As summer approaches and the weather warms up, many families begin to look forward to spending time by the pool, at the beach, or on a family holiday near the water. While these moments can be fun and exciting, they also come with a responsibility to ensure that your child is safe and confident in the water. That’s where swimming lessons play a vital role. Whether your child is just starting to swim or has been taking lessons for some time, it’s always a great idea to book swim lessons before the summer break.

At PoolSchools, we understand the importance of both safety and enjoyment in swimming. With over 17 years of experience and a team of expert instructors, we are committed to providing high-quality lessons that focus on building essential water skills. Swimming lessons before the summer not only help prepare your child for the fun of swimming but also give them the confidence and ability to stay safe in and around water.

Building Water Safety Skills

One of the primary reasons for enrolling your child in swim lessons is safety. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children, and it can happen in an instant. The earlier children learn how to swim, the better equipped they are to handle themselves around water. Swim lessons teach children how to float, tread water, and swim efficiently, which can all be life-saving skills in an emergency.

At PoolSchools, our swimming lessons focus on safety from day one, ensuring that your child learns essential skills such as how to enter and exit the water safely, how to recognise dangerous situations, and how to respond in case of an emergency. Our instructors also teach valuable water survival skills, such as floating on their backs and breathing techniques, which are crucial for children to understand before venturing into deeper water.

Understanding Different Water Environments

Swimming in a pool and swimming in open water, such as the sea, are very different experiences. While pools provide a controlled environment with clear water, even depths, and no currents, the sea presents additional challenges. Waves, tides, currents, and changing weather conditions can make swimming more difficult and unpredictable. It’s important to ensure that children understand these differences and are prepared for them.

Before heading to the beach, always check local conditions, including tide times and weather forecasts. Encourage children to swim in designated areas with lifeguards present and to be aware of rip currents, which can be dangerous if they are not properly understood. Learning how to stay calm and float if caught in a current is an essential survival skill that swim lessons can help develop.

Growth and Development in the Water

If you’ve noticed that your child’s swimming abilities seem to have plateaued recently, don’t worry—it’s a common experience. As children grow, their bodies change, and during growth spurts, they may experience a shift in their buoyancy and coordination in the water. This can lead to what may seem like a regression in their swimming skills, but in reality, it’s just a period of adjustment.

During a growth spurt, your child’s centre of buoyancy shifts as their body proportions change. This can affect their movement and strokes in the water, leading to a temporary “awkward” stage. To an untrained eye, this may look like a regression in skill, but it’s simply a natural part of their development. After a short period of rebalancing, they will quickly adjust and continue to progress, often achieving a higher level of swimming ability than before.

Swim lessons before the summer break are the perfect time to support your child through this stage. Our experienced instructors at PoolSchools can help guide your child through these transitional phases, ensuring that they continue to make progress and build their confidence in the water. With expert guidance, they will be able to overcome any temporary setbacks and continue to grow stronger in their swimming abilities.

Fun and Confidence in the Pool

At PoolSchools, we believe that swimming should be enjoyable. As well as focusing on safety and skill development, our lessons are designed to be fun and engaging. When children have fun in the water, they develop a positive association with swimming, which encourages them to continue learning and improving. The more confident your child becomes in the water, the more they will enjoy the experience, whether they’re splashing around at the beach, diving into the pool, or simply playing games in the water.

The combination of safety, skill-building, and fun makes swimming lessons before the summer break an essential part of your child’s aquatic journey. At PoolSchools, we’re dedicated to helping children of all ages and abilities achieve their swimming goals and have a great time doing it.

If you’re ready to prepare your child for a safe and fun summer in the water, contact PoolSchools today to find out how we can support their swimming journey. With our expert instructors and tailored lessons, your child will be ready to dive into summer with confidence.