Hello,

I want my two, who are almost 4 and 6, to take swim lessons this summer. The HRM offers outdoor lessons at numerous beaches. I'm wondering if this is a such good idea for younger kids who would be there for probably over an hour in possibly wet cool windy weather.

I'd love to hear from other parents who have experienced these outdoor classes and find out how they coped with the bad weather days.

Adele

Hi Adele

My son hasn't done those outdoor classes, but these are some ideas I've seen in action from other parents:

- skip days that are particularly cold. The classes are pretty cheap, so hopefully you'd still get your money's worth with skipping a few.
- use those UV swim suits/wetsuits - good protection from wind and cold - a friend of mine swears by these! (they are expensive though)
- have a couple swimsuits at the beach so after swimming is over can change into a new one after drying off if staying to play on the beach
- same with towels - have a couple, so easier for drying off numerous times in nice cozy towel

HTH!

Admin_Mom wrote:

- use those UV swim suits/wetsuits - good protection from wind and cold - a friend of mine swears by these! (they are expensive though)


The swimsuits/wetsuits your friend swears by, are they the neoprene ones? (Which are designed to be warm.) Or are they the nylon sun protection ones?

I'm guessing it's the neoprene ones as you mentioned the price. But I thought I would ask.

BTW the Red Cross website has a tip to put a tight fitting T-shirt on a kid if he/she tends to get cold (in the pool? outside?), but I can't see that helping when the air is cool or when there is a wind. Just because the T-shirt would keep the kid wet after they left the water.


Thanks for all the tips! That really helps.

-Adele

Adele, I'm not sure which ones they are but I'll ask her for you.

Not sure about the t-shirt - maybe it helps while in the water, but needs to be changed once they come out?

I think the idea of outdoor lessons are so nice! I remember seeing the classes at the beach last summer and thinking 'what a clever idea!', lol.

Charmaine

Hi Adele

My friend said not the nylon sun protection ones - she thinks they'd make you feel colder, because you have more wet clothes on you then with just a regular swimsuit. So I guess it's the neoprene ones. She found some at yardsales in the summer, so maybe keep an eye out there! HTH!