Swimming Lessons in Brampton: Make a Splash with Making Waves

I finally took the plunge and enrolled Thumper into Making Waves swimming lessons! I know that water safety is very important as drowning is the leading cause of all unintentional deaths of children aged 1-4 years old.  However our schedule is busy and always changing… visiting with friends & family, day trips, oh yeah of course there is work too!  It can be hard to find the time to fit in organized sports activities. 

When I heard about Making Waves Swimming Lessons in Brampton which offered a range of swimming lessons for all levels in once a week classes or daily lessons for a 2 week session I knew we had found what I was looking for. Now Making Waves offers swim lessons just like the City programs however some key differences exist.  This is only one of the activities to do on Maternity Leave.

Checkout more information below about private swimming lessons Brampton near me. Checkout the Following Tips for Infant Swimming Lessons. This review of Making Waves Brampton is based on both Katies experience in past years and Erin’s experience in 2021.

Why is Making Waves the Best Swim Lessons in Brampton?

At Making Waves swim lessons, babies can start at just 2 months old while to register with the City of Brampton, your child must be 4 months old to swim. Making Waves pool uses a state of the art UV sanitation system. Lastly, Making Waves keeps their pools warm as they keep there pools at 90 degrees.  

You will never see Thumper happier then when she is in the pool.  She took to swimming like a fish to water – splashing around, kicking his feet and just having a great time.  Katie had the opportunity in a past summer to participate in a Parent & Tot swim class at Making Waves and Erin is trying out Little Wave 2 with Thumper this Fall (2021).

Making Waves  swim club offers swimming lessons in Brampton, Milton, Vaughan and Mississauga.  I told you before about all the fun Monkey, Bear, and Thumper have had at their swimming lessons at Making Waves. 

Erin and Katie’s Review of Making Waves Swim School in Brampton

Thumper is familiar with the water as she has been swimming all summer in private lessons, however there was no way she would jump in, put her face in the water, or try to float on her back.  Currently, Erin has Thumper in lessons this fall every Monday, and she has made huge progress from swimmign with floaties to being able to swim about a 1m on her own which is just the beginning. Her back float has also improved substantially in the weeks so far and she has about 4 weeks to go!

In the past, Katie enrolled Monkey in a 2 week session of daily swimming lessons that  way he could still work on his swimming skills, but there would be minimal impact on our summer plans.  I was amazed at how quickly Monkey picked up new skills and he had so much FUN doing it!

Both Katie and Erin would agree that Making Waves Brampton offers the Best Swimming Lessons in Brampton.

Parent and Tot Lessons at Making Waves – Katie

The Parent and Tot Swimming lessons Brampton was super fun and was a great program to help build baby’s confidence in the water. The program promoted social interaction and enjoyment as we sung songs, played games and enjoyed being in the water with our babies. One of my favorite parts was that they had little flotation devices with pool noodles that the babies could sit in independently and float around thus exploring the water on their own.

I loved that we had a range of ages in our class from a 4 month old to an 18 month old.  And for the daytime classes at Brampton Making Waves Swim School,  there were no other lessons other than a second Parent & Tot class happening at the same time.  It was amazing to see by the end of the 8 week session, some of the children that had been fussy at the start were now laughing, giggling and having a great time swimming with their parent.

The Parent & Tot classes at Making Waves were such a great experience.  Not only was there lots games and songs, but we also introduced water safety skills which are so vital to keeping children safe around the water.  I was completely surprised at how quickly Little Bear picked up on the cues of “1-2-3-under” and would close his eyes and his mouth (most of the time) when we went under the water. 

I found it funny that he would fuss more about practicing back floats then going under the water.The instructors for our classes were excellent.  They were patient, reassuring , and were very willing to help parents (and babies, but it was mostly the parents that needed help!) gain the confidence to do all of the activities during the swimming lesson.  And not to worry, it was not like we were trying to get them to swim on their own, but the first time you dunk your baby is a little nerve-wracking. 

