The Ultimate Gift Guide for Young Swimmers (by Age & Skill Level)
Year-Round Ideas for Birthdays, Holidays, and Milestones
Wondering what to pick out as a gift for the young swimmer in your life? Choosing swim-related gifts can add fun to water exploration and encourage safe swimming practices. No matter the age, skill level, or occasion, Big Blue Swim School can help you find a great gift for your swimmer.
Use the handy guide below for some of the best swimmer gift ideas! Explore options for swim toys, gear, and tech to help you find the perfect swimmer gifts just in time for their next birthday, holiday, swim skill mastery, or end-of-school-year treat!
Gifts for Toddlers & Preschool Swimmers (Ages 1–4)
Did you know the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children begin learning how to swim by no later than age four? For infant, toddler, and preschool swimmers, becoming comfortable and safe around all water sources is a priority. Choose swimmer gifts that encourage fun, safety, and familiarity with water.
Swimwear & Accessories
Who wouldn’t want to receive a swimsuit or towel with a cool design or their favorite character on it? By offering your child something they can wear that features a special interest of theirs, you’ll make them feel that much more excited about getting ready for swim lessons and drying off afterwards!
Look for swimwear and accessories that are both cute and practical. As you shop, try to follow the recommendations from water safety experts, such as Alive-Solutions. Avoid suits with extra embellishments or complicated straps and accessories.
If you have a baby or toddler, choosing a couple of swim diapers will also help them feel comfortable during swim lessons and help prevent major accidents in the pool.
Choose:
- Brightly colored, UV-protective suits
- Cute rash guards
- Swim diapers and diaper covers
Beginner Swim Gear
You can add a pair of goggles or a fun swim cap so your child will feel comfortable practicing swimming and holding their breath underwater.
Flotation gear is also an area to look at closely. There are many great options that can add to the fun of water time, but it’s also important to choose a life vest approved by the US Coast Guard.
Helpful swim gear includes:
- Soft goggles
- Swim caps
- Water shoes
- Flotation vests
You can find most of these swimming gifts in our pro shop at your local Big Blue for convenient shopping!
Swim Toys
To help your child develop into a strong, confident swimmer, bath toys can be a fantastic option for practice time outside of the pool. We often incorporate fun and educational swim toys into our swim lessons, so your child will love showing off some of the skills they learned at home.
Look for:
- Floating animals
- Stacking cups for filling and pouring
- Interactive bath toys
We love these silicone toys because they are the ideal size for little hands and are dishwasher safe, helping prevent mold and bacteria growth and keeping your kiddo healthy.
Books About Swimming
Books centered around swimming don’t have to be boring! If you have a baby, get a head start on tactile learning with this creative bath book, which includes a vibrant collection of ocean creatures. If your child is a little older and feels apprehensive about swim lessons, help them learn not to give up with this inspiring and colorful children’s book.
No gift set is complete without a relaxing coloring book, though! Enhance your child’s creativity and encourage their love for water with this paperback edition, featuring swimming pools, waterslides, and lazy river mazes.
The great thing about books is their adaptability as your child grows. There are book options for every age that will help encourage their love of swimming.
Toddlers enjoy:
- Board books introducing water safety or pool time
- Sensory and interactive books with different textures, lift flaps, and sounds
- Picture books
- Coloring books
Swim-Themed Toys
Even when children are out of the water, you can encourage water safety and fun with swim-themed toys.
Choose items like:
- Stuffed animals in swim gear
- Toy pools for their dolls and action figures
- Magnetic fishing games and water-themed mazes
- Water tables
Gifts for Early Elementary Swimmers (Ages 5–7)
This is a particularly fun age for young swimmers—their skills are expanding, and their growing water confidence enables them to safely explore their environment in various ways. Celebrate a skill-level advancement, a trip to the water park, or any other special occasion with a swimmer gift that helps build their confidence and love of the water.
