Haze Season and Kids' Swim Lessons: When to Go and When to Skip
By Coach Tan Meng Chew (MC), SG Sink or Swim
It is 3 pm. The sky looks a little hazy, your phone shows a PSI number you do not quite know how to read, and your child's swim lesson starts in ninety minutes. The bag is half packed. Do you go, or do you message the coach and stay home?
Every haze season, I see parents stuck on exactly this decision. Some skip lessons at the first sign of grey sky and then worry their child is falling behind. Others push on regardless because "it's only a bit of haze" and then wonder why their child is coughing in the car on the way home. Neither extreme is ideal.
I'm Coach Tan Meng Chew, known to most people as MC. I run SG Sink or Swim, a swimming school and coaching brand serving the west side of Singapore, and I teach children from the Nursery and Baby & Toddler levels through to SwimSafer Stage 6. This article is a practical guide to that exact decision: when your child should go to swim lessons during haze, when it is better to skip, and what the middle ground looks like.
A quick note before we start. I am a swim coach, not a doctor. I will lean on official Singapore guidance wherever I can, tell you clearly where that guidance goes quiet, and point you to a doctor for any medical question about your own child.
Why kids deserve extra thought during haze
Children are not simply small adults when it comes to air quality, and Singapore's official guidance reflects that.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) activity guidelines for haze group people into three categories: healthy persons; elderly, pregnant women and children; and people with chronic lung or heart disease. At each step up in the 24-hour PSI, children sit in a more cautious category than healthy adults. For example, in the "Unhealthy" band (24-hour PSI 101 to 200), healthy adults are advised to reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion, while children are advised to minimise it. In the "Very unhealthy" band (201 to 300), healthy adults should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion, while children should minimise outdoor activity altogether. (The text of the NEA file I read came out jumbled when extracted, so I have mapped its table by order. Please check it against the NEA's haze website, haze.gov.sg, before relying on it.)
The Ministry of Health's haze advisory page says the health impact depends on health status, the PSI level, and how long and how intensely a person is active outdoors. It names children, the elderly and people with chronic heart or lung conditions as groups to watch, and says anyone who is unwell should seek medical attention. HealthHub adds that in healthy people, short-term haze exposure usually causes irritation of the eyes, nose and throat that "resolves on its own in most cases," and that effects can lag exposure by one to three days.
Swimming also happens to be an activity in which children breathe hard, often through the mouth, for a sustained period. That is not a reason to panic. It is simply a reason to pay attention to the air.
The three-way decision: go, adjust or skip
Most parents treat the haze question as a yes-or-no choice. In my experience, it works better as a three-way decision:
Go as normal. Conditions are fine and the venue is operating normally.
Go, but adjust. Conditions are borderline. The lesson happens, with lower intensity and extra attention to how your child is breathing.
Skip and reschedule. Conditions are poor, the venue has closed or suspended activities, or your child is unwell.
The rest of this article helps you work out which of the three applies on any given day.
Step 1: Read the numbers, but know what they are for
You will see two kinds of readings on the official haze channels, and they serve different purposes.
The 24-hour PSI is the headline number. According to HealthHub and Sport Singapore, it is used primarily for planning, and it determines which activity advice and facility measures apply.
The 1-hour PM2.5 reading is supplementary information for immediate decisions, such as whether to do something right now. Sport Singapore's haze plan says it cannot override facility advisories based on the 24-hour PSI, and notes that short spikes may improve within one to two hours.
So the practical routine is: look at the 24-hour PSI to understand the overall picture for the day, and look at the latest 1-hour PM2.5 reading shortly before you leave to see whether conditions are changing.
Here is how I translate the PSI bands into plain language for parents. The bands themselves come from the official guidelines. The "what I would do" column is my own coaching judgement, not an official rule.
24-hour PSI | Official band | Official advice for children | What I would typically do for a kids' lesson |
0 to 50 | Good | Normal activities | Go as normal |
51 to 100 | Moderate | Normal activities | Go as normal; watch any child with known breathing sensitivities |
101 to 200 | Unhealthy | Minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion | Check the venue; if the lesson goes ahead, keep it gentle and short; skip if the child is unwell, asthmatic and unsettled, or the pool is outdoors and conditions feel poor |
201 to 300 | Very unhealthy | Minimise outdoor activity | Skip outdoor lessons; only consider an air-conditioned indoor venue if it is operating and your doctor is comfortable |
Above 300 | Hazardous | Avoid outdoor activity | Skip |
For children with chronic lung or heart conditions, including asthma, the official advice is more cautious at every band, so please follow your child's doctor's advice over any general table.
