Testimonials

My son has been going to Little Dippers for 1.5 years and my daughter has been going for 8 months. Both of my kids started with Joy as their teacher and currently my daughter is still with Joy in her parent participation class. I have had such a great experience with this school and these teachers. My son is now with Kirsten, whom I cant say enought good things about. Some people are just born to be teachers and have a way with kids and thats how I feel after every lesson with Kirsten. We have had Erin too and she is awesome! Each teacher has different skills and I have never been disappointed in a class. We came from San Francisco (UCSF swim classes), and  I can tell you its night and day comparison. My son started when he was 2 years old at little dippers and it felt like it was his first REAL lesson, even though he had been in lessons since 6 months of age. Just this summer he is full on swimming and water safe. I did read the reviews and I understand that everyone has different parenting styles, but I actually had the opposite feeling when my son was trying to take charge of his class. I was sitting there watching my son cry and not want to get in the water and Joy was such a professional and took charge in a way I would expect his preschool teachers to act as well. I was so happy that my money wasnt wasted as has happened in former schools we attended where my son just watched the lesson instead of being talked to and rewarded for trying new things. I wanted to thank her so many times for working so hard with my son. I really think teaching your baby or child water safety is such a gift, and little dipper swim school has certainly been a great gift to our family. You wont be dissapointed.
Jen Birkby Walnut Creek Ca Aug 2011



Started attending this school about 6 years ago of and on with our kids. I actually attended when I was a baby. It was really cool that my teacher (the owner/ Joy) was my teacher and my daughters. It's even at the same pool I attended. It's nice to see mom and pop style places still around for so long. I always like family owned places more than chain places. We enjoy getting to know other parents and their kids, we have had many social play dates from students we meet through little dippers. I love the Boyd Rd location as we also have lunch after on the lawn. Very low key and relaxed. Since it is at a home there is a homey feel and our kids respond so well to that environment. Wonderful place for your kids to learn how to swim.
Tanya A Concord, Ca 2011


I am a parent of four children!  I have two older children that learned to swim at a young age while my family lived on the east coast.  They now swim on the swim team (ages 9 and 10), and while being around water on a daily location, it was imperative for my two younger children (2 and 3) to be safe while around the water.  I started my 3 yr old daughter at Little Dippers almost 2 years ago.  She has taken lessons with the owner the entire time, and my 2 year old son has just begun lessons.  My daughter can swim independently, and more importantly, she knows exactly what to do if she were to fall in the water.  Even if she were fully clothed with shoes on, if she fell into the water, she could get on her back for air, and then swim to the side.  More importantly, she LOVES to swim and completely enjoys the water.  

Let me also add that of my 4 children, three of them cried each time they got into the water for the first 3-6 months of their lesson.  I appreciate Joy's teaching abilities so much.  As a parent, I am loving, kind and gentle, yet firm.  With water safely, I feel the same is important.  My children have learned that Joy cares, and she is kind, but she is also firm.  She didn't let my children climb out of the water b/c they were crying and wanted mommy b/c her job was to teach them to swim.  My daughter eventually began to stop crying and enjoy the water and enjoy being with Joy in the water, and I expect the same from my son in the near future.  And now, I have the peace of mind that if something were to happen, my 3 year old would be okay. And soon, my 2 year old will be in the same boat.  Joy talks to my children, she explains to them why it's important that they listen to her, and she is open with me as a parent as to why she does certain things during a lesson.  

Last, I have always enjoyed working with Carolynn as well. She has been a great substitue teacher and she runs the business soundly.  She's been easy when I need to make a schedule change, and she's been accomodating when it comes to payment as well.  I one day expect all four of my children to be competing on the swim team, but until then, I'll attribute my younger children's swim team abilities to Little Dippers!!
JL Benica Ca Aug 2011

 

I had him take swim lessons elsewhere and for two months all he learned to do was blow bubbles.  The philosophy of this other swim school was to let the child take the lead.  They were afraid to push Parker for fear that he would become afraid of the water.

