Frequently Asked Questions

Registration
How do I register for classes?
Are there any extra fees?
When can I start?

Cancellations, Transfers & Missed Classes
Can I transfer my class time once I sign up?
How do I stop my classes?
What if my child misses a class?
What is Practice Time?

General
How quickly will my child learn to swim?
Should I bring my child once per week or twice per week?
What if my child cries?
What if no one picks up the phone?
What will my child need to bring to class?
Do you have showers?
What do I do when my child earns a ribbon?
What happens after the Gold Ribbon?

Registration is easy. All first time registration must be done in person. After choosing a schedule for your child, you will have the option of starting this week or next week. Students starting in the middle of the month will pay a prorated amount for the current month. After that, your student will stay enrolled in the program as long as the monthly fee is paid. Monthly payments are collected on the first of the month can be made automatically using a credit card kept on file, or manually by paying the front desk. All Families must keep a credit card on file to secure their spot in the program.

Happy Fish has always been proud to offer quality swim lessons at a reasonable price without any extra fees. There are no registration or new student fees associated with our swim lessons.

Students can start this week or next week. Students that start in the middle of the month will pay a prorated amount for the current month. Students will stay enrolled in their class time with the same teacher until you change the time, teacher or day.

Yes. Once you are enrolled at Happy Fish you can change your class time as long as there is availability. Keep in mind that changing times will probably mean you will also be changing teachers. Also once you change your time, another student may occupy your old time slot which means you wouldn't be able to change back. Please put some thought into changing your schedule before hand so Happy Fish can better assist managing your schedule. In order to change your class time, you can do so in person while at Happy Fish or over the phone.

You may stop your classes by turning in a Two-Week Notice form to our front desk. All students must give at least a two-week notice before stopping classes. Depending on when your last day is, you may end up getting a refund, paying a prorated amount for the next month, or just finishing out the month.

In order to keep class consistency, Happy Fish does not offer make up classes. However, we still wish for your child to practice the skills he or she is learning in class and will give you a voucher for two (student + responsible adult) into our Family Practice times on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. After you miss a class you can visit the front desk the next time you are here and ask for a Practice Time voucher for you to use at your leisure.

The key to acquiring any new motor skill is practice. Happy Fish is proud to open it's pool during certain times of the week for families to practice together. Parents are required to swim with children under 8 and/or not water safe. There is a drop in fee of $3.00 per person. If you have missed a class during your session and collected a Practice Time voucher, the student and parent get in the Practice Time for free. Infants under 3 years of age are free with Mom or Dad. Please leave your pool toys and floaties at home. Practice time is limited to the first 50 swimmers who sign in at the front desk so please plan on coming on time if not early to sign in. See our practice time schedule.

Each child is different in their ability to acquire new motor skills and should be encouraged to progress at their own pace. Many factors including age, previous experience around water, motivation, and fear will influence their progress during swim lessons. Please be patient and encouraging with your child as they will not make equal progress in every class. Children will experience spikes and plateaus during their time at Happy Fish. It is important to praise your child when they accomplish their goals no matter how big or how small. In time, through the accomplishment of many small goals, your child will learn to be water safe and be prepared to enjoy the sport of competitive swimming.

Most students will often start with a once per week schedule. As the kids get into the routine of and start to really enjoy their time in class, coming to class twice per week is very beneficial. Students create a tighter bond with their instructor, they have more opportunity to explore and practice, and will move faster through the ribbon levels. As a way to encourage parents to bring their students twice per week, Happy Fish offers a discount for choosing a twice per week schedule. Adding a day or even subtracting a day from your schedule couldn't be easier. Just visit the front desk or give us a call to set up a twice per week schedule.

It is completely normal for a first time swimmer to be nervous of swim class, especially if they are very young. Children cry in order to express their feelings of nervousness due to separation anxiety, a bad past experience, or just an irrational fear of the water. Our instructors are very friendly and are trained to understand the fear that children often have when coming to swim class for the first time. The best thing you can do is to allow the instructor to build trust with your child as you praise them for being such a brave boy or girl. By creating a positive reward system with smiles and high fives, even the most fearful child will learn to love the water.

If you are calling during regular business hours and we are not picking up the phone, then please try to call again in 5 minutes. Sometimes we experience a short wave of customers who need our help and can't pick up the phone. If you are calling not during business hours, then you can leave a voice mail and we will try and call you back the next day.

Swimsuit and a towel. As your child progresses through the program, goggles would be appreciated as well as a swim cap for girls with long hair.

Yes. Happy Fish has community showers with unlimited amounts of hot water for swimmers to rinse off after class. If you choose to use soap and shampoo, please be mindful of other people waiting to use the showers after class as well and don't take too long.

Nothing. Most classes will progress together and our instructors will adapt the lessons to meet the needs of everyone in the class. Our goal is to teach as much as the students want to learn in the time we have with them. Our instructors are trained to teach classes of mixed levels so that every child is challenged. Your child's teacher will communicate with you if they feel it is time to search for a new class or teacher.

Congratulations! Once your child has completed the final level at Happy Fish we hope they will continue refining and mastering their skills. You are always welcome to enroll for sessions at Happy Fish until you feel they are ready to join a swim team. For more information on swim teams see our swim team page.

More Questions?

• For any questions that you have that aren't on this page please feel free to give us a call and we'll try to answer your question as best as we can.
• Fremont (510) 226-7946
• Livermore (925) 447-3474