Little Wave Lessons at Making Waves Brampton – Erin

The Little Wave program has given Thumper so much confidence in the water as she has become fearless and will even jump in on her own now, put her face in the water and independently swim a very short distance… these are all skills she has gained in the 13 week session of Little Waves.  I loved that the children in her class are all around the same age and same swim abilities making it much easier for the instructor.

The class size is small as there is only Thumper and 2 other students and her instructor does an excellent job at giving equal amounts of one on one instruction. The instructor communicates on her progress after each lesson before we go change so I know exactly how she is doing and dont have to wait until the end of the session. The progress in all 3 students in the class have been outstanding and I would definetly recommend especially to new swimmers.

Swimming Lessons in Brampton

There were a few things that really stood out to Katie and Erin at the Making Waves Swimming Lessons:

• Basic Water Safety Skills: Making Waves teaches basic water safety skills and proper holding techniques.

   

• Age of Babies: At Making Waves swim lessons, babies can start at just 2 months old while to register with the City of Brampton, your child must be 4 months old to swim.

   

• Fun for Babies: Making Waves incorporates lots of different songs into their water play.

   

• Small Class Sizes – EVERY class no matter what level of swimming skill is limited to 3 children to 1 instructor. There are also Head Instructors that float between classes to offer assistance to kids who may not be feeling as comfortable in the water.  There were two classes at the beginning of Monkeys lessons where for over 15 minutes of the class there was one instructor for each child to make sure they were all confident in the water and able to relax and learn.

   

• Great Instructors – All of the Making Waves swimming instructors were friendly, professional and well-trained.  They were sure to introduce themselves both the children & parents right away to help put everyone at ease.  The instructors conducted themselves professionally and handled the children in a way that made me confident that Monkey was in good hands. I also loved how the instructors were trained to teach in the same way, so that no matter who was helping Monkey the message and expectations were consistent.

   

• Warm water – No chills when you walk into a Making Waves pool! Heated to 88-92^oF the Making Waves pools make sure both the kids and instructors are comfortable in the water for the whole lesson.  No worries about the kids getting cold while waiting for their turn as the temperature of the water and air are controlled to make sure everyone everyone stays warm.

Parent and Tot  Making Waves Levels

Making Waves offers two Levels of Parent and Tot: (Ages 2 months – 23 months)

Making Waves Parent and Tot Level #1: This first level is for the children to begin to learn breath control, buoyancy and balance in the water.  Some skills the children will learn in this level are holding their breath when going under water, back floats, and roll-overs.  At Making Waves we believe that roll-overs are a Lifesaving skill.

Making Waves Parent and Tot Level #2: begins to introduce your child to propulsion, how to move through the water.  You will begin to see your child become more comfortable going under water and working towards greater independence.  Your child will learn to blow bubbles and be introduced to kicking.  Songs and games are also incorporated in this level to practice both new and old skills.

Differences Between Making Waves and City of Brampton Swim Lessons: Comparison of Swimming Classes in Brampton

Making Waves Parent and Tot Level #1: This first level is for the children to begin to learn breath control, buoyancy and balance in the water.  Some skills the children will learn in this level are holding their breath when going under water, back floats, and roll-overs.  At Making Waves we believe that roll-overs are a Lifesaving skill.

“The class has a max size of 7 and the instructors are very baby orientated and will offer one on one instruction when needed. We start the class by dipping them into the water but then progress to dunking them even during the first class. I really enjoyed that we sung songs throughout the program, and appreciated the tip to blow on babies face right before dunking them as then they will naturally hold their breath” – Parent Christine

City of Brampton Parent and Tot Level #1: This program structures in-water interaction between parent and child to stress the importance of play in developing water-positive attitudes and skill. Skills taught are: entering the water, getting ready to have their face wet and floating on their front and back with assistance.

“The class had about 10-12 parents and tots and the instructor was very friendly. We started the program by sitting the babies on the wall and then dipping them into the pool,we sang some songs and splashed in the water. Then practiced front and back floats, followed by a couple minutes of babies floating in the boats and parents walking right beside. ” – Parent S

Want to see for yourself, here is Monkey in action at Making Waves!

