payment?
Yes, it is possible to postpone the payment of a booked swimming course without any additional fee.
Questions before visiting the swimming pool
- Should I, as a parent, be in the water?
The courses offered are not designed based on the parent being in the water. However, it may sometimes be necessary, not least at the summer swimming school, for a parent to be present at the beginning or parts of the lesson in order for the child to be schooled in the teaching style. Flotation pads are used based on the level of the group and there is always a swimming instructor in the water during the lessons.
- Can I take pictures of my child at swimming school?
A child's first swim is something that many want to save on photo or video. Unfortunately, mobile phones and screens are prohibited at Kärra simhall, Angered Arena and Åbybadet. Mobile phones and screens are prohibited inside the swimming hall and in changing rooms/shower areas.
At Hedens by on Hönö, at Styrsö simhall and at Hällsviksbadet, you can take pictures if you can ensure that only your own child (alternatively child and teacher) is in the picture.
- Why should I as a parent (in most cases) only be in the swimming hall for the first and last lesson?
It is positive for the child to have their parent or other accompanying first lesson as a form of schooling. When they are then left with swimming instructors, they are given the opportunity to explore on their own. Once at the end of the term, they can proudly show what they have learned and take the opportunity to be extra brave.
In some cases, you as a parent may have to remain inside the swimming pool during the term. Feel free to talk to the swimming instructor if necessary. Sometimes there is a need and sometimes it is enough and is best for the student's development that the parent stays for only a couple of lessons at the beginning of the term.
- Can my child bring swimming goggles to the lesson?
Simläran primarily seeks to teach children to swim across the water. But swimming goggles can in some cases be a helpful tool when a child dislikes jumping, floating or dipping their face. Some also find it easier to learn to swim in the back position with the help of swimming goggles. Swimming goggles can therefore be used in class, but it is done in combination with exercises that practice without the equipment.
- Why can't I be inside the swimming hall with clothes made of cotton material?
There are several reasons behind the dress code rules at the swimming pools that Simläran rents from. The right clothing is important for water quality and safety in the baths. When you are inside the swimming hall and watching the lesson, you must change into swimwear or training clothes in functional materials. Then you are e.g. easier to rescue from the water if you accidentally fall in.
- What should we bring to the lessons?
Bring to the swimming hall: swimwear, towel, shampoo and soap, padlock (applies to some swimming pools)
Bring to the bay: swimwear, towel, sunscreen, a warm change of clothes and a hot drink in case of bad weather
For the crawl course, the student can also bring swimming goggles and a swimming cap.
The courses offered are not designed based on the parent being in the water. However, it may sometimes be necessary, not least at the summer swimming school, for a parent to be present at the beginning or parts of the lesson in order for the child to be schooled in the teaching style. Flotation pads are used based on the level of the group and there is always a swimming instructor in the water during the lessons.
- Can I take pictures of my child at swimming school?
A child's first swim is something that many want to save on photo or video. Unfortunately, mobile phones and screens are prohibited at Kärra simhall, Angered Arena and Åbybadet. Mobile phones and screens are prohibited inside the swimming hall and in changing rooms/shower areas.
At Hedens by on Hönö, at Styrsö simhall and at Hällsviksbadet, you can take pictures if you can ensure that only your own child (alternatively child and teacher) is in the picture.
- Why should I as a parent (in most cases) only be in the swimming hall for the first and last lesson?
It is positive for the child to have their parent or other accompanying first lesson as a form of schooling. When they are then left with swimming instructors, they are given the opportunity to explore on their own. Once at the end of the term, they can proudly show what they have learned and take the opportunity to be extra brave.
In some cases, you as a parent may have to remain inside the swimming pool during the term. Feel free to talk to the swimming instructor if necessary. Sometimes there is a need and sometimes it is enough and is best for the student's development that the parent stays for only a couple of lessons at the beginning of the term.
- Can my child bring swimming goggles to the lesson?
Simläran primarily seeks to teach children to swim across the water. But swimming goggles can in some cases be a helpful tool when a child dislikes jumping, floating or dipping their face. Some also find it easier to learn to swim in the back position with the help of swimming goggles. Swimming goggles can therefore be used in class, but it is done in combination with exercises that practice without the equipment.
- Why can't I be inside the swimming hall with clothes made of cotton material?
There are several reasons behind the dress code rules at the swimming pools that Simläran rents from. The right clothing is important for water quality and safety in the baths. When you are inside the swimming hall and watching the lesson, you must change into swimwear or training clothes in functional materials. Then you are e.g. easier to rescue from the water if you accidentally fall in.
- What should we bring to the lessons?
Bring to the swimming hall: swimwear, towel, shampoo and soap, padlock (applies to some swimming pools)
Bring to the bay: swimwear, towel, sunscreen, a warm change of clothes and a hot drink in case of bad weather
For the crawl course, the student can also bring swimming goggles and a swimming cap.
I have another question
Please email info@simlaran.com
bottom of page