City of El Cerrito Swim Center
El Cerrito Swim Center offers private lessons. Our almost-4-year-old was also pretty scared of the water (and getting his face and head wet particularly) and JUST started a swim class there, his first one. His teacher is Fiona and she is excellent. She's young and sweet, but extremely good with young kids--and my son blew bubbles for the first time on day 1!
We've been really happy with lessons at both King Pool in Berkeley and El Cerrito Aquatic Center. Both are 25 min small group lessons (I think King's had 4 kids, El Cerrito's have 3). I think King may be ending lessons for the fall, but El Cerrito continues into the winter. Their pool is well heated, the teachers and great, and my 3 year old has been having a lot of fun. We've ended up with only 1 other kid in her lessons for the past 2 sessions and when they don't show up, she has had several private lessons, and for a pretty affordable price.
The El Cerrito Community pool has great lessons that I would recommend!
My daughter took swim lessons at the El Cerrito Pool from the age of 4.5 until about age 10 or 11. Due to my limited time and resources, I signed her up for only 1 or 2 sessions per year, and the rest of the year (literally every weekend), we went to the open swim hours where she splashed around with her friends, and all on her own practiced what she had learned in the swim classes. Due to the pandemic your child won't be able to splash around with other kids, anywhere, but keep the El Cerrito swim center in mind for future reference, http://el-cerrito.org/150/Swim-Center
City of El Cerrito outdoor pool is open during the winter for lessons. The winter lesson schedule is not posted yet but you can probably call to get an idea of the dates and times, http://el-cerrito.org/451/Swim-Lessons. I always signed up my daughter for lessons in January because they were not as crowded, the water temp is the same no matter the outside temp, and winter here is no guarantee of cold weather (just as summer is no guarantee of warm weather).
Hi, the Parents and Tots class at the El Cerrito Rec Center on Saturday mornings is fun. A series just started last week, so if you signed up now you could do most of the series.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
July 2014
RE: Lake Anza for a birthday party?
Have you considered the El Cerrito Swim Center? If you have a group of 10+ you only pay $2.50 per person (all ages). You don't have to reserve any space but you can reserve a picnic table if you want.
Go in there in person and talk to them, you might be pleasantly surprised. Family Swim goes from 1-4 on weekends and parking is free. Plan your party during those hours.
The best part of it is that when Family Swim time is over at 4 p.m., the lifeguards blow the whistle and BOOM your party is over ... no long goodbyes and reluctant kids. El Cerrito mom
Aug 2012
Re: Swim club in or near Berkeley
The El Cerrito pool is really nice-it's a public swim center, not a club-but the pools (lap pool and recreation poo) are great and there's grassy area, a splash zone, lots of kids, my favorite place to swim.
June 2010
Re: Swim lessons for 16 y.o. almost-beginner
I would recommend the adult beginner classes at the City of El Cerrito pool. My daughter's kid class followed that one and I noticed how the adults, including older teens and young adults, really progressed and seemed to enjoy the class. Contra Costa College also has swimming classes. -- a mom
Re: Pools for toddlers (July 2004)
the new & improved El Cerrito pool is great!!! there is a very warm pool with lots of shallow & a shower/fountain like the one you described. there is family swim every day 12-1. the pool is on Moeser, about 1/2 mile east of San Pablo Ave virginia
Parent Reviews
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