4 Reasons to Continue Swim Lessons During the Summer

So, it’s May and you’re trying to figure out if you’re going to continue taking swim lessons during the summer, or if you’re going to free up your calendar and take a short break. I TOTALLY understand. In fact, I’ve had that same conversation (debate?) with myself many, many times over the years. 

Part of me thinks: We’ll be at the pool so much! We need a break! We don’t want to have a swim commitment each week! We’ll be out of town on vacation! Why swim indoors when the outdoor pools are open?

Those are all completely valid reasons to stop lessons for the summer. Sometimes your kiddos need a break so they can come back in the fall refreshed, ready to learn and advance. 

On the flip side…there are a TON of reasons to continue with lessons, too! Here are 4 reasons to continue your swim lessons over the summer break.

1. Be ready for fall. I know, I just said that maybe your kids should take a break in order to be ready for fall. But maybe they don’t. We’ve all heard of the “summer slide” when it comes to education – and it’s true with swimming, too! Maybe they need to continue (particularly those higher level swimmers!) to make sure they don’t drop skills they’ve learned, practice bad habits for 3 months or lose the endurance of swimming longer distances. 
2. Small class sizes. Kids have a lot of options for lessons over the summer through local outdoor pools. We’ve tried these, and our experience was varied. Many of the classes are large, so your kids spend quite a bit of time on the sidelines waiting their turn. Actual time with the instructor is fairly limited, and progression is VERY slow if you’re used to a private swim school like SwimWest. If you’re hoping to have your child advance or progress this summer, keeping them in a class with a small ratio of students to teacher is essential. 
3. Professional instruction. Our instructors are highly trained and experienced, and they teach safety skills to kids above anything else. While many local pools offer lessons, they may be taught by teenagers who do a great job or a not-so-great job. Choosing a professional instructor will definitely help your child maintain and improve their swim skills over the summer.
4. Structure. Some kids just do better when they stay in the routine of class. Rather than starting all over in the fall (particularly for younger kids!) and face water fears and skill regression, keep your child on track by maintaining their schedule and routine in the water. 

Whether you choose to stick with lessons throughout the summer or take a seasonal break, we hope you have a wonderful summer full of pool time and family fun!