Fun Goggles
No matter your age, eye irritation is no fun. As your child becomes more accustomed to the water and getting their face wet, it’s great to consider fun, comfortable, and unique goggles.
You can readily find:
- Animal shapes
- Favorite characters and colors
- Anti-fog lenses
Swim Bags
Swim bags can be an exciting gift, too—and they’re not just for parents! Water-resistant, easy-to-clean bags are pool-friendly and perfect for your child to pack full of all their swim essentials. Many swim bags, like this convenient pouch or durable tote, can store more than just swim gear and post-lesson comfy clothes. Grab them for family trips to sports practices or games, the beach, parties, or playdates!
Look for options like:
- Personalization
- Popular themes
- Drawstring bags or child-size backpacks
Towels & Robes
Hooded towels and robes featuring their favorite animals, books, or TV characters are also a fun idea. You can also choose from water-themed designs like fish, sharks, dolphins, turtles, or mermaids. Look for plush and warm options to increase both the fun and practicality!
Reusable Water Bottles
Unique water bottles aren’t just for adults! Like swimwear, a fun water bottle can help your child look forward to lessons and encourage them to stay hydrated.
Reusable, leak-proof water bottles are a great choice to throw in your family’s swim bag and place in the dishwasher once you return home. You can even stuff them with flavored electrolyte drink powders to add to the fun. Plus, there are countless patterns and character options!
Interactive Water Toys
Encourage skill development and exercise with toys designed for pool time:
- Dive rings or sticks (you can even try glow sticks!)
- Torpedoes
- Catch-and-release toys
- Balls and floating hoops
- Pool noodles
Gifts for Intermediate Swimmers (Ages 8–11)
An intermediate swimmer is working on gaining water independence and perfecting their swim skills and techniques. They may be working toward specific goals or just enjoying the unique experiences that come with time in the water.
Swim Gear
Expand the fun and build new skills with additional swim gear:
- Quick-dry, fade-resistant swimsuits
- Kickboards
- Swim fins and fin socks
- Training snorkels
- Waterproof watches or lap counters
- Customized swim caps
- Swimmer’s shampoo and conditioner
Swimmer Journals
Swim journals are great for young swimmers with goals and aspirations. They’re an especially good gift for a competitive swimmer. If your swimmer is focused on improving their skills and reaching for greater heights in and out of the water, choose a gift that encourages tracking their goals, lessons, and milestones with plenty of space for entries and fun pens and stickers!
Swim-Themed Apparel
Provide your youngster with comfortable and attractive aquatic-themed apparel and accessories so that they can take their love of the water with them on every adventure.
Shop for items like:
- Graphic tees
- Hoodies
- PJs
- Flip-flops and water shoes
- Ball caps and sun hats
- Earrings and hair accessories
- Backpacks and purses
Gifts for Preteens & Teens (Ages 12+)
The preteen and teen years are all about self-expression, honing talents, and finding their community. Support their growth as an individual with swimmer gifts for the more advanced water lover.
High-Quality Swim Goggles
High-quality swim goggles are a gift competitive swimmers love. Size and fit matter; you also want to ensure they have anti-fog lenses designed for racing or your swimmer’s favorite water activity, such as water polo.
Tech Gifts
You can’t go wrong with indulging your teenager’s love of tech.
Great choices include:
- Waterproof headphones and speakers
- Smartwatches with swim trackers
- Smart/augmented reality swim goggles
- Stopwatches and timers
- Waterproof phone cases
- Theragun or muscle massager
Hydration Gear
Swimmers may forget to hydrate as often as they should, so go for an insulated, reusable bottle in a favorite style or personalized with a motivational message.
Swim Team Apparel
Support your swimmer’s hopes and dreams with branded towels, caps, swim parkas, wet suits, and more.
Decor
Let your swimmer decorate their space with the things that inspire them.
