Nearly three out of four kids in Chicago had no swimming lessons in the summer of 2022, with significant racial and ethnic differences, according to a parent survey from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago published in Pediatrics . Black and Hispanic/Latine kids were disproportionately affected (85% and 82%, respectively), compared to white kids (64%).
The most common reasons for not getting swimming lessons also differed among racial and ethnic groups. Parents of white kids reported they already knew how to swim, however Black and Hispanic/Latine parents reported being not comfortable with swimming themselves as a reason their kids did not take swimming lessons. All groups cited cost as a barrier to swimming lessons.
Racial and ethnic differences in learning to swim have been documented among adults. According to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released in May 2024, two out of three Black adults (63%) and three out of four Hispanic/Latine adults (72%) never had a swimming lesson, compared to less than half of white adults (48%). The CDC report stresses the importance of accessible basic swimming and water safety skills training, a proven and effective way to prevent drowning.
Tragically, 40 people drowned in Lake Michigan this summer, including adults and children. "It is important to recognize that over the pandemic, a group of kids missed out on learning to swim, which typically occurs when kids are pre-school and early.