St. Patrick's Day Parade in Downtown Houston. Photo by Ed Uthman via Flickr 2.0
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Moon to Mars Spring Break event. Photo courtesy of Space Center Houston.
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Little boy showing his steer. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show Rodeo
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One of the kid-friendly rides at the Rodeo Carnival. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
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Houston has several fun baseball summer camps. Photo courtesy of the Space Cowboys Baseball Camp
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Camp La Junta offers an overnight summer camp in Texas. Photo courtesy of Camp La Junta for Boys
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Photo by Mommy Poppins
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Stay at one of these nearby hotels for the easiest Houston Rodeo experience. Photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
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Little Beakers has three locations near Houston. Photo courtesy of Little Beakers
Affordable and Free Summer Camps In Houston
Two girls enjoying a fun gymnastics summer camp in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Gymnastics Academy
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Firetruck Park in West University. Photo by Jessica Stautberg
Neighborhood Guide: Things To Do in West University and Rice Village with Kids
Children's Museum Houston is free every Thursday evening. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum Houston
Free Museums and Free Museum Days for Kids in Houston
Discovery Green hosts free events like Arte en el Parque, where kids learn Spanish while making art. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green
100 Free Things To Do in Houston with Kids
Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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See animals up close at some of these farms near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Pleasure Pier in Galveston is a top attraction near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
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Stop at Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo for some cool photos on your roadtrip to the Texas Panhandle.
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Baywatch Dolphin Tours are a fun, kid-friendly tour near Houston. Photo courtesy of Visit Galveston
Best Kid-Friendly Tours in Houston
Make dining out with kids more fun at one of Houston's themed restaurants. Photo courtesy of Rock N Roll Sushi
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City Park Skate Park near Houston. Photo courtesy of the Sugarland Texas Govt.
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Urban Air has quite a few trampoline parks near Houston. Photo courtesy of Urban Air Adventure Park
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Batting cage photo courtesy of the Bellaire Bats
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Houston's Walking Stick Brewing Company has plenty of outdoor space. Photo courtesy of the Walking Stick Brewing Company
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Plan a magical quinceañera with these dress shops and venues. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Photo courtesy of Big Air in North Houston
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Houston has many kid-friendly museums, and not all are children's museums. Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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In winter, visit Luminations at the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Photo by Ann Alva Weiding Photography, at bigredmuse.com.
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New to fishing? Try a Galveston fishing boat tour.
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The outdoor pool at the Moody Gardens Hotel, photo courtesy of Visit Galveston.
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One of our favorite petting zoos near Houston. Photo courtesy of Dewberry Farm
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Make it an unforgettable family getaway from Houston by hiking Enchanted Rock. Photo courtesy Passport to Texas.
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Photo courtesy of Schlitterbahn Waterparks
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Photo by author Rebecca Matheson Ortiz for Mommy Poppins.
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John P. McGovern's state-of-the art playground is perfect for both younger and older children. Photo courtesy of Discovery Green.
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MKT has great family-friendly restaurants! Photo courtesy of @mendocinofarms and MKT
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Fishing in Lake Somerville. Photo courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
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There's no shortage of fun baby activities in Houston.
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Your little learner will love the variety of toddler classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
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Treat your kid to one of these Houston spas with services for children. Photo courtesy of Float Baby
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Climb with your kids at one of these indoor rock climbing gyms in Houston. Photo courtesy of Texas Rock Gym
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Bowling is a fun indoor activity to add to your list this summer. Photo courtesy of Palace Social
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Fishing at Sea Center in Freeport, TX. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Photo courtesy of Osprey Cruises
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Round up the girls and head out for a kid-free night in Houston. Photo courtesy of Thirsty Bee Meadery
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Kids love the carousel on Kemah's boardwalk.
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San Antonio has a lot of budget-friendly things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Botanical Garden
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Birdwatching at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, photo courtesy of Houston Audubon
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Photo courtesy of Cypress Academy
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Hero Headquarters is a birthday party entertainment company in Houston. Photo courtesy of Hero Headquarters
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Check out one of these breakfasts in Houston for a casual meal when the kids get up early. Photo courtesy of Snooze
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Free activities like feeding the ducks at Mary Jo Peckham Park are simple and still great fun for kids. Photo courtesy of Canva
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Photo courtesy of Threadfare Children's Boutique
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The Houston Zoo is a great stop for kids, and near other things to do in Houston, too. Photo by Jessica A., courtesy of the zoo
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Families enjoying a night out. Photo courtesy of Paradigm Brewing in Tomball
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Montessori preschools focus on hands-on learning. Photo courtesy of The Woodlands Montessori School
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Levy Park in Houston has one of our favorite playgrounds. Photo courtesy of OJB Landscape Architecture
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Try fishing for the first time in Lake Livingston. Photo courtesy of Lake Livingston State Park, Facebook
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Playgrounds Without Limits photo courtesy of Memorial Park, Facebook
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Take a look at one of these popular toddler dance classes in Houston. Photo courtesy of the Houston Ballet preschool program.
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Baby music classes are a great way to bond and learn. Photo courtesy of Musik Garden
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Photo courtesy of Texas Health Resources
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Photo courtesy of the Children's Museum of Houston
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Birthday party places near Houston include arcades, escape rooms, climbing gyms, and more. Photo courtesy of The Main Event
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There are a variety of fishing lakes near Houston to fish with your kids. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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San Antonio is full of amusement parks, good food, and lots of other things to do with kids. Photo courtesy of the San Antonio Riverwalk
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Calling all space lovers! NASA’s Space Center Houston, photo by Rebecca Matheson Ortiz
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Kids can learn about Robotics at the Houston Space Center. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Ortiz.
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Kids eat Free at Dickey's on Sundays with each adult purchase of $10 or more. Photo courtesy of Dickey's
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The St. Regis in Uptown is one of Houston's best family-friendly resorts.
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Hiking at Garner State Park in the Texas Hill Country. Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife
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Fresh air is one of the best antidotes to a grumpy toddler or baby. Photo courtesy of Bigstock
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Come for the queso, stay for the ice cream at these Tex-Mex restaurants in Houston.
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Explore the 21 miles of trails around the park, of varying lengths and difficulty to suit your family’s needs.
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Photo courtesy of Levy Park, Facebook
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Samuel Sykes, owner of Trill Taco, photo courtesy of Samuel Sykes
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Toddlers can enjoy playing with the foam block structures at Exploration Park. Photo courtesy of Exploration Park
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Swimming Lessons for Kids in Houston: The Best Swimming Classes in Town

