To think swimming lessons are the biggest rip off ever

[thinkingmakesitso]

I have two dc and they seem to be so far behind their peers at swimming. One is 8 and the other 6 and they are on stages 3 & 1 respectively. Both seem to be stalling and I just hate the way I seem to spend so much time in a sweltering leisure centre, exhausted having rushed home from work to watch them half- heartedly pittling about in the pool. The alternative is to spend half the weekend doing the same. And that is without mentioning the expense...

DS1 in particular hates it and kicks off pretty much every fucking week about going. He does all that is asked of him in there, but just seems to be getting nowhere. Ds2 doesn't really focus, despite the numerous conversations we've had, and just seems to float around.

They had no lessons for 6 months last year after my marriage broke up and I was worried about money, and it seems it has set them back massively, though they've been back at it since spring. There is huge waiting list for one-to-one lessons and I don't think I could afford the amount we'd need anyway. I know I should take them more at weekends, but we have so many other things to do at weekends it is really hard to fit it in.

I may be over dramatic, but swimming seems to take up a large chunk of our leisure time, and should be taking up more. Will the end never be in sight.

[Comfortzone]

Could you postpone it for a year, take the pressure off yourself and them then have some 'fun' trips to a pool over the summer to reinforce why they need to take their lessons again? Realise this may put them back a bit, but actually when they are mentally ready to swim, they will actually learn it quicker and just get on with it. Its not as if we live in a country that means they swim in lakes etc every day after school, so it's not as essential as itonce was. I'd delay it for a year, then get back into weekly sessions and see if they're more ready for it. Don't beat yourself up about it.

[TeenAndTween]

Do you take them in-between lessons? imo If all you do is the lesson then you run the risk of little/zero progress, they need to practice outside of lessons too.

[JoyceDivision]

I feel your pain... but... the £20 a month i pay for dc swimming lessons by Direct Debit covers all pool entries, so we go swimming at least once a week, evenifjust toplay, and I don't have to pay fpr dc in, so it is worthit for that!

[Pico2]

I'd ditch the lessons and save the money for some 1:1 lessons eventually. My DD has done group lessons, but made really slow progress. In 1:1 lessons you can see the change each lesson.

[Arsicles]

It's really hard to make progress in group swimming lessons if they don't go swimming between lessons, and are a bit half-hearted during the lesson too, and not really paying attention. In a busy session with a large group, they can end up doing only about 10 minutes actual swimming in a 30-minute lesson IME. Are you a good swimmer yourself? Could you find time during the holidays to do an intensive round of visits to the pool and teach them yourself?

[southeastastra]

just let them have fun, my ds(14) perfected his swimming on holiday this year just playing every day in the pool

[thinkingmakesitso]

But how do you have time to go every week? I know I need to go other times, but the weekend is only 2 days - in fact 1 for us really, as they see their dad on Sundays. Family swim time on a Saturday is after 6pm, when we are either on our way back from an outing, or I am cooking a nice meal for us or about to watch a film. Fridays I am exhausted from work, Sunday is basically a school night so the last thing I want to do on a Saturday evening is fucking swim. Of course I could do it occasionally, but that wouldn't be enough, would it? Why does swimming have to dominate everything?

[thinkingmakesitso]

I can't swim , so I know that doesn't help. Ex is supposed to be taking them on a Sunday, and did so last week, but not sure about this week as I don't think he's taking them for the full day .

[arethereanyleftatall]

I'm a swim teacher. Kids who listen will progress fine in lessons. One to ones can be well worth the money.

[Dixiechickonhols]

Those intensive courses they do in school hols can work. 1/2 hour a day for a week when they are fresh not tired after school. They are supposed to be the same as 8 normal weekly lessons. Not easiest to fit in if you work but if you do take a weeks holiday may work.

Are there any private pools near you? DD went to one cost double local leisure centre but was well worth it - very small group and corrected technique.

[Mistigri]

Mine have never had lessons except the obligatory Y7 lessons with school! They can both swim just fine. I think group swimming lessons are a very inefficient way to learn to swim.

[southeastastra]

years ago we just went after school with mates, though we did have swimming lessons up until secondary school. i don't think my mum ever got in the pool with me!

[WeAllHaveWings]

Ds(11) had around 12 months of 1-1 lessons at 8 years old and went from zero to bronze rookie lifeguard badge. Had good technique in 4 strokes after about 8 months.

I would stop group lessons and just send ds1 to 1-1 for 6 months - a year once you get a space, then once he is done, send ds2. Or maybe, if you think it would work for them, try to get 2-1 lessons for the pair of them at the same time. Group lessons take too many years and really demotivate them, 1-1 is more expensive short term but long term probably about the same/less than years of group lessons.

[Mistigri]

thinking my children only (lake) swim in summer plus the very occasional school holiday session, as there is no pool near enough with opening hours that are remotely convenient. You don't need to go every week, in fact a short period of more intensive swimming, eg on holiday, is probably more effective.