Step 2: Find out what your venue is doing
This is the step many parents forget, and it often settles the question for you.
Sport Singapore says all ActiveSG sports facilities adjust operating hours and programmes during haze. Its Haze Management Plan (April 2026) sets out phases by 24-hour PSI:
0 to 50: facilities open, activities proceed.
51 to 100: facilities open, with haze advisories displayed, at-risk staff monitored, N95 masks stocked and ventilation maintained.
101 to 200: outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities operate with conditions; organisers must do a risk assessment before continuing activities, and anyone feeling unwell must stop and seek medical attention.
201 to 300: outdoor and non-air-conditioned facilities close and activities there are suspended; air-conditioned facilities may operate with risk management measures.
Above 300: all facilities close and organised activities are suspended.
I want to be honest about a limitation. When I read that plan, it did not say how swimming pools are classified, and it did not mention swimming lessons specifically. So I cannot tell you from the document whether a particular pool counts as outdoor or air-conditioned for these purposes. Please check the venue's own notices on the day, or ask the operator directly. If a pool is closed, that decision comes before anything else in this article, and your lesson is off.
For lessons at other venues, such as condominium pools or private facilities, there may be no published haze plan at all. In that case, ask the pool management or your coach what their haze policy is, and use the official PSI guidance as your guide.
Step 3: Think about the pool itself
Official guidance talks about outdoor exertion, so the type of pool matters when you are thinking through the decision. Here is how I think about it, with the caveat that I am describing general reasoning, not an official classification.
Fully outdoor pools. Your child is breathing outdoor air for the entire lesson, usually with strong effort. This is the situation that official outdoor-exertion guidance most clearly applies to. On borderline or worse days, it is the type of venue where I am most cautious.
Covered or semi-covered pools. Roofs help with sun and rain, but not necessarily with air quality, because many such pools are open on the sides. I would treat them as closer to outdoor for haze purposes unless the venue says otherwise.
Enclosed or air-conditioned indoor pools. These may offer a different air environment, and Sport Singapore's plan treats air-conditioned facilities more leniently than outdoor ones. But I would not assume that "indoor" means "haze-proof." Ventilation and building design vary. Again, the venue's advisory is your best guide.
None of this replaces your doctor's advice for a child who has asthma or another breathing-related condition.
Step 4: Look at your own child, not just the PSI
The best haze decision-maker in your household is not an app. It is you looking at your child.
Ask yourself, before leaving home:
Is my child unwell? A cold, cough, sore throat or fever is a reason to skip, whatever the PSI says.
Has my child been coughing, sneezing, or rubbing their eyes more than usual today? Haze can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. If symptoms are noticeable, a hard swim lesson is probably not the day for it.
Does my child have asthma, or a history of wheezing? If so, follow the plan your child's doctor has given you, and keep prescribed medication readily available. The MOH page specifically advises people with chronic heart or lung conditions to keep their medication on hand.
Was yesterday hazy? HealthHub notes that effects can lag exposure by one to three days. A child who seems fine on a clear day after a hazy spell could still be a little sensitive.
Is my child unusually tired, grumpy or off-colour? Children often cannot describe how they feel, but their mood and energy tell you a lot.
If any of these ring alarm bells, skip. A missed lesson is easy to replace. A child who is struggling to breathe is not.
A simple checklist: go, adjust or skip
Here is the quick version I give parents. It is not an official protocol. It is a practical filter that combines the official guidance with common sense.
Go as normal if:
The 24-hour PSI is in the Good or Moderate range (0 to 100), and
The venue is open and operating normally, and
Your child is well, with no unusual coughing or irritation, and
Your child has no breathing condition that makes you want extra caution.
Go, but adjust if:
The PSI is in the Unhealthy range (101 to 200) and the venue is operating, or the air is clearly worsening or improving through the day, and
Your child is well and has no history of breathing difficulty, and
The coach is comfortable lowering the intensity, and
You are happy to stop the lesson at the first sign of coughing, wheezing or discomfort.
"Adjust" can mean a shorter session, a calmer pace, more rest breaks, a focus on floating, kicking, water confidence and breathing rhythm rather than hard swimming sets, and a clear agreement that your child can get out of the water at any time.
