We did year round swim lessons because I considered it a crucial safety issue. My children did once a week lessons, and it was affordable enough for us to supplement with little kid ballet or soccer. We stuck with community based classes because my goal was exposure, not raising the next famous sports person. It made the classes more affordable. Our Y offers scholarships, if something like that might help you out.

We are just about to start lessons for our almost 4 year old. We can't afford year round lessons either so we won't be doing those.
I do want to try and find ways to get her into the water (indoor pool family days, hotels with pools, etc.) so she stays used to the water but it won't be an every week thing.

Anonymous wrote:My kids go swimming year round but we dont' deal with the affordability issue. I fear stopping swimming might allow fear of water to creep in.

Ditto.

We go to the county pool once a month or so - less of a commitment, but it prevents fear from slipping in. Plus, it's like $15 for us to go, so it's much cheaper than lessons.

If you're worried about them forgetting, I agree that kids pick it up again in the summer super quickly. That said, you could also just take him to the pool once a week over the winter (or whatever works for you) to keep everything fresh. At the last few lessons, observe the drills or games the instructor does, or even just go on youtube for ideas.

Wilson pool in DC is really nice and has a shallow pool for smaller kids. I can't remember the cost of admission, but it's pretty reasonable.

FWIW, we did winter lessons for my oldest when he was little and we all hated it. The pools are often cold and putting on a swimsuit in January isn't fun, even if you're only 4 years old. Also, I don't think weekly lessons advance the ball for kids the way that lessons or swimming several times per week do.

I think it depends somewhat on your kid's temperament. My ODD is not the physically adventurous type and takes awhile to warm up/get comfortable/start participating in new situations. So we've kept swimming a year round thing from the beginning. A different type of kid might be absolutely fine just having lessons in the summers.

We did swim lessons in the summer. We never did swim lessons in the winter and every year they hope right back in the pool. By the end of the summer they are better than at the beginning. What's your goal in year round swim lessons?

Anonymous wrote:Does it have to be the whole winter or nothing? I'm sure there is a 6 week session you could find somewhere. All of the rec centers have swim lessons.

This is a good option. Swim classes are usually once a week.

Your kid will remember how to swim next summer, I promise. You can do it if you want, but if not, it's fine - one week in the pool next June and they will be just fine.

We'll do 6-8 weeks of swim lessons most winters, because we have soccer during the spring and fall and I don't want to overload her. I do think a certain level of swimming competency is important.

If you're definitely doing it in the summer, though, it might be more fun to do something else. We'll probably do basketball this winter.

I hated winter swimming when my kids were younger, they constantly picked up colds

I would do swimming instead of other sports. I find the skill of swimming is more important. Just wait a bit, there may be some certifikid deals out there.

Does it have to be the whole winter or nothing? I'm sure there is a 6 week session you could find somewhere. All of the rec centers have swim lessons.

My kids go swimming year round but we dont' deal with the affordability issue. I fear stopping swimming might allow fear of water to creep in.

My almost 4 year old is in swim class this summer, and he's doing great. Class is 3 x a week with 2 kids in each class at ah outside pool with a neighborhood woman teaching. The classes are wonderful. Class ends in August, and then picks back up in May.

Do you enroll your kid in swim classes over the winter? Just let them pick it back up in the summer? Swim classes here would be 1 time a week over the winter at a swim school in the area - 4 kids per class.

My conflict is that I'd rather he do something else in the winter (soccer/gymnastics/music class) than swimming. We can really afford only 1 activity per season for him.