About
La Petite Baleen Swim Schools offers a range of swim classes, including Baby & Me classes, Baby & Toddler classes, Toddler swim classes, and Level 1 through Level 5 swim classes. Specific in-pool activities include the Motorboat activity, sit jumps, obstacle courses in the pool, Superman jumps to the carpet, toy chase, carpet swims, basketball with no goggles, and racing dives through a hoop or monster mouth. The program also offers free infant swim lessons for babies 2–5 months.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
La Petite Baleen Swim Schools uses an AQUATIC CLASSROOM® environment with a child development-centered curriculum and a ribbon level system. The program’s philosophy includes teaching life skills through swimming in its AQUATIC CLASSROOM®. Its developmental aquatic program emphasizes a balance between love and discipline while teaching swimming, self-esteem, and coping skills. The curriculum focuses on water safety awareness and life-saving practices and uses year-round swim lessons with an emphasis on steady repetition. Teachers are highly trained to read body language and open up the line of communication with their students. The program uses fun and games with the ulterior motive of teaching swimming skills, along with specific terms such as wiggle-butts® (butterfly kick), frog kicks (breaststroke kick), scissor kicks (sidestroke kick), “listen to the fishes and look at the fishes” (freestyle breathing), and “paint the ceiling” (backstroke arms). The organization states its motto as “Pace, Pattern, Compassion, and Fun!” and notes a focus on emotional skills such as listening to and following directions, social interaction and teamwork, respect for oneself and others, and overcoming obstacles and facing fears. La Petite Baleen Swim Schools highlights family-friendly facilities and emphasizes community building as part of its offerings.
La Petite Baleen Swim Schools has been providing award-winning swimming lessons in the Bay Area since 1979. The program began in the backyard pool of co-founders John Kolbisen and Irene Madrid’s Half Moon Bay home in 1979. Irene Madrid is the author of “Wiggle-butts & Up-faces: A Child’s Primer for Beginning Swimming,” published in 1989.
Parent feedback includes comments such as, “We’ve had an exceptional experience at LPB. The instruction was patient and kind, and the facilities were always clean and welcoming. We couldn’t have asked for more.” from Molly H. Another parent, Yadira D., shared, “Our daughter began swimming at LPB when she was just 2 months old. It gave her a strong foundation in both water safety and family bonding, all through caring, interactive instruction.” Divya K. stated, “We’re going to miss the incredible instruction and community at LPB. The foundational skills our child built here will stay with her wherever she goes.”
Last updated May 15, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
La Petite Baleen Swim Schools uses an AQUATIC CLASSROOM® environment with a child development-centered curriculum and a ribbon level system. The program’s philosophy includes teaching life skills through swimming in its AQUATIC CLASSROOM®. Its developmental aquatic program emphasizes a balance between love and discipline while teaching swimming, self-esteem, and coping skills. The curriculum focuses on water safety awareness and life-saving practices and uses year-round swim lessons with an emphasis on steady repetition. Teachers are highly trained to read body language and open up the line of communication with their students. The program uses fun and games with the ulterior motive of teaching swimming skills, along with specific terms such as wiggle-butts® (butterfly kick), frog kicks (breaststroke kick), scissor kicks (sidestroke kick), “listen to the fishes and look at the fishes” (freestyle breathing), and “paint the ceiling” (backstroke arms). The organization states its motto as “Pace, Pattern, Compassion, and Fun!” and notes a focus on emotional skills such as listening to and following directions, social interaction and teamwork, respect for oneself and others, and overcoming obstacles and facing fears. La Petite Baleen Swim Schools highlights family-friendly facilities and emphasizes community building as part of its offerings.
La Petite Baleen Swim Schools has been providing award-winning swimming lessons in the Bay Area since 1979. The program began in the backyard pool of co-founders John Kolbisen and Irene Madrid’s Half Moon Bay home in 1979. Irene Madrid is the author of “Wiggle-butts & Up-faces: A Child’s Primer for Beginning Swimming,” published in 1989.
Parent feedback includes comments such as, “We’ve had an exceptional experience at LPB. The instruction was patient and kind, and the facilities were always clean and welcoming. We couldn’t have asked for more.” from Molly H. Another parent, Yadira D., shared, “Our daughter began swimming at LPB when she was just 2 months old. It gave her a strong foundation in both water safety and family bonding, all through caring, interactive instruction.” Divya K. stated, “We’re going to miss the incredible instruction and community at LPB. The foundational skills our child built here will stay with her wherever she goes.”
Last updated May 15, 2026.
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