The final days of summer, in my experience, can be a frustrating month for parents of young swimmers. Especially those who have a kid that has shown to be less than thrilled with water or swim lessons up to this point.
I always get a few tentative, if not disguised as controlled panicked, calls about cramming in more swim lessons right before Labor Day. Although dangling money is enticing and the need sounds dire, I close the pool cover (so to speak) after the first week in August and refrain from returning to teach lessons until this holiday passes. This is a time where everyone just needs to take a break. Summer is over and we’re ALL burned out, from moms to swim teachers to kids. School is rearing up and the seasons are changing. It’s not a time to add panic into the mix.
These are the secrets from having taught swim lessons for a long time. So here is your year-long swim plan to make swimming run stress-free:
August: Take a mental note of your kid’s swim ability. I think of August as the end of swim lesson season. However, if you live in somewhere warm like I do, you can still cram another month or so in. But in regards to all the changes and chaos going on, I’d refrain from pushing for more lessons. The swim instructors are far from fresh at this point and could cause more damage or just give you very limited services.
September: Let your school schedule settle and then look into indoor swim lessons. Swimming makes a great after-school activity. Choose a pool that is at least 85 degrees with a year-long swim staff. Most therapeutic pools are heated pretty high.
October: Close-up the family pool in a proper manner. Make sure the cover is in good condition and the gate gets locked. Stow away any toys so the pool isn’t as enticing for a little one. Ask any neighbors if you can help them do the same, as kids do wander into other yards. And remove all plastic pools from the lawn!
November: Get into a once-a-week swim lesson routine. The idea is to keep your swimmer’s skills refreshed. This can be achieved through group or private lessons at the rate of one visit a week, which remains affordable and do-able.
December: Hold off on lessons during the holidays. Guess where parents stick their kids during winter solstice? If you cannot ski, you go to a community center with a warm pool! Any smart swim teacher takes this time off, as space in the pool becomes limited causing the quality of your lesson to go downhill.
January: Contact your private home instructor. Talk about getting a jump on the game! Make sure he/she will be available this summer and when. Because things change. In my case, I’m pregnant, and will just be ending maternity leave when my summer lessons start (and probably won’t be as available). If you contact me six months ahead of time, I WILL secure you lessons for sure.
February: Ask around if you’re new to the swim lesson game. The goal is to find out which facilities have the best instructors and best prices. Ask your local mother’s club for advice. Gather data.
March: If your kid hasn’t had a lesson since summer, get one now. You want to see once again where you are at with your child’s swim ability in order to plan ahead. Kids do forget how to swim! This is also great if you’re thinking about putting your child on a swim team: Get a private swim teacher’s opinion on how they would fair. It is very common for “great swimmers” to draw a blank during try-outs — a few lessons ahead of time eases the nerves.
April: Tackle the bulk of beginner lessons NOW. This can mean either signing up for them or taking them now. Because the rest of the swimming-parental world will be clawing at pools and instructors in 8 short weeks. Resources will be limited.
May: Go on a vacation and do some swimming! It is SO rewarding for a parent to take their child somewhere special where they can enjoy their swim skills without the daily grind calling at them. You can also get more specific and in-tuned with what you think they need to be working on. Work on pool safety, too.
June: Be strategical on how to get a pool or use yours. Is it too costly to heat your pool and you want home swim lessons? Schedule during a time of day and month when it is hottest to keep the electric bill down. Another idea is to pull a group of moms/kids together — and one must have a pool — and filter swim lessons through there. Look into a local pool summer membership, too.
July: Find out if swimming could be their thing. Ask the instructor how they are doing, as in what their strengths or weaknesses are when it comes to swim ability and character. Ask if they are doing anything above and beyond for their age. Swimming is such a unique and individualized sport that it is the answer for many kids who are turned off by team sports or traditional competitive activities.
Any additional suggestions, you seasoned swim lesson parents? I know you can come up with some good ones! Coming up next: Your Year-Long Swim Plan for You! This entry will include be tips for beginning lap swimmers of any ability.
