About
KIDS FIRST Swim School - Bethesda is a state-of-the-art indoor swimming facility located in Rockville, MD, dedicated to teaching children to swim. It offers a comfortable and safe learning environment with amenities such as a viewing area, changing rooms, private showers, and family changing cabanas.
The facility features a single indoor pool, which is heated to a comfortable 90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 32 degrees Celsius).
What are people saying (AI review summary)? The swimming lessons receive mixed but generally positive feedback. Many customers praise the excellent, patient, and passionate instructors, noting their effectiveness in helping children, even timid ones, become confident swimmers. Positive aspects include on-time classes, warm water, flexible scheduling, and for some, friendly staff, reasonable pricing, no registration fees, and ample parking. However, significant concerns were raised regarding the facility's cleanliness and security, with descriptions of 'disgusting' locker rooms, changing rooms, and waiting areas, as well as a lack of secure storage for possessions and unsecured credit card information. Some reviewers also reported rude or absent front desk staff and felt certain instructors lacked experience or proper teaching methodology, while others desired more changing rooms.
Location
Gallery
Amenities
-
Accepts Credit Cards
-
Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
May 24th, 2025Andrea Toledo
The swimming lessons are great! Classes start on time, there’s no registration fee, and plenty of parking. The teachers are kind and well-prepared, and the water is warm. They offer a variety of schedules to choose from. I’d like more changing rooms, but overall, I’m very satisfied!
July 28th, 2023Jennifer Kuo
My family and I have been going to Kids First Swim School in North Bethesda for almost 7 years now! We love it here! The instructors are top notch and know how to get children who are timid and scared of the water to love swimming. Because of Kids First, my 10 year old is a very strong and confident swimmer - he's even a better swimmer than both me and my husband. My 5-year old currently takes lessons at Kids First. When he first started taking lessons, he hated the water, especially getting water in his eyes. His instructor, Rebecca, was so patient with him and knew exactly how to get him comfortable in the water. After a couple of lessons, he wouldn't cry at the beginning of class anymore. Fast forward to now, he can't wait for his weekly swim lessons and wants the lessons to be longer. I never thought we would get to this place with him, and I owe it all to Kids First! Thank you for teaching both of my kids one of life's most important skills!
May 17th, 2023Mary A.
My first clue should have been the no refunds policy. Signed up for the parent-and-child swim lessons for my 1-year old. The pool is fine, heated, and the instructor was friendly. But that's about it. The facility is pretty disgusting. The locker rooms and changing rooms looked like they had not been cleaned in a decade. The locker room had no locking cupboards! Maybe this wouldn't be a big deal...except the entrance to the facility is left wide open (doors open) and no one is at the front desk. Anyone can walk right in. You just have to take your chances and leave all your possessions out in the open. The changing table for babies was disgusting. The "waiting room" was dark and dirty. When the front desk staff do appear (rarely) they are rude (and they were rude on the phone). They keep your credit card information on a piece of paper that is NOT locked away - mine was sitting there on the front desk, out in the open. I'm sad to say this was a complete waste of $160 for basic swim lessons. I'm not sad to say - I will not be back.
April 27th, 2023Emily Wietmarschen
We love kid first!! We have been coming here for about a year. Not only is our child showing progress with his comfort in the water, he is connecting to his teachers, and becoming part of a larger community. You can tell the instructors are passionate and care about the kids. They know how to balance the fun in the water with the importance of learning safety about it.
August 5th, 2023Stanislav Tanev
Staff is super friendly, price is reasonable, but the swimming instructors are on a really low level - mostly young obviously inexperienced people lacking teacher’s approach and just following what’s written on the boards on the walls. They do not predispose children in any way. Hope their other locations work with better instructors.
Leave a review
Opening Hours
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
Drop Us a Line