As the spring days grow longer and the weather warms, thoughts of summer will start to swirl, bringing pool days and time spent around the water back into focus. Making sure your little ones are ready is important.

While swim lessons are often seen as a summer activity, spring is actually one of the most pivotal and often overlooked times for young children to start or rediscover swim lessons.

We sat down with our Aquatics Supervisor, Robert May, to talk about why beginning swim lessons in spring helps even the youngest of swimmers build confidence, comfort, and skills before summer fun begins.

Q. Why is spring an ideal time for young children to begin swim lessons?
Robert: “Spring is an ideal time to begin swim lessons because it gives young swimmers a valuable head start before the busy summer season arrives. Starting early allows beginners to build essential water‑safety skills at a comfortable, natural pace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1–4, which highlights how important early water safety skills are. With decades of experience serving families in our community and hundreds of swimmers taught each year, we’ve seen firsthand how spring starters tend to feel more confident and prepared. By establishing those skills in advance, children (and parents alike) head into summer feeling confident, prepared, and ready to enjoy the water safely.”

Q. What do swim lessons look like for young or first-time swimmers?
Robert: “Gurnee Park District’s Swim School strives to help swimmers feel comfortable and confident in the water while gently introducing foundational water‑safety skills through a proven, age-appropriate curriculum developed over years of instruction. Our Level One classes in both the “Little Swimmers” and “Learn to Swim” programs are designed to ease young swimmers into the learning process with developmentally appropriate steps. For our Little Swimmers, simple skills like blowing bubbles gradually lead to confidently submerging their heads underwater. Similarly, practicing front “ice cream scoop” motions on the wall builds the coordination needed for forward arm movement with the stroke bar for our Learn to Swim levels, setting students up for success as they progress.”

Q. How does learning in spring reduce stress for kids once summer arrives?
Robert: “Because spring flows right into summer, the skills children learn during this season stay fresh in their minds, making the transition into more frequent water time much easier and less stressful. Even if a child has taken lessons before, spring reinforces those essential water‑safety habits at just the right moment. For many of our campers, spring lessons also help them feel more prepared and confident for their summer camp swim assessments. Our instructors and even our Lifeguards at the Aquatic Center love seeing those little “aha” moments when swimmers/campers remember something from class and proudly use it on their own. Starting in spring gives children the confidence to enjoy the water safely, which is exactly what our program is designed to support.”

Q. How do swim lessons support a child’s confidence and independence?
Robert: “Swim lessons help build a child’s confidence and independence by giving them the chance to master new skills in a supportive and encouraging environment. As they progress, whether it’s putting their face in the water for the first time or completing a full stroke, they begin to recognize their own abilities and take pride in what they can do. And with small class sizes, our seasoned instructors are able to efficiently guide each step with patience and positive reinforcement, allowing students to feel safe while exploring their growing capabilities. Over time, these small victories add up, helping children move through the water with confidence and a sense of independence that extends far beyond the pool.”

Q. What skills should parents hope their child has before summer begins?
Robert: “Before summer begins, parents should hope their child has a strong foundation of basic water‑safety skills that help them feel comfortable and secure around the water. Skills like being able to safely enter and exit the pool, practicing controlled breathing, and feeling confident with supported floating can make a big difference once summertime swimming becomes more frequent. It’s also helpful for children to recognize simple safety rules, such as always waiting for an adult before getting in the water, so they develop safe habits early on. When children have these fundamentals in place, they’re better prepared to enjoy summer activities with confidence and awareness.”

Q. What’s one thing you wish more families knew about swim lessons?
Robert: “One thing I wish more families knew about swim lessons is how much confidence children gain simply by being in the water consistently. Even small steps, like remembering a skill from the previous week or trying something new with a little more bravery, build momentum that truly adds up over time. With thousands of successful swimmers graduating from our program over the years, we’ve seen how lessons create lasting comfort and safety around water. When families see how those moments of growth stack together, they realize swim lessons aren’t just an activity, they’re an investment in their child’s comfort, safety, and long-term confidence around the water.”

Make sure your child is ready for summer – enroll in our spring swim lessons sessions today!

Plan on fun and unlimited swims all summer long by purchasing your Hunt Club Park Aquatic Pool Passes today!