Frequently Asked Questions

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 See our pricing page for a detailed price list. Please note that we are required to pay one third of our fees to the Bellevue Aquatic Center for use of their facilities.

• Bring a completed waiver form
• Bring a towel and any other amenities your swimmer needs to shower and dress before and after their session 
• Sign in at the contractor binder, which is located near the front desk of the Bellevue Aquatic Center
• Dress your swimmer in appropriate swimming attire prior to their lesson start time
• Swim diapers and/or retainers are REQUIRED for anyone experiencing incontinence within the last 6 months

Please refer to our instructors page to see a picture of your instructor. We often begin session in the Warm Springs pool, so please look for your instructor there. 

The answer to this question varies widely. Our personalized lesson plans adapt to meet each swimmer's needs to streamline their progress. We have high expectations for our swimmers and you can expect to see regular progress and improvement. A young swimmer who comes to us comfortable with the water, eager to swim, willingly applies feedback, and follows directions can expect to advance to a swim team within 1 to  2 years of weekly lessons. On the other hand, a swimmer who experiences severe anxiety in the water and has difficulty applying feedback may take several years to progress to a local swim team.

We are asked this question regularly, particularly by parents of young swimmers with autism.  

If you are not a swimmer, there are some important facts to keep in mind about the aquatic environment. New swimmers must learn breath control, understand buoyancy, find body balance, and learn body position. Often, new swimmers become anxious because they do not yet have these skills. They are afraid that they can’t breathe, and they can’t control their bodies in the same way they can on land. When new swimmers are fearful, their minds go into fight-or-flight mode. While in fight-or-flight mode, children cannot learn new information effectively. Think back to a time when you were fearful. Would you have been able to learn a new skill with your heart racing and your muscles tense?

To overcome these fears, the instructor must teach the child how to breathe, relax, and control their body. At Sea Star Aquatics, we use play to teach these skills. Once your child is relaxed in the water and able to breathe and feel in control of their body, the instructor will progress the child through additional water safety and swim stroke techniques. This process of learning to relax in water can take months or years, depending on the child.

If you would like to help your child progress more quickly, we strongly recommend that you take your child into the pool during open swim hours to play with friends and family. Show your child that the water is fun and build great memories together in the pool. You can also practice having fun in the bath, wearing goggles, blowing bubbles, and getting your child’s head wet.

Please ask your instructor for guidance about the best skills to practice together outside of swimming lessons.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please contact Stacy Smith at (206) 265-2436.  We do ask that you give us 24 hours advance notice for  cancellation and to avoid a charge for your lesson. You will not be charged this late cancellation fee in the event you have an emergency or if your swimmer is sick. Please note that swimmers with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within 24 hours of their session are not allowed in Bellevue Aquatic Center.

Your instructor will give you a brief outline of your swimmer's progress and goals at the conclusion of each session. Additionally, your instructor will provide you with quarterly progress reports, allowing you to track your swimmer's accomplishments. 

Absolutely! We do ask that you remain out of the pool during your swimmer's session, unless you have made prior arrangements with your instructor. Please be respectful of other swimmers in the pool who may not want to be inadvertently recorded.  

No, we are a mission-driven Limited Liability Cooperation. Our ultimate goal is to become a 501 (c)(3), but as a very small business, we find the process rather daunting. If you have the knowledge and skills to guide us through the process of converting from an LLC to a 501 (c)(3), please contact us.