Private Lessons and Group Lessons: Which Is Right for Your Child

admin 01 Dec 2025

Selecting the ideal setup for your child's swimming education is essential to developing the foundation of water safety and confidence. At Starfish Swim School, we understand that children learn at different rates. The private vs. group swim lesson debate is not centred around which one is better, it simply is a matter of finding the right learning environment that meets your child's personality, learning journey, and goals.

In this blog, let's find out which swimming lesson is better and how it can impact children's capacity in water.

Group Swim Classes

Group classes have been considered the traditional method for learn-to-swim classes that involved placing children in classes with children of equal ability.

Advantages of Group Lessons

Social and fun: Group learning is social and fun for children to learn along with other children. The positive, engaging, and motivating environment that forms when children learn in the same class creates a situation where children can learn from each other (peer learning) as they observe their peers learning to succeed.
Affordability: Group classes are less expensive than private instruction. Many families find group classes a more financially manageable learning environment for continual and consistent long-term support.
Structure: Group lessons follow a well-structured, comprehensive skill development curriculum that ensures foundational water safety techniques.
Develops Resilience: Children will learn management of classroom dynamics, turn-taking, and functioning without constant dedicated attention, which all serve as valuable skills in life.

Drawbacks of Group Lessons

Distraction: Instructor attention is divided amongst all students, resulting in less immediate, personalized feedback on individual technique.
Pacing: The pace of the lesson is dictated by the group. A child may feel rushed to keep up or bored waiting for everyone else.
Less Flexibility: Class times and curriculum are generally set. So, this might not accommodate your family's busy schedule.

Private Swim Lessons

Private swim lessons provide focused, one-on-one training with a certified instructor, making private swimming lessons an excellent option for children that may benefit from targeted learning. This format is often necessary for specialised instruction like infant aquatics.

Pros of Private Lessons

Schedule Flexibility: They often provide greater flexibility in scheduling lessons to accommodate your family's busy schedule.

Individual Instruction: The instructor can customise every drill and skill to the individual strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the child, which leads to a more efficient, personalised lesson experience.

Speed: Fewer distractions and the instructor's sole attention on the child lead to immediate and frequent technique corrections, which ultimately lead to teaching mastery and acquisition of skills faster.

Confidence: The one-on-one format provides a less intimidating environment for nervous or anxious swimmers, allowing them an opportunity to work through their fears at their own pace, free of peer pressure.

Cons of Private Lessons

Higher Price: As there’s just one student being focused on during the lesson, the cost per lesson will be higher.

Less Interaction with Other Kids: Your child will not get the kids-to-kids interaction and motivation associated with the group class setting.

Potentially High Pressure for Some: The attention of a private lesson can feel intense for some kids who may enjoy a "break" in attention while the instructor is working with another student.

Signs Your Child May Need Private Lessons

If your child is in a group class but struggling, the following are clear signs that your child may need private lessons:

Stuck at a Level for Too Long: Your child has been at that level for too long and is having difficulty mastering a skill, such as rotary breathing or a more difficult stroke.
Anxiety or Fear around Water: If they exhibit a reasonable fear of water, cry throughout class, or fight having their face wet, then a private lesson can provide a focused, one-on-one, gentle environment to create trust.
Difficulty Focusing: They struggle to stay focused in a loud or busy group environment and spend their time more observing or playing rather than learning from the instructor.
Unique Needs: If they need to have focused, individualised instruction due to special learning, sensory or physical needs that require their full attention and specialist instruction.

When to Consider Changing Formats

The swim journey is hardly linear. It is perfectly normal for children to benefit in some way or another by changing formats, based on their stage of development:

Starting with Private, Switching to Group

If your child is very anxious, extremely young (for infant aquatics), or needs to quickly develop fundamental survival skills, start private. Once the fundamentals and water confidence have been established, shift to group lessons as a way for your child to maintain skills and enjoy the social experience.

Starting with Group, Switching to Private

If your child is enjoying a group but hits a plateau, or if he has to dial in a particular technique (for instance, a competitive stroke), switch to private lessons for a few sessions to help the child get back on track, and then switch back to group lessons.

Conclusion

When selecting between private vs group swim lessons, it comes down to choosing the right fit for your son or daughter. For a nervous child, a one-on-one private swim lesson experience can help with comfort, confidence and skill progression. For a child who thrives with socialisation, group swim lessons are a great motivator to learn how to swim, keep them accountable and enjoy the journey!

Regardless of a parent’s choices, regular practice is the most important aspect. Starfish Swim School will give your child the best opportunity to receive the best instruction, whether that is in a one-on-one capacity or a larger group setting, to ensure your child develops a lifelong love of being in the water. That is what we love, after all.

Are you ready to get started with your child’s swim journey? Contact us today to discuss your child’s needs and see what options of private or group lessons we offer!