[EnglishRose1320]

I was at a similar stage with my Ds's, they were not making much progress at all in group sessions, dfil paid for a block of 1:1 lessons, every day during a half term as their birthday presents and it was amazing to see the improvement, ds1 has now stopped swimming lessons aged 10 and level 5, I know there are higher levels but he is confident enough to enjoy going for a swim now and that was the main aim. Ds2 is level 2 and we are taking a break because he learns loads during holidays but is too tired in term time to make any progress st all. I don't know what your options are lesson wise but our lessons, group and 1:1 still run over the school holidays but are normally much quieter so even without 1:1 I find they progress better going to the holiday sessions rather than the term time ones.

[firefly78]

does it really matter? if you hate it and sounds like they arent enjoying it just have a break for a while and take them yourself once every couple of weeks. If they aren't improving its a waste of money.

[blobbityblob]

I think the setting makes a huge difference.

Phase 1: Spent the first three years kicking out widths hanging onto a woggle (private gym).

Phase 2: Council leisure centre. Rude receptionist, filthy changing rooms, freezing cold pool, teacher who had sometimes 12 dc, attempting to teach strokes, which made her a bit fraught.

Phase 3: more expensive, borrowing a prep school pool, man and wife team utterly dedicated, lots of staff.

I never thought the day would come when my dc could swim a width of a reocgnisable stroke. But it did (6 and a half years later) - some will do it any environment - but if it's not working, change.

Mine used to kick off with the horrible receptionist, horrible changing rooms, moody teacher and freezing cold pool. Different story now.

And never undestimate the value of a week's holiday with a pool. Not necessarily in the Bahamas. We go to a fairly local caravan park with a Sun newspaper deal.

[HollyEllis]

It depends on what you want them to achieve at swimming. Do you want them to be able to swim enough to survive say falling into a river or do you want them to be swim champions? If the former I would say don't worry too much.
I suffered horrible swimming lessons with DCs and in the end the most progress DCs made with swimming was when we spent a week at Eurocamp with a pool where they spent each day mainly messing around.

[thinkingmakesitso]

Some really helpful advice- thank you.

Why do they insist on teaching them all these complicated strokes when they haven't mastered the basics? In ds1's class I notice he will improve at the basic stroke (don't know what it's called ) bit then the following week they will do the bloody 'bend, star, snap' and he will slip back again.

Am definitely going to look into intensive courses.

[Saz12]

I had lessons when I was 6, once a week for about a year, which was enough to get me doing the 25m badge but not much else. I can swim perfectly well now, though not brilliant!

What are you wanting to get out of taking them? They're clearly not developing a love for the sport, joy in the exercise, or whatever. Not being able to swim at 6 doesn't mean he'll never be able to. They don't want to go, you don't want to take them - so bin it.
Spend the money for lessons on a float belt or vest and let them splash - maybe try and find a pool with slides etc for a fun trip out (no need to swim, just play). You can always do a more intensive swim school thingummy in school hols.

[grumpysquash]

Maybe they just don't like swimming.

My youngest DC has swimming lessons and every week there seem to be a handful of kids who just don't want to get in the water and do it. In our swim school, the tutors give it 5 mins, and if the child refuses to enter the water, asks the parent to quit the lesson. Ditto if a child is making a fuss/not joining in etc.
But if those things don't apply to your DC, then maybe they just need a different class?

As for 'rip-off', ours are £7.50 for half an hour, max class size is 6, matched by ability. I don't know if that is a regular price or not.

But whatever it costs, if they're not learning, it's definitely poor value for money.

[arethereanyleftatall]

Because some are good at front crawl and some at breaststroke, and both are valid strokes. That's a bit like saying, why do they have to practise throwing AND catching in netball?

[JoyceDivision]

Hi thinking... if it was me you asked but how do you find time, re mesaying I take dcs swimming too, i work p/tso we go straight after school, pref on a friday as they are so tired the morning after it can be a pain getting them up for school, at least if we swim on a friday they can lie in on a saturday!

We got in the ppool at 4pm today and got out at 20 to 6!

[Kayakinggirl86]

Swimming is a key life skill. Personally think it is a vital skill for children.
If your current set up for you is not working for you then change. Mine made a worrying little progress over the summer (worrying as we were swimming for a few hours at a time 4/5s a week). Last few weeks have changed to 30min 2 times before school and 30min 2 times after work/school. Shorter sessions indoors seems to be better for them.

[Saz12]

Cross posted!
My DD has a 30 minute lesson on a Friday afternoon, and they just introduced the breast stroke legs (froggy legs, the "bend star snap") today. Was very entertaining to watch, as none of the kids could even vaguely manage it... they seemed to enjoy it though (they all have float belts, and "noodles" AND a float to hold on to, which helps; also the teacher has the patience of a saint). Seemed pointless to me, too, though I guess it saves them from getting bored just kicking their legs (my DD hasn't got as far as doing arms yet....).