Photo courtesy of Wolfies Swim School
Photo courtesy of Wolfies Swim School
8/7/22 - By Rachael Cherry

The Bayou City is known for its scorching summer weather—and that summer lasts for basically 3/4 of the year—so our kids spend a lot of time in the water. Whether it's at the pool, a splash pad, water park, or the ocean, Houston kids need to learn how to swim and execute proper water safety.

There are plenty of places that offer year-round swim lessons or swimming classes that get kids comfortable and confident in the water; we've rounded up ten of the most popular swim schools in the Houston area. And once your kids are swimming safely, be sure to check out our comprehensive camp guide and full directory of camp listings to set up a great summer!

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Photo courtesy of the Houston Swim Club, Pearland
Photo courtesy of the Houston Swim Club, Pearland

Year-Round Swim Schools in the Houston Area

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools

Multiple Houston Locations
Parents can begin enrolling their children in Aqua-Tots swim lessons as early as 4 months of age. Classes focus on driving home the importance of swim safety, and levels of swim instruction start with "Parent & Tot" and proceed up to "Advanced." Each level works on mastering a new skill, such as comfort or independence in the water. Aqua-Tots also offers a recreational Swim Club, competitive Swim Team, and various Specialty Classes. Lessons are 30 minutes long and pricing varies by location.  READ MORE