Consider:
- Shadow and medal boxes
- Trophy shelf
- Posters and wall art
- Bedding
Books
Books are a universal choice for swimmers of all ages. For this age range, you’ll be able to find books on almost any swimming topic, including:
- Inspiration and motivational
- Famous athletes
- Swimming records
- Technique and training support
- Nutrition and exercise for swimmers
- Craft and DIY
- Fiction
- Journals
- Puzzles and games
Gifts That Keep on Giving
If you want a gift that keeps on giving, keep their love of swimming alive with these options.
Big Blue Swim School Gift Cards
Inspire BIG moments with a Big Blue Swim School gift card! If your child has been wanting to try swim lessons, or you know a family thinking about signing up, help them dip a toe in the water by giving them a gift card for any pool location of their choice.
Family Pool Memberships or Water Park Passes
We love experiences, like family-friendly water parks, too! Most water parks offer gift certificates, which can make an excellent gift. Make sure you read our water park safety guide so your entire family can feel prepared as you embark on your adventures!
Swim Subscription Boxes
Did you know you can have specialized swimmer gift boxes and subscriptions delivered to your swimmer?
Options include:
And so much more!
How to Choose the Right Gift for Your Swimmer
Are you ready to find the perfect gift for your swimmer? Keep their age, swimming skill level, and personality in mind, then let your imagination help you find a gift that balances fun and functionality for a positive experience in and out of the water.
Treat Your Swimmer to the Perfect Gift
No matter the occasion, there’s a perfect swim gift out there. Add this guide to your favorites and share it with family and friends for creative and practical ideas on how to treat your swimmer to the perfect gift!
Still not sure? Talk to your Big Blue Swim School instructor for personalized swimmer gift ideas. And if you haven’t signed your child up for swimming lessons yet, book a free trial today!
10 Reasons to Give the Gift of Swim Lessons This Holiday Season
While gift giving can be stressful this time of year, there are ways to think creatively to ensure gifts are fun for kids while also being easy to give! The gift of swim lessons is one that your kids can experience and enjoy through the holiday season and beyond, and one that will give them skills to be safer and stronger swimmers for life. Here are 10 reasons to give your kids the gift of swim lessons at Big Blue Swim School this holiday season.
1. Swim lessons are a safe and comfortable year-round activity for kids and families alike: As the weather gets colder, kids need indoor activities to keep them busy and active throughout the winter months. Big Blue’s warm and spacious indoor facility is a safe and comfortable space for kids to be active year-round, with 90-degree, ultra-clean pool water, an HVAC system that brings fresh air from outside to the pool deck every 10 minutes for our swimmers, and a spacious viewing area for parents to relax or get work done.
2. Swimming keeps kids physically active and healthy: Swimming is one of the safest and best cardiovascular activities for kids. It’s a low impact activity that promotes long-term heart and lung health. Kids build muscular strength and endurance with continuous weekly swim lessons.
3. Swimming promotes brain development: Swimming supports social, emotional, cognitive, language, and fine motor skill development, according to a study by the Griffith Institute for Educational Research. It helps with the mind / body connection as it requires an immense amount of focus and physical coordination. Additionally, when kids swim, their brains release endorphins, which helps boost their moods. Finally, swimming gives kids a place to develop relationships and social skills as they listen, learn and play in the water with others.
4. Learning to swim gives kids confidence as they learn new skills: At Big Blue, we celebrate every accomplishment kids achieve in the water, whether a new skill or overcoming a fear. We call these Big Moments, because we know they will last a lifetime. We provide kids with a safe place to feel confident, secure, and proud of themselves with every bit of progress they make in the water.
5. Swimming helps kids build resilience as they work to overcome fears and challenges: Every day at Big Blue, our Swim Associates help kids learn new swimming skills and are right by their sides as they reach new milestones. But every swimmer has to overcome an obstacle or two before achieving those Big Moments. Swim lessons build confidence and teach kids resilience by challenging them to push beyond their limits, to try and try again, and to trust their own abilities.
