To think he doesn't need arm bands

[Movingon1611]

DS 9 has had swimming lessons since he was 3, has his personal life saving badge and is more than competent in the water.
School have started their swimming lessons and after an assessment of his ability last week he's been put in a group where they have to wear arm bands every week.
I spoke to the teacher as he's never had to wear arm bands and quite frankly I think they'll restrict his arm movement and affect his technique.
Apparently he's in the group because there were 6 kids faster than him and they only have 6 kids per ability group.

I think it's ridiculous to put a child who can swim in arm bands when they don't need them but the teachers not budging on it

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Unless it's racing he doesn't need to he the fastest just he able to swim.

How ridiculous

[scurryfunge]

Armbands are a useless swimming aid -is the swimming teacher even qualified?

[welshweasel]

Plenty of kids learn to swim without ever using arm bands. They hamper the development of proper strokes and in my opinion aren't that safe. Would they compromise on a woggle? I'd definitely refuse the arm bands.

[jaseyraex]

What the hell has how fast he is got to do with his ability to swim?! Complain to the head or whoever is in charge of the swimming classes. That's ludicrous. Arm bands are becoming a thing of the past, there are much safer floats out there.

[Movingon1611]

The swimming teacher is his class teacher. The professional swimming teacher works with the kids who can't swim at all. Not sure who works with the other 2 groups.

I've told him he's to refuse to wear them and I will speak to the teacher next swimming day to remind her I don't want him wearing them as well

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Absolutely a child who can swim should not be wearing armbands.

[emmyrose2000]

The teacher is being ridiculous.

[Qvar]

My kids haven't worn armbands since they were 4, whT is the teacher thinking ??????

[BikeRunSki]

That is ridiculous!
DS (9, Y4) was put in armbands because he kicks his feet "wrong" for the swimming teacher who does school lessons. He showed her the 2000m badge on his towel - achieved a few weeks earlier in the same pool - and refused to wear them. As did a little cluster of his classmates who go to the same swimming club.

[Bumdishcloths]

Armbands serve no useful purpose whether you can swim or not, so the teacher is being a prize tit really

[sofato5miles]

What are the other ability groups if there are only 6 per group? TBH he won't learn anything and his technique will diminish so I would refuse to let him swim.

[rwalker]

stand your ground send a letter stating you don,t want him wearing armband or refuse to send him .He's not going to get any benefit from these lessons

[beekeeper17]

His technique is going to suffer. The thinking now is that armbands can be dangerous from the point of view that it gives both the child and the supervising adult a false sense of security. It also teaches the child an unnatural position and movement within the water. Write a letter, swimming is such an important skill for kids to have, it needs to be done properly.

[Ohwhatbliss]

I'm in Australia where swimming is a necessary life skill and all children are taught to swim from a very young age. NOWHERE teaches with armbands or flotation devices of any sort, they give false confidence and create bad technique

[rwalker]

the only thing armband are good for is getting confidence when very young .Worse thing for technique throw you body into wrong position ,can't do full strokes .His swimming will go backwards and all your money for lesson wasted better off not sending him at all.