   Joy's philosophy at Little Dipper Swim School is quite the opposite and has worked wonders with Parker.  Parker has only had three lessons with Joy and is already putting his head underwater, floating on his back with assistance, going underwater for his ring, practicing his kicks,pushing off from the side and jumping in from the side.  He learned more in one lesson with Joy than in the sixteen lessons he took elsewhere.  Parker's favorite phrase is "I don't want to do it".  Joy gently tells him that there isn't a choice and under the water Parker goes. Parker is very proud of himself.I am certain that Parker would never learn to swim if he was at a different swim school.  Some children will learn to swim with little or no pressure from the teacher (like my 5 year old, Zachary).  Other children, like
Parker, need lots of encouragement and cannot be given a choice to sit on the top step and just blow bubbles.
   The Little Dipper program made such an impression on me that I also enrolled my five year old, Zachary, who already knows how to swim, and I am planning on enrolling my infant daughter in the fall.

Thank you Little Dippers!

: This is a huge accomplishment for my family. We are so pleased with the program and would love to share our success with others.

ANNE CANNON

My family has had the most incredible experience at Little Dippers Swim School.

My daughter Mikaela started swimming at Little Dippers when she was 4 and was so uncomfortable. Although she never cried at any of her lessons, she wasn't fond of putting her face in the water. She soon gained confidence through the positive teachers at Little Dippers. She learned how to be safe in the water and how to swim.. She is now almost 6 and still swimming with Little Dippers. She loves swimming and doesn't ever want to stop swimming at Little Dippers.

My son Mikey started swimming at Little Dippers when he was 2. He didn't like anything about swimming. We struggled at every lesson with screaming and crying. Many of his lessons I spent in my car with the radio turned up so I couldn't hear him screaming or on the other side of the gate so he couldn't see me, wondering if I had made the right decision.

I knew in my heart the importance of water safety and knew, because of my daughters success, that Little Dippers was the best place for him. It by no means was an easy year for me - (yes I said 1 year). We had a rewards system that if he didn't cry or scream we would celebrate with a treat. Many weeks I so wanted to go out for a slurpee or ice cream reward but because he had resisted and didn't cooperate in the pool I had to say no.

Joy and Loren, both of his teachers, went through the worst of the terrible 2's and 3's with my son. They never gave up with him, they taught him respect and trust.

There was a point a very short time ago that I was about ready to pull him out because I had almost given up. I had a phone conversation with Joy about Mikey where she told me "Mikey is at the eye of the storm and he is going to turn." I hung up the phone and thought I have so much faith in this program that I am going to stick it out a bit longer. Six weeks later I am sitting here looking at pictures and video of my son, who just turned 4 years old, swimming on his own and diving off of the diving board without any tears and a huge smile on his face. As a parent, this has been one of the greatest joys I have been able to witness.

Both of my children have learned more than just how to swim. They have learned the importance of water safety - respect, trust, confidence and sense of accomplishment. Mikaela is so proud of herself and her accomplishment in the pool.

Mikey loves coming to Little Dippers to swim. He is so proud to have family and friends watch the video of him swimming - he calls it "The Mikey Show."

Thanks to Little Dippers, both of my children are on there way to many years of safe swimming.
Nancy Wentworth

Little Dipper Swim School is the best!  All three of my children have
attended swim classes there.  The two older ones are now successful swim team swimmers.  The third, age 3, is the true fish of the family.  She has been swimming at Little Dippers since before she could walk.  Now, she swims.  Not sorta paddle around with water wings on - she really swims.  She swims! 

Anyone who says a 2 or 3 year old is too young to swim needs to watch Josie.  More importantly, she has learned life-saving water safety skills, confidence, and respect for the water.  Last year, Josie fell in the pool while watching a lesson.  She came to the surface, floated, kicked to the wall, and climbed out all by herself.  Of course, there is no substitute for vigilant supervision, but a child who can get herself out of the water after falling in accidentally is much safer around water than one who cannot. 

Joy [Josie's teacher and Little Dipper Swim School owner] once told me that she was "only a swimming teacher."  I disagree.  At Little Dipper, my children have learned discipline, confidence, perseverence, patience, respect, and, of course, swimming.  I am very grateful for all of the life skills learned and fun times we've had at Little Dipper
Swim School.
Melissa Ward, Walnut Creek, Mom to Katie (8), Matthew (6), and Josie (3)

"Just wanted to let you know!"
By, the way, Carolynn is doing a great job!  Great with the kids, and great teaching methods

Gracie's Mom