This post is sponsored by Big Blue Swim School. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you’ve been here long enough, you know that I started Miri in swim lessons when she was only 6 months old. Then, it was really just for fun and to get her comfortable in the water, but as she got older, it became much more than that. I’ve loved the water my entire life, and I want nothing more than to give that love over to my children, but without the proper safety and lessons, swimming can be dangerous. And as a mother, my number one instinct and goal is to keep my children safe. And that starts with lessons.
We’ve tried a few different swim schools in the Chicagoland area, and we’ve finally found the place where we feel safest and most comfortable, and that is Big Blue Swim School! They have several locations, but we go to the one in Niles, IL. I can’t say enough good things. I can confidently say that Big Blue is simply the best, because I’ve experienced a few.
What makes the big blue difference?
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Their employees are full time staff members.
- That means, you know exactly who your child’s teacher will be every single week. And if your child’s teacher is going to miss a day, they let you know. At other places, we found that the main teacher wasn’t at class at random times, and it really affected my kids. Miri takes a while to get comfortable (especially in such a life-trusting setting as learning how to swim), so it would be a total waste of a lesson without her main teacher. At Big Blue, you can really count on your child’s teacher to show up every week.
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It is SO INSANELY CLEAN.
- They truly go above and beyond to make sure that everything is up to the highest of clean and safety standards always, but especially during this time. Temperature checks, 1:1 lessons, frequent cleaning and disinfecting and they have a special system in the pool area that filters the air and pool to the highest of level of sanitization. I feel safe going, and you can’t ask for more than that.
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You’re not just a number at Big Blue.
- The staff go above and beyond to keep the parents informed of their child’s progress both in person during lessons and via the Big Blue App, which is a great plus also. They’re so friendly and genuinely take an interest in our family. Even the “on-deck” staff know Miri by name. They’re constantly watching and evaluating your child’s progress. They cheer them on, make them feel totally comfortable and confident in the water, all while having fun.
So yeah, can you tell we like it there? In the 6 months since we’ve switched to Big Blue, I’ve seen Miri’s stamina and confidence in the water grow exponentially. She also looks forward to every lesson and talks about her teacher all week long. I’ve seen her progress so much, and it is not only a joy, but a peace of mind that I know my child is a confident and safe swimmer.
But Alyssa, it’s winter. We’ll just wait until summer.
But guys, if you wait until Summer to start swim lessons, then your child will just be getting the hang of it in the height of pool and water season. So winter is really the perfect time to start swim lessons. Not only because your child will be prepared for swim season, but it’s also a great activity to blow off energy in those long winter months.
Every child is different, so ultimately, a parent can gauge if their child is ready for swim lessons or not. To me, the earlier the better. But my two kids are also very different. And my son was not quite ready for swimming as early as my daughter. So I plan to get him to try lessons again in Winter 2021. Again, know your children. But I truly believe that giving the gift of swim lessons to your child is one of the greatest life skills you can give them.
So will we see you at Big Blue this winter? Sign up for lessons now, and get a discount through my link. It’s the perfect gift to give your child, grandchild or YOURSELF. There are few things in our control at this time, but your child’s water safety skills are one of them.
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