6. Preparing for safe summer swimming happens in the winter: As a parent, you may already know these staggering statistics: drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second-leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14 in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control. The good news is we know that swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%! In order to be ready for safe summer swimming, kids need to start learning to swim in the winter months. This gives them time to get comfortable in the water, learn new skills, and build endurance needed to be strong swimmers.
7. Swimming is beneficial to other activities: There are so many benefits of swimming, including cross-training for other kids activities. Swimming pairs well with many other sports and activities because it builds aerobic endurance and muscular strength, is a low-impact activity that can actually help when injuries are present, and requires a lot of mental strength, which helps kids clear their heads and focus on what’s in front of them.
8. Swim lessons give kids a routine and something to look forward to each week: It is so important for kids to have a routine, particularly when so much of the world around them is changing. The consistency of weekly swim lessons with our friendly staff in our warm and welcoming environment is both an activity and a destination that kids can look forward to each week.
9. Increases confidence
Confidence is a characteristic that can help kids in school, sports and throughout life. Swimming helps children gain confidence because they can see and feel themselves advancing in the sport. Kids may begin swim lessons feeling nervous about the experience, but they quickly learn to kick and stroke.
Swimming challenges kids and helps them overcome their fears. It teaches them that they can set goals and achieve them through hard work and discipline.
10. Our schedule is open and ready for your family! New customers can visit our website to register for weekly swim lessons or a free trial lesson (at select pools only). Splash into the holiday season with a gift that keeps on giving.
Big Blue’s Holiday Gift Guide
Check out our list for the top experience gifts this season.
Studies have shown why people, especially kids, should get experience gifts – money spent on “doing” tends to provide more enduring happiness than money spent on “having.” We have put together a list of some top non-toy gift ideas for you!
Memberships
Big Blue Swim School
Of course we think swim lessons at Big Blue Swim School make the best gift! Kids get to learn a new skill, stay active and have fun – what can be better? Sign up HERE!
Brookfield Zoo
From hands on experiences to and events trhoughout the year, Brookfield Zoo offers something for all ages. Click HERE for membership options.
Classes
Music classes
Mr. Dave’s Music has a variety of classes and events from yoga to music and even a baby rave. This is a great gift for those little music lovers in your life! Click HERE for a schedule of Mr. Dave’s classes.
Ultimate Ninja
With 3 locations in Illinios, Ultimate Ninjas is quickly growing because they understand how important it is for boys and girls to gain self–confidence and build self–esteem. They have designed courses for all ages and abilities. Click HERE to find out more.
Art classes
With many locations in the Chicagoland area, Young Rembrandants Children is a gift option for kids as young as 3! Kids who learn to draw using the Young Rembrandts method develop spatial reasoning and fine motor skills, order and sequencing abilities, visualization, and self-discipline as well as fundamental art skills. Click HERE to find a location near you.
Events
Concerts and Theater
Chicago has a great reputation for theater and music. With over 200 theaters, venues and companies there is something for everyone on your list. Click HERE for family theater and shows calendar.
Sporting Event
Chicago offers just about every sport from collegiate to professional and everything in between. Chicago has many championship teams, take a look at the Chicagoland sporting event schedule HERE!
Fun Family Outings
Brooklyn Boulders
Do you have kids who just love to climb? This is a great indoor facility and with youth and adult programs there is fun for everyone! Click HERE for hours and pricing.
iFly
How about sky diving- without having to jump out of a plane? Kids as young as 3 can fly! Click HERE to book your flight now!
GIT Mom Approves of Big Blue!
It’s the holiday season which means it’s shopping frenzy season! I love to shop and am always on the look out for the next best thing, especially for us mammas. Thanksgiving and Black Friday are the biggest online sales periods of the year, but before you get swiping, check out some of my top recommended gifts for mammas and their crew, ranging from products to the ultimate experiences:
Read GIT Mom’s list here: