Asked to leave poolside during 3-yr olds swimming lesson

I have a 3 and 4 year old and it's actually their ages that stop me from sending them to swimming lessons, I just think it's too young to be part of a class. One on one no problem, but I wouldn't be able to relax for fear of them getting into trouble.

Parents need to be kept away as they're a distraction. You were probably moved for 'helping the kids'. How's a teacher supposed to teach with you all 'helping' from the sidelines.

Friend of mine had a father roar 'I'm coming darling!' and leap in fully clothed because she got a bit splashed. Helicopter parents are nuts.

I think it depends on the setting. The pool where my son has lessons, for instance, is in a private school and doesn't have a balcony. There is a bench down one side for parents. Due to Covid it's one parent for under 8's only - which is fine.

My ds in 10 (year 5) and in his group of 6 there are two instructors. So, for me, I don't think the issue is actually that you're on the balcony it's that there doesn't seem to be enough instructors. Particularly not for such little ones.

And if you have a question about ratios and safety,nurse it as a question not a complaint. Ask what the policy is regarding children per teacher and especially how they manage to keep an eye on all little ones.

Raising a question is much better and more conducive to a useful conversation. Obviously if their ratios don’t seem right you can question it, or if they aren’t sticking to their own policy. There will be national standards for these things and it would be surprising if a local pool has adjusted those,

When parents aren’t in the water, it’s standard for parents to not be poolside.

Those poolside struggle to remain silent and not speaking (interfering) with the lesson. It’s really important that the teacher is the adult interacting and instructing the children and they aren’t getting 2 sets if instructions or mixed messages.

Consider whether schools would like parents sitting in on their classes and feeling they can wave to their kids or shout encouragement and why they wouldn’t find that conducive to learning.

Ratios and lifeguarding is a separate issue. Of course those should be correct and if they aren’t, raising it would be valid. However, parents being poolside is a different issue to this. When you start involving and paying for classes outside the home, you have to start to back off and let those people deliver what they are paid to do, without your interference. Children will find it easier to listen and follow the instructions of the teacher if you aren’t sending mixed messages that mummy is still in charge.

I think not being poolside is ok, although I’d prefer to be closer. But the instructor turning their back on a 3 year old is unacceptable. Things happen so quickly. The ratios don’t sound safe, and I would be very concerned about one adult and five three year olds.

Age 3s still have parents in the water with them during lessons at our pool, age 4 are then in classes with 3 to a teacher in the small pool. When they’re ASA level 4 they’re in the big pool with 6 to a teacher. I wouldn’t be happy with five 3 year olds to one teacher in a big pool.

I’ve never sat poolside during dc’s swimming lessons - always on a balcony or in viewing area.

So I wouldn’t complain about sitting away from poolside, but maybe about lack of supervision?

This is totally standard at the pool my kids learn at. Right from the little toddler lessons up to swim skills 4 or whatever the highest is.

Parents need to sit outside the pool area in the observation area watching though the glass. Totally normal. And it is good for you to learn to let go.

Either you trust the pool or you dont. You'll have to decide.

Swimming teachers probably don't want the parents "helping"

It's very distracting for everyone. There's a very annoying dad who is constantly getting involved when he should be leaving the instructor to do their job

In our lessons pre-school kids have a parent/carer in the water with them. No exceptions.

I wouldn’t be comfortable being that far away from mine. Mostly because they muck about a lot but also because the lifeguards on duty look half asleep most of the time.

The don’t get to go into the water by themselves until they start school, so age 4 turning 5. Then I will have to wait in the viewing area (watching like a hawk).

I think the teacher to child ratio is too low if there is no dedicated additional adult (assistant or lifeguard). I would raise it with the pool management.

Otherwise, I think having parents close by can reduce safety - distracted children not paying attention and getting into difficulty, parent going in to rescue child and needing rescuing themselves.

3 is young for lessons where parents aren’t present. Worth doing more parent and child lessons where you’re in the pool if you’re worried

Our DD is 3 in a 2-4 swimming class, parents in the pool at this age. I wouldn’t trust a group with one instructor at this age!

Not being poolside wouldn't bother me.

BUT I wouldn't be comfortable with only one teacher and five young children.

In our pool, there is a teacher and swimming assistant for every class. Parents sit away from the pool behind a glass window but I have never been worried. If the teacher is helping a child individually, the assistant will be watching the rest of the kids so they're always in hand to grab them if needed.

I’m the least protective parent I know but I would not take any chances at age 3. They could drown in literally seconds. I probably wouldn’t do lessons until they were a bit older but rather teach the basics myself. YANBU OP.

My DS just turned 3 and moved to a stage 1 class. (Previously in a class with parents). When DD started stage 1 it was about 5 kids, slight range of abilities and no armbands. DS is in a class of 7, several recently turned 3's by the look of it, so she is currently putting them in armbands. We are watching in the viewing gallery too, so it's a bit less anxiety provoking! I know they need to remove armbands for ideal teaching, but I think she has risk assessed this for now!

I know a swimming teacher who teaches kids and she said it’s so frustrating when parents are shouting over to their kids when she is teaching them . Tbh I think it’s best parents are out of the way less distractions . They are perfectly safe being taught let them be you don’t need to be poolside.

In a similar set up - pool in squares etc with group one through 6 or something with lots of age groups and abilities, tbe only lifeguard was hanging out down the end with tbe competent swimmers of around 10 years of age. My 3 & 4 yrs old were in tbe pool at tbe other end. I walked up to
Him and asked him where he thought his high risk area was? And should he maybe make sure he is a little
Closer so he can watch and respond to any emergencies . He soon shifted his ass down tbe pool. I'm not embarrassed- safety of my kids island all that!

Our lessons have a main teacher plus an assistant and up until the last few weeks we were in the pool with them. I don’t think I’d be comfortable having one teacher for 5 children, you wouldn’t be allowed that ratio in a normal pool session.