Skip and reschedule if:
The venue has closed or suspended activities, or
The PSI is in the Very unhealthy or Hazardous range (above 200), especially for outdoor pools, or
Your child is unwell, or has been coughing, wheezing or breathless, or
Your child has asthma or another chronic condition and your doctor has advised caution, or
The air quality is deteriorating quickly and you feel uneasy, or
Your gut says no. Parents are right more often than they think.
What "adjusting" a lesson looks like in practice
Many parents assume the only options are a full lesson or no lesson. In reality, a thoughtful coach has many ways to reduce the load on a child's breathing while still making the session worthwhile.
Lower the intensity. Instead of repeated hard laps, use short, easy efforts with generous rest.
Shift the focus. Water confidence, floating, gliding, kicking drills with a kickboard and breathing-rhythm games are valuable skills, and they do not require sustained heavy breathing.
Shorten the lesson. Twenty good minutes beat forty uncomfortable ones.
Add rest and observation. A coach should watch for coughing, laboured breathing, unusual quietness or a child who suddenly stops wanting to take part.
Keep communication open. Children should know they will never be in trouble for saying "I feel funny" or "my chest feels tight." That permission to speak up is a safety tool.
Leave the door open to stop. If symptoms appear, the lesson ends. No debate.
This approach keeps progress ticking over while respecting the official advice to reduce exertion as the air worsens.
Warning signs: when to get your child out of the water
Whatever the PSI says, stop the activity and have your child rest and be assessed if you see:
Coughing that persists or worsens.
Wheezing, a whistling sound when breathing.
Difficulty speaking in full sentences because of breathlessness.
Chest tightness or complaints of chest pain.
Unusual paleness, bluish lips, dizziness or faintness.
A child who looks frightened, distressed or unable to catch their breath.
The Ministry of Health's advice is that anyone not feeling well should seek medical attention. If your child has been prescribed medication for a breathing condition, follow the doctor's instructions on its use. In an emergency, such as severe difficulty breathing, call for emergency help immediately.
Remember too that coughing and breathlessness in the pool are not always caused by haze. Swallowing water, nerves, colds and cold water can all cause them, and some medical causes need a doctor's assessment. If symptoms are repeated or persistent, whatever the air quality, please see a doctor.
"But we'll fall behind!" Keeping progress on track
I understand the worry. Parents invest time and money in lessons and do not want to lose momentum. At SG Sink or Swim, one of the main reasons I see families stop swimming altogether is the feeling that there is no progress. So let me address this directly.
One or two missed lessons will not undo your child's progress. Swimming skills are built through repetition across weeks and months. A short pause during a hazy period is a small blip in a long journey.
Repeated gaps do hurt. If haze lasts for several weeks, long breaks can mean a child loses some of what they gained. That is where a plan for make-up lessons and light practice matters.
Use the SwimSafer framework as your map. Singapore's SwimSafer 2.0 programme has six stages, each of roughly 12 hours of lesson time, according to the official ActiveSG description. Because progress is organised by stage, a coach can pick up exactly where a child left off after a break. Ask your provider how they record progress, so that rescheduled lessons stay connected to a clear path.
Ask about make-up options before haze season. A good provider will have a clear approach to rescheduling when lessons are cancelled for air-quality reasons. Ask early so there are no surprises.
Keep skills warm at home, safely. While you wait for the air to clear, playing games like blowing bubbles in the bath or practising kicking on a bed with a story can keep the movements familiar. Always supervise children around water.
Do not let your child feel they "failed." Children sometimes interpret cancelled lessons as a punishment or a lost chance. Frame it positively: "Today the air is not good for swimming, so we are looking after our lungs. We will swim again soon."
How SG Sink or Swim handles haze season
Here is how I think about haze at SG Sink or Swim. We serve the west side of Singapore, and many of our learners are young children, the group the official guidance asks us to be most careful with.
We follow the official information, and check it on the day
The NEA and Sport Singapore frameworks give a clear structure. I would rather rely on the latest official readings and the venue's own notices than on a hunch. If a facility closes or suspends activities, our lessons there are off.
We are more conservative with younger and more sensitive swimmers
Babies, toddlers and young children, and any child with a known breathing sensitivity, get a more cautious approach from me. If conditions are borderline, I would rather reduce intensity or reschedule than push on.
We prefer adjusting to all-or-nothing, where it is safe to do so
On days that are not severe but not ideal, a gentler session focused on water confidence, floating, kicking and breathing rhythm can keep a child progressing without demanding hard breathing. But when conditions are poor, we skip.
