Emler’s Kansas City Westwood school is excited to serve the communities of Mission Woods, Fairway, Roeland Park, Midtown-Westport, Mission Hills, Mission, Merriam and Shawnee.

You can find our newest location in the northeast corner of the intersection of Mission Rd. and West 47th Ave., in the same block as the original Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que.

Emler Swim School was recently honored to receive the title of Kansas City Business Journal’s 2019 Best Places to Work!

We’d love to find out more about how we can best serve you. Come by and take a free tour or go ahead and jump right in.

Announcements

posted Jun12

Swim Stations

Want more time in the pool at Emler to practice swimming? Swim Stations are here for you!

Click HERE to book a Swim Station!

We know that your kiddo loves spending time at the pool at Emler Swim School, and you would love to be able to have more time to practice skills with your child – that’s where Swim Station comes in! You can easily book time in the water so you and your child can have some one-on-one time in the water together.

This is not a class, and you will not have a teacher there with you – this is just time for you and your child to utilize our year-round heated pools at Emler so you can practice skills together. Please note that it is a requirement for an adult guardian to enter the pool per swimmer during your Swim Station time slot.

Interested in purchasing props to use in the pool for Swim Stations or for your own private use at home? Available by age level, or a la carte! Click here to check out our Props Packages!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are your class ratios?

We’ve always had small class sizes of 3-4 kiddos, as well as private lessons, and nothing has changed. We now offer the option to form your own private group with family, friends or neighbors you know. Additionally, another option is the parent & child class, with appropriate spacing between families in the pool, where kids receive instruction from a teacher on the deck. We are monitoring and strictly adhering to all local, state and federal guidelines regarding levels of occupancy and the number of people that are allowed in gatherings so we can continue to be the healthiest, happiest pool in town.

How can I learn more about swim lessons?

You can get in touch with us in many different ways – call 855-232-2006, fill out this form or sit in on a virtual live information session that guarantees there won't be any phone tag. We host them on Zoom at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Central, Monday through Thursday. You can have your camera turned on or off, whatever you're most comfortable with! Sign up here.

How To Prepare Your Kids For a Lifetime of Swimming Safety

1. Start teaching kids water safety early.

Teaching kids to swim needs to happen as early as possible to prevent the risk of accidental drowning. Formal swim lessons result in an 88% reduction in drowning risk for children ages 1 to 4, studies have found, and children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates, according to the CDC. At Emler Swim School, safety is our top priority and why we are so passionate about teaching swim lessons. We want to empower children and their families with the water safety information they need to protect themselves.

2. Teach kids in a supportive environment.

Evidence tells us that children learn best in encouraging, supportive environments. At Emler Swim School, we create a warm, safe atmosphere to help children feel free to explore and try new things that may scare them initially. We know some children find the water daunting and we want to do everything we can not only to help them feel comfortable in the water but also enjoy swimming and playing in the pool.

3. Make swimming lessons fun with positive reinforcement.

Songs, games and playing make-believe are part of the curriculum. Progress is measured and milestones are celebrated, both big and small. Through encouraging words and high-fives during every class, learning to swim is as fun as possible. While safety is our number one priority, students also learn a love for the water.

4. Repetition, repetition, repetition.

Just like any skill or sport, perfect practice makes perfect. In the case of water safety, proper swimming and safety skills become muscle memory. The more a child is doing a specific activity, the more it becomes an instant reaction. If a little one finds themself unexpectedly in water, it is ideal for their instincts and muscle memory to take over without much conscious effort. One of the most popular lesson days at Emler is when the kids jump in the pool with all their clothes on so they know what it feels like to be in water in something other than bathing suits. They then turn around to the wall for a safe exit.

5. Celebrate progress!

Both small and large achievements are celebrated, as mentioned earlier. For some kids, putting their face in the water is a big step forward, so we recognize and applaud this. We have informal and formal ways of marking progress, from showering the little swimmers with praise to providing ribbons of completion at the end of a level. At Emler, swimming is made as fun and rewarding as possible while teaching the basics of water safety so all the kiddos feel confident around water.

Micheala Driskell

Hi, I’m Michaela – and I’m looking forward to getting to know you and your family! We want your swim lesson experience to be second to none, so please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions! My team and I are excited to welcome you to Emler Swim School of Westwood!