Being a swim mom can be a hectic experience, with juggling schedules, packing gear, and ensuring your child is ready for their lessons. However, with a little organization and planning, you can make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful for both you and your child. Here are some tips on how to stay organized as a swim mom.
Plan Ahead
Before your child’s swimming lesson, ensure that you have packed everything they will need such as swimwear, goggles, towels, and a change of clothes. Keep a list of items and pre-swim tasks, and check them off as you pack and pace to avoid forgetting anything important. A kitchen whiteboard could be an asset here – a cork bulletin board might evolve as kids grow older and more into events.
Establish a Routine
Establishing a routine for getting ready for swimming lessons can help make things easier. For example, many mamas have a designated bag for all the swim gear, and always put it in the same spot. This can help prevent last-minute scrambling and make the experience more efficient.
Stay Organized
Keep all of your swimming gear in one designated location to help stay organized and prevent any last-minute scrambling. This can help ensure that you have everything you need for the lesson and make the experience more efficient.
Arrive Early
Arriving early gives you time to find parking, change your child’s clothes, take them to potty, and allow them to acclimate to the pool environment before the lesson starts. This can help your child feel more comfortable, eager to learn, and perhaps get excited watching others in the pool.
Relax After
Don’t follow the swim session with a tightly scheduled event. Swimming is tiring as well as exciting, so allow space and time to relax, enjoy the dryness and body effervescence, and talk about how fun it was. This is all part of the growth process.
Bring Snacks and Drinks
Swimming can be exhausting, so it’s important to keep your child hydrated and energized. If you’re hitting a local pool outside of lessons, bring a water bottle and some healthy snacks like fruit or granola bars to keep them going throughout the session. If you’re in a swim class, instructors can advise what’s best.
Have a Backup Plan
In case of unexpected circumstances, such as a canceled lesson or inclement weather, have a backup plan in place. This can help prevent disruptions to your schedule and ensure that your child doesn’t miss out on any valuable lesson time. This will help keep you unflustered and feeling like a successful Swim Mom.
Take Turns with Other Parents
If your child is old enough and you have trust in place, explore taking turns carpooling or supervising the children during lessons with other parents. This can help lighten the load and make things more manageable, while also fostering a sense of community among the swim families.
Find a Good Spot to Watch
When watching your child’s swimming lesson, find a comfortable spot where you can see the action clearly, and be ready to cheer it on. If the situation allows, you may want to bring a comfortable chair or cushion to sit on to make the experience more enjoyable.
Dress Your Child in Their Swimwear Before Leaving Home
If your child is old enough and comfortable changing into their swimwear on their own, try dressing them in their swimwear before leaving home. This can save time and make the transition to the pool area easier.
Bring a Waterproof Bag
Bring a waterproof bag to store wet swimsuits and towels after the lesson. This can help keep your other belongings dry. Head straight to the laundry room when you arrive home, and have your after-swim tasks on your checklist ready to mark off tasks.
Watch and Learn
Watch your child’s swimming lessons and take note of the techniques and skills that they are learning. This can help you reinforce these skills when practicing and talking about it at home, and helps you support your child’s progress. Remember to have patience because while learning to swim is an important skill, it also takes time.