What levels does Making Waves offer? (Descriptions Taken from Their Website for Accuracy)

Making Waves offers two Levels of Parent and Tot: (Ages 2 months – 23 months)

Making Waves Parent and Tot Level #1: This first level is for the children to begin to learn breath control, buoyancy and balance in the water.  Some skills the children will learn in this level are holding their breath when going under water, back floats, and roll-overs.  At Making Waves we believe that roll-overs are a Lifesaving skill.

Making Waves Parent and Tot Level #2: begins to introduce your child to propulsion, how to move through the water.  You will begin to see your child become more comfortable going under water and working towards greater independence.  Your child will learn to blow bubbles and be introduced to kicking.  Songs and games are also incorporated in this level to practice both new and old skills.

Little Waves (Ages 2-5): If your child is between 2 to 5 years of age, they’re ready for our Little Waves program! Both fun and challenging, this seven-level program offers flexible entry and exit points based on your child’s age, ability and progress. Designed to appeal to preschool children, games and activities engage their imagination while they learn important skills and increase their knowledge. Goggles are recommended for all Little Waves levels and reusable swim diapers are also required for children under 36 months. Both can be conveniently purchased at our front desk! Class Ratio for all Little Wave Classes in 3 Swimmers : 1 Coach

Big Waves (Ages 6+):

This 10-level program is for children ages 6 and older, as well as those who have mastered Little Wave 7 in the Little Waves Program. This program is both fun and challenging and will help swimmers develop the five main swimming strokes and lifesaving kicks that support aquatic safety in, on, and around the water. Your children will learn the:

• Front crawl
• Back crawl
• Elementary back stroke
• Breaststroke
• Eggbeater Kick

This program is also designed to increase their fitness and endurance through enjoyable activities and self-rescue techniques. Levels 1-8 the ratio is 1:3, Level 9-10 the ratio is 1:4.

When does Making Waves offer Lessons?

Making Waves offers both daytime and evening Parent & Tot classes, but sign up EARLY as they fill up very fast. If you are looking for swimming lessons in Brampton, Vaughn, Mississauga or Milton I would highly recommend Making Waves Swim School Brampton.  With 4 locations and lessons offered at all times during the day and evening you will be sure to find a session that will fit into your lifestyle. 

You can find Making Waves on Facebook and Twitter – make sure you give them a follow to find out about upcoming events and specials.  Monkey LOVED his swimming lessons, and made amazing progress and we will continue to build and develop those skills to keep him safe in the water. I tried to sign Little Bear and I up for a Fall evening class in July, but they were already completely booked.    Make sure you follow Making Waves on Facebook and Instagram to be the first to know about registration dates.  Did you do swimming lessons with your baby or toddler?

Making Waves Locations:

Now Making waves has four locations across the Greater Toronto Area.

1. Making Waves Brampton Location – 99 Rosedale Avenue
   Brampton, Ontario L6X 1K4
   Phone: 905.455.7946
   Fax: 905.457.3064
   Email: info@mwss.ca
2. Making Waves Milton Location– 250 Bronte Street South
   Milton, Ontario L9T 1Y8
   Phone: 905.878.9747
   Email: info@mwss.ca
3. Making Waves Mississauga Location – 3087 Winston Churchill Blvd
   Mississauga, ON L5L 5W7
   Email: info@mwss.ca
   Phone: 905.949.6772
4. Making Waves Vaughan Location
   10557 Keele Street, Unit 2
   Vaughan, Ontario L6A 0J5
   Phone: 905.832.7665
   Email: info@mwss.ca

For more information on Making Waves,  or City of Brampton Aquatics

Wiggle, Swim, Crawl, and Jump – Keeping those Little Movers Busy

• Wee Wigglers
• Brampton Swimming
• Shake, Rattle and Roll – A free program run through the Early Years Centre of Ontario 
• Baby Playtime – A free program run through the Early Years Centre of Ontario

Interested in learning about more Activities and Events for Kids in Peel Region? Join us at Peel Parents Resource!

Disclosure: I was provided a complimentary session in exchange for this review.  All opinions are strictly my own.
Originally Posted July 13, 2013. Updated in 2023.