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!
2023 Big Blue Holiday Gift Guide for Young Swimmers
Still wondering what to pick out as a gift for the young swimmer in your life this holiday season? Do they love swimming or are you looking for ways to foster a love for swim lessons? If so, check out our handy guide to help you find the perfect gift for swimmers just in time!
Swim Gear
Who wouldn’t want to receive a swimsuit or towel with cool designs or their favorite character on it? By offering your child something they can wear that features a special interest of theirs, they will feel that much more excited about getting ready for swim lessons! You can even add a pair of goggles or a fun swim cap, so your child will feel comfortable practicing swimming and holding their breath underwater. If you have a baby or toddler, choosing a couple swim diapers will also help them feel comfortable during swim lessons and will aid in preventing major accidents in the pool.
Each of these swimming gifts can be found in our pro shop at your local Big Blue Swim School for convenient shopping!
Reusable Water Bottle
Unique water bottles aren’t just for adults! Like swimwear, a fun water bottle can help your child look forward to lessons as well as to encourage them to stay hydrated. These 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. Plus, there are countless pattern and TV character options!
Swim Bag
Speaking of swim bags, this gift can be exciting, too, and is 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!
Bath 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, yet educational swim toys into our program, so your child will love showing off at home some of the skills they learned during Big Blue swim lessons. We love these silicone toys, because they are the ideal size for little hands and are dishwasher safe to prevent mold, keeping your kiddo healthy.
Reading and Coloring Books
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 to not 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 harness their love for water with this paperback edition, featuring swimming pools, waterslides, and lazy river mazes.
Swimming
Inspire BIG moments this holiday season, 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 – perfect timing for upcoming vacations.
We love experiences, like family friendly water parks, too! Most water parks offer gift certificates that can easily be added as an excellent stocking stuffer. Make sure you read our water park safety guide, so your entire family can feel prepared as you embark on your post-holiday adventures!
Swim Lesson Essentials
Some of the most frequent questions we get are about what to pack for swim lessons. We get it! It can be overwhelming to a first-time swim lesson parent to think about the gear that your child might need and what you might forget.
We’ve rounded up our top recommendations. While there may be a few variations based on age – yes, we mean swim diapers for the youngest set! – we took all those common questions and paired it with advice from veteran parents on what they bring.
Swim Bag
A dedicated swim bag ensures everything you need for your weekly lesson is in one convenient spot. Many of our families like to use a wet/dry bag with a compartment ideal for wet suits. If your bag isn’t waterproof, grab a plastic bag from our changing area to hold wet swim suits and towels after the lesson.
Swimsuits
Choose a suit that fits snug and properly. It shouldn’t slide down on any part of your child’s body. To maximize use in all swim scenarios, we recommend a suit in bright and contrasting colors for increased safety in all swimming environments. Neon colors – orange, yellow and lime green – provided the most visibility in open water according to tests by ALIVE Solutions Inc.
Swim diapers
An absolute mandatory! Swim diapers are required for any child who is not yet potty trained. A pool has to close for as much as 24 hours if fecal matter spills into a pool. To prevent that, we require a snug fitting non-disposable swim diaper and/or rubber pants over a swim diaper every time a non-potty trained child is in the pool. Please note the double protection! Children will not be allowed in the pool without both. You can view our full swim diaper policy here. If you forget swim diapers, we have them for sale at the pro-shop. For post-swim, be sure to pack normal diapers and wipes.
Goggles
Our youngest swimmers may not be ready for goggles, and some elementary age swimmers can’t imagine getting in the pool without them! Goggles can encourage good technique, and we recommend them for kids ages 3+ when they reach our Bright Blue level. One tip is to ensure good fit, with goggles securely sealing around the swimmer’s eyes. If the goggles leave marks, they’re too tight.
Swim Cap (optional)
A swim cap can be especially useful for swimmers with longer hair to keep hair out of eyes and prevent tangles and post-swim brushing battles. Swim caps can also help keep goggles on. At Big Blue, swim caps are always optional but suggested for children whose hair covers their ears. If your child doesn’t want to wear a swim cap, that’s fine too!
Towel and a Change of Clothes
Drying off with a larger beach size towel or hooded towel can provide some extra cozy if there’s room in your bag. Each facility has individual changing rooms so your child can change in privacy before or after their lessons. If they come in a suit, be sure to pack a change of clothes for post-pool.
Post-Swim Snack and Water Bottle
While not an actual essential, most kids would agree that a snack is always a good idea. It can be especially useful after Big Blue swim lessons. Kids swim more during their lessons with us and will work up that appetite!
Shower Stuff
Every Big Blue has showers on the pool decks with soap dispensers. Prefer your own products? You can pack some travel size shampoos and body washes. A small container of detangler for hair and skin lotion are also great adds. Wet brushes, designed to be used on wet hair are popular for easier brushing.
Water-Friendly Footwear
Your child won’t need flip flops or water shoes since all our facilities include fall-proof, anti-microbial carpet. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t want cute swim lesson shoes.
Ear and Nose Plugs
We work with swimmers of all ages to learn to totally submerge their whole head in the water. Our techniques work well for the vast majority of swimmers. You know your kid best. If they have health concerns or sensory sensitivities that make swim lessons more successful with nose and ear plugs, please bring them! We want our swimmers to feel confident and comfortable.
We hope you found these suggestions useful. Swimsuits, and swim diapers, are essential but sometimes the decision on other items comes down to swimmer preference and what makes getting out your door easier.
One last tip! Remember, every Big Blue Swim School includes a comfortable, wifi-equipped viewing lounge for parents and caregivers. You may want to pack a book or tablet, but that’s just for you!
