With the temperatures decreasing by the day here in Indiana, jumping into the pool for winter swim lessons is probably one of the last things on your mind. But for those who don’t already know how to swim, the winter is the perfect time to start swim lessons! There are many benefits to starting swim lessons right now rather than waiting until the weather warms up.
Winter Swim Lessons to Prepare for Summer
Summer is the time when everyone wants to take a dip in the pool and cool off, but it’s kind of backwards to start swim lessons then. You’re not able to swim around with friends in the summertime if you don’t yet know how to swim. Starting in the winter is perfect because it allows you or your little one to get acclimated to the water and learn basic swim skills. Then, when the sunshine comes back and days are spent by the pool, you’re prepped and ready to jump right in!
Get Out of the House
It’s cold outside, which means that it’s a lot more appealing to just stay indoors and laze around watching TV or playing video games. For high-energy children, being cooped up inside can seem like an endless time-out. Weekly winter swim lessons at the Y can be the perfect way to get out of the house and burn off some energy by staying active. Plus, it’s always a warm temperature in our indoor pool area.
Increase Confidence
One of the biggest benefits of swim lessons is that it teaches an important skill that boosts overall confidence. If you’re an adult who never learned to swim, you probably avoid the water at all costs so that you don’t have to announce that you can’t swim. Taking Winter swim lessons, especially private lessons, can help you learn and progress at your own pace without the pressure of everyone else in the water. Once the summer months arrive, you’ll be able to head into the pool with confidence.
Maintain Skills and Knowledge
Swimming is a skill and if you don’t practice your skill consistently, you’ll lose it. If your child learned to swim last summer, don’t give them an 8-month break from that skill! They’ll have to relearn some of the previous skills that they worked so hard on last summer by the time next summer comes around. Spend the winter months focusing on learning and safety, so when it’s swimming weather, it all comes naturally, and your child can focus on having fun.
Greater Availability
If you’ve considered putting your child in private lessons, winter is the time for it! Less people participate in winter swim lessons, so swim instructors have a lot more availability to work one-on-one with you or your child to really focus on the skills you need help on and cater each lesson to your needs. This is the perfect time to start with individual swim instruction and ensure your child makes the most out of their time in the water.
Private Vs. Group
The Y offers group swimming lessons for all levels, as well as private lessons for more individualized instruction. Which one should you choose? If your child has difficulty focusing on one task at a time, private lessons can be helpful to give them the one-on-one attention that they need to learn. Private swim instructors can also focus more on the areas that you or your child may struggle with and help you progress at a faster pace.
Group lessons are great for teaching your child swim skills along with other social skills such as patience and listening. They also give your child a chance to socialize with others their age and learning in a group could help your child pick up skills quicker if they are competitive or visual learners. The Y also offers teen and adult winter swim lessons, which are designed to help non-swimmers feel more comfortable in the water. Group adult winter swim lessons can help you to learn how to swim at your own pace while being surrounded by others who are at the same level. Both types of lessons have benefits and each person learns in their own way, which is why the YMCA offers private and group lessons for you to choose from.
Winter in Indy may be the season of cold and snow, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend some time in the water. Make sure to take winter swim lessons so you can feel confident in the pool this Summer.