SafeSplash Swim School

Multiple Houston Locations
The lessons at SafeSplash consist of 12 different levels with each level building on the fundamentals learned in the previous level. Courses start with a 'Parent and Tot' class and progress from there all the way up to a Level 8 Advanced Swimmer. Classes are 30 minutes long, once per week. Tuition is billed monthly. There are also Swim Camps and Swim Team Conditioning courses offered on a seasonal basis, as well as a Special Needs Program. The swim camps are 1-2 weeks and students are grouped by level. READ MORE

Houston Swim Club

Multiple Houston Locations
With Houston Swim Club's curriculum developed by University of Houston head coach and US Olympic coach Phill Hansel, parents can trust that the methods employed are both safe and effective. Other perks include small class sizes, 30-minute lessons and the option to enroll year-round. New students are required to enroll in a two-week session. After completing this course, kids can then enroll in monthly lessons that meet once, twice, or more times per week. Pricing is per class. Parents interested in enrolling children under 2 1/2 years old can sign up for special parent-child classes. READ MORE

YMCA Houston

Multiple Houston Locations
The YMCA offers everything from general gym memberships to fitness classes, swim lessons that include both mom and me classes for 6 months and older and individual and group lessons for ages 3+, sports camps, and more. Options are available for all ages, abilities, and interests. The mission of the YMCA is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.  READ MORE

Goldfish Swim School - Houston

Multiple Houston Locations
Goldfish Swim School offers year-round classes for children ages 4 months and older and caters to all experience levels. The goal is not just to teach children how to swim, but to teach them how to survive in the water. Parents can choose to enroll kids in parent-child swim lessons, lessons by age, Goldfish swim team (ages 5-12 years), or Jump-Start Clinics that introduce the fundamentals of water safety and get kids water-ready in a short amount of time.  READ MORE

Emler Swim School

Multiple Houston Locations
Children as young as two months of age can enroll in parent and tot swim lessons at Emler Swim School. From there, classes progress by age and level, teaching water comfort, water safety, foundational skills, and the different swim strokes. Classes are kept small to ensure each child gets individual attention. Pricing and class schedules vary by location.  READ MORE

Pengu Swim School

Multiple Houston Locations
At Pengu Swim School students can enroll in Swimming Lessons for Babies, Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced Swim Classes to help them learn and refine their swimming skills. There are also swimming clinics and private lessons offered, as well as Swim Academy, a year-round swimming program. READ MORE

Saint Street Swim

River Oaks
Classes are organized by age group and experience level at Saint Street Swim, making it easy to find lessons appropriate for your child. Parents are able to enroll children as young as a 6 months old in mom and me classes, and starting at age 6 kids can begin swim team prep courses. There is a maximum of four students per class, and each instructor works to meet the needs of the individual child. When enrolling, you can choose to attend either once or twice per week, and classes are offered year-round. Lessons are charged by the class.  READ MORE

Gigglin' Marlin Dive & Swim

Midtown
Starting at 6 months old, children can begin swim lessons at Gigglin' Marlin Swim School, getting comfortable being in the water with a parent or caregiver as they learn the basics of swimming and water safety. Kids progress through different levels determined by age and ability. Snorkeling lessons start at age 3 and cover how to put on and take off snorkeling equipment, getting in and out of the water safely, checking for buoyancy, surface swimming, clearing water from the snorkel, and doing surface dives. Scuba programs for kids ages 8 and older cover the ins and outs of scuba diving. READ MORE

Wolfies Swim School

Bellaire & Spring Branch
At Wolfies, children from ages four months and older can enroll in mom and me classes, weekly and everyday swim lessons, swim camps, specialty clinics, and even home lessons. Most lessons are 30 minutes long. New swimmers must commit to two months of sessions. There are also seasonal swim camps offered that also include arts, crafts, science experiments, and more. Camps are offered during Spring Break, Summer Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Holiday Break. Children must be at least 4 years old to attend. READ MORE

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