We ask parents to tell us what we need to know
Parents know their children's medical history. If your child has asthma, allergies or any breathing-related concern, please tell your coach, including where any prescribed medication is kept. It helps us watch for the right things.
We keep progress visible, even when lessons move
Because our curriculum is mapped from Nursery and Level 1 through Level 2, Level 3 and on to SwimSafer Stages 1 to 6, rescheduled lessons connect back to a clear pathway. That way a hazy-season gap does not leave families wondering where their child stands.
We communicate early
Where possible, we tell families in good time if a lesson needs to change, and we discuss make-up arrangements, so no one is left guessing.
If you would like to talk about how we handle haze, or about adjusting lessons for a child with breathing concerns, you are welcome to get in touch through sgsinkorswim.com.
A parent's haze-day routine you can copy
Here is a simple routine that takes about two minutes.
Morning: Check the 24-hour PSI forecast to understand the day.
Midday: Check any notice from your swimming venue or provider.
Before leaving: Look at the latest 1-hour PM2.5 reading, and look at your child. Are they well? Any coughing or irritation?
Decide: Go, adjust or skip, using the checklist above.
At the pool: Tell the coach if your child feels at all off. Make sure any prescribed medication is within reach.
After the lesson: Notice how your child is breathing and behaving over the next few days, remembering that effects can lag by one to three days.
If worried: Speak to your doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Should my child swim when the PSI is in the "Unhealthy" range?
The official guidance for children in the 101 to 200 band is to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion. Whether a swim lesson is appropriate depends on the venue, whether the pool is outdoors, and your child's health. If the lesson goes ahead, a gentle, shorter session is more sensible than a hard one, and skipping is reasonable, especially for outdoor pools or children with breathing sensitivities.
Are indoor pools safe during haze?
The documents I read focus on outdoor exertion and do not specifically discuss pools. Sport Singapore's plan treats air-conditioned facilities more leniently than outdoor ones, but it does not say how pools are classified. Check the venue's notices.
Should my child wear a mask to swim lessons?
Nobody can swim in a mask. HealthHub says N95 masks are not needed for brief trips between buildings or for indoor use, and recommends them in specific situations: above PSI 300 for healthy people who must be outdoors for several hours, and above PSI 200 for people with chronic lung or heart disease. It also says surgical masks do not effectively filter fine particles. For advice on masks for your child, ask your doctor.
My child has asthma. Can they swim during haze?
Please ask your child's doctor. Official sources say people with chronic lung conditions can be affected more seriously and should keep medication readily available.
My child coughed during a lesson on a hazy day. What should I do?
A single cough after swallowing water is common. Persistent coughing, wheezing or breathlessness is not, and the swimmer should stop, rest and be assessed. If it recurs, see a doctor.
How do I know if the venue has cancelled lessons?
Check the venue's notices and your provider's communication. Sport Singapore facilities adjust operations by haze phase, with closures at higher PSI levels.
Will I lose my lesson fees if lessons are cancelled for haze?
That depends on your provider's policy. Ask about rescheduling and make-up arrangements before haze season begins.
How many lessons can my child miss without losing progress?
There is no magic number. An occasional missed lesson is rarely a problem. Long gaps are the issue. A clear plan for catching up, and a coach who can see exactly where your child left off, make a big difference.
Is it better to be safe than sorry?
When it comes to your child's breathing, yes. A rescheduled lesson costs you a little time. Ignoring warning signs can cost far more.
The bottom line: when to go and when to skip
Go when the PSI is in the Good or Moderate range, the venue is open and your child is well.
Go, but adjust when conditions are borderline and your child is healthy: shorter, gentler, with a coach who is watching closely and a clear agreement that your child can stop at any time.
Skip when the venue closes, the PSI climbs into the Very unhealthy or Hazardous range, your child is unwell or has a breathing condition and your doctor has advised caution, or your instincts say no.
Haze season is temporary, and a child's swimming journey is long. The families who do best are the ones who stay calm, check the facts, keep communicating with their coach, and get back into a regular rhythm as soon as the air clears.
At SG Sink or Swim, we teach from a child's very first splash all the way to SwimSafer Stage 6, and keeping children safe is always part of that job. If you have questions about your child's lessons during haze, reach out at sgsinkorswim.com.
Stay safe, and see you at the pool when the air is clear.
Coach Tan Meng Chew (MC) SG Sink or Swim | sgsinkorswim.com
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