Swim Lessons Beginning or Middle of Summer?

I've found when it comes to swimming in a pool, kids don't care if it's cold outside or not and most pools used for lessons are heated, anyway. We always kicked off lessons at the beginning of summer to get those skills going and then used all summer long.

Where we live the afternoon classes are warmer than the morning (the pool heats up through out the day). So this is something to consider along with earlier in the Summer vs. later.

Is there another facility you could enroll them at with an indoor pool?

I'd go for beginning of Summer at the indoor pool.

The earlier the better. You want to teach your kids to swim ASAP. In other words, to drown proof them as soon as possible.

Good luck to you and yours.

although, if you enroll them earlier, then they have more of the Summer to practice their technique and enjoy the water...
I won't know if your concern is because the lessons would be in an outdoor pool, which might mean if it's cold/rainy, lessons could be cancelled. However, if that's not the case, then I would definitely enroll them in the earlier classes..

good luck

Why wait? Get them going. Kids don't feel the cold anyway! Have fun.

If an outdoor pool, I'd do middle summer.

We'll be doing the YMCA, which is indoors, so we are able to do year-round Saturday classes, and this summer will be doing M-F classes.

My son starts his two week refresher on Monday. I wanted it done at the beginning of the summer so he is prepared for the swimming season.

If the "cold day" thing is an issue, I'd wait.

At our pool there are four sessions offered and you simply sign up when you want at the level they need. If you sign up too high or too low, they can shift them, but it is best to have them evaluated before you start or sign up to make sure there will be space for them in whatever class they need. You do not have to take every session or start at the beginning. Most pools understand people travel. You're further north than we are -- I will tell you, every summer, the lessons during the first session are freezing!!! The pool water is still in the 60s, mornings are barely above 70 degrees. Too cold for lessons. The first time I signed the kids up, we signed up for that first session. I was lucky I could shift them to second session without penalty. It was awful.

I remember being cold as a kid at swimming lessons (and that was a LONG time ago) and it is miserable. It is really hard to pay attention and learn when you are shivering. So, beginning of the summer makes sense for being able to use and practice their new skills, but later makes sense for the temps. Are indoor lessons an option? In our area we have reasonably-priced indoor lessons offered by both the school district's community ed program and the YMCA. When I was a kid at outdoor lessons, in addition to the cold I hated the bugs, leaves, etc. that seemed to be everywhere in the pool (they must not have maintained it well). I couldn't stand the lessons between that and the cold and didn't actually learn to swim until my mom switched me to indoor lessons. I now love to swim, swam competitively for a year in HS and worked as a lifeguard during college and grad school. And I got over the "ick" factor of swimming outside and do it all the time in both pools and lakes. If it's an option at all I would recommend indoor lessons. I think it's a better learning environment, especially if they are young.

In our town there are two sessions. Last summer it was so hot, that it really did not matter, and there was only one day that was rained out. One 4 week 2 day a week sesson in June and one in July. I put my son in both.

You have to decide your goal. Are the swim lessons at the beginnng going to be a good refresher so your kids can swim the summer? Are they just start lessons, so this is just getting them used to swimming? How much swimming do you do?

I was going to wait until the July session for my daughter (will be two in June) because she acted like you were putting a cat in acid when we were in Fl in March, but we decided to try it. So both my kids start June 4.

So, I guess the bottom line is the goal. For my son, I want him to remember how to swim, so I can supervise him in the pool, not always need to be in the pool right next to him. For my daugther, I just want her to start learing some of the basics and not be afraid of the water.

Good Luck.

I picked the only session that we won't have to miss any days. We are doing a lot of travelling and we have summer camp, so I planned swim lessons around the other stuff. We are at an indoor pool, so it doesn't really matter if it is cold.

The summer swim lessons here are progressive. I think it is 3 days a week for three weeks per session, with four sessions total over the summer. Earlier enrollment means the potential to advance more during the summer, assuming a kid does well.

Cold isn't an issue though, the pool for lessons is indoors. If you think your kids would be put off by temperature, then waiting may be a good plan.

We do two weeks also, but this summer we were able to split it. It gets HOT in Maryland in the summers, but the mornings are still a little cool to be swimming in June. Either way. My boys are doing a week at the end of June and their second week will be at the end of July.

If it is in the afternoon, I'd say you can do it at the start of summer.

I also prefer them to go early in the summer so they get some more skills and confidence to start the summer swimming session.

I don't know about you in Chicago, but here in NY I am convinced summer was cancelled! June is almost upon us and we cannot get two days in the 70s. If Chicago has been the same, I say middle of summer.

Beginning...So they can use their new skills all summer long!