Ideas for practicing swim skills on the go

This blog post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Our little family travels often. Although traveling with kids can be stressful and yours truly can never seem to pack light, we’re always up for a grand adventure. The downside to traveling so much is that we’re sometimes missing out on things happening back at home. One of the things that we love about the place where Liam takes swim lessons, Goldfish Swim School, is the ability to reschedule. But with each skipped lesson means a longer time before the next one. That’s why Jamie and I try to create opportunities for Liam to practice his swim skills when we’re on the go too. And it’s easier to do than you might think:

1. Book a hotel with a pool.
This one is easy. Many hotels have indoor pools and they’re open in the evenings and early in the mornings if you’re trying to work around travel. We’ve prioritized pool time after a long day on the road before bedtime and also before breakfast and packing up. It’s a great way for kids to get some energy out and it’s also the perfect opportunity to practice what they’ve been learning during swim lessons. Although it’s easy to see online whether a hotel has a pool or not, I always recommend calling ahead to ask if it’s open. Occasionally hotels will close a pool for maintenance or a similar reason and it’s never fun when you arrive expecting to have pool time and then finding out that it’s closed. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Harrisburg West/Mechanicsburg when we traveled to Hershey, PA, a couple weeks ago and we had the pool all to ourselves.

2. Find a community center or gym with a pool.
If a hotel pool isn’t available or if you’re staying with friends and family, you’re likely to find a local community center or gym with a pool. Most of these places have a day rate so that you can visit without being a member. Also be sure to ask if they have a discount on the day rate (or free passes) for first-time visitors.

3. Don’t forget the bathtub. 
Even without a pool, you can still practice swim skills on the go. Liam can practice floating on his front and back, as well as holding his breath under water. You don’t need to be able to splash about in order to reinforce some of the things your child is learning at swim lessons.

What are some of the ways you like to help your child practice swim skills when you’re away from home?

—
If you’re a member at Goldfish Swim School, make sure you check out their holiday gift baskets! The gift baskets, which cost $210, include family credit at Goldfish (the gift of water safety!) and an array of free family experiences and goodies from local businesses, including:

This post is part of our partnership with Goldfish Swim School. All opinions are completely my own.