To stop 33 month old swimming lessons?

Hi @Melissae

I did similar as you, took DD to a swimming group when younger, more for me than for her then regularly took her swimming myself. Playing lots of games, swimming under legs, catching water balls, spider manning around the edges etc etc. She could happily doggy paddle a length, jump in at the deep end and swim to the side, tread water but had no real technique - then I put her into classes. Went straight in at stage 4 where the start doing proper swimming and learning techniques.

The lower/younger groups spend most of their time stood against the wall and got very little actual swimming time in a 30 mins lesson. You get a lot more 'bang for your buck' if you teach through playing and it's a lovely bonding experience if your child likes the water.

Op I'd either stop and keep going yourself until he is 3 then put him onto the next level class.
It sounds like he's ready for it but they won't move him because if his age.

Just a guess but it might be insurance reasons.

@Mostlycarbon "The trouble is, it could be a key life skill for anyone at any time if you happen to fall into a river."

The amount of swimming a two year old can do in a warm pool is not going to help a fully clothed two year old in a cold river.

Jeez the worst kind of posters are out in force today.

You asked advice about swimming lessons. You explained why you used the term '33 months' given the context.

Bloody hell.

The trouble is, it could be a key life skill for anyone at any time if you happen to fall into a river.

Is the next class up the one where they are just with the teacher and the parents don't go in with them? Maybe he's ready for that and will focus better.

33 months! 😂😂😂😂🤣

According to the OP he is not enjoying a formal setting (aka freaking out). So why bother? Encourage the love of swimming but formal lessons are a bit much imo.

Not sure anyone said he was freaking out. If he was freaking out that would be different!!

The kid wants to swim - encourage him!!

So many of the parents of kids in my children's classes thought they would just take their child swimming regularly rather than doing 'formal' lessons. They would have fun, it would all be great family bonding time!! - and then each weekend there was always something else on. By yr 4 when lessons started at school, around half the kids couldn't swim 5m. By then many were scared (or at least nervous) of the water, and 5 weeks of 30mins lessons at school was not going to change anything.

On this experience (only mine) I would not stop lessons if he is enjoying it - its such an important life skill. Just find the right class.

"Swimming is such a key life skill"

For some people it is.

Mine coould swim a length of the toddler pool by 4.5yo doing ducklings 4.
Covid happened so restarted lessons at 7. Now stage 7 at 8yo.
Within 6m had caught up all the kids who continued during covid.

Do not put arm bands on him. They push the head underwater. Use a swim vest. Arm bands need to be banned.

And it’s not a baby class. It is a toddler and parent class. The OP originally said baby class but then she posted that the age range and there are no babies in that class. They’ll all be toddlers.

I've just seen the age group - have a look around for other swim schools that have 2 1/2 yr old upwards group.

Don't do what someone upthread advised and put arm bands on him!

When you say parent and baby class, is it for all ages or is it an age specific class? Eg He should be in a parent and toddler class with others of a similar age, not newborns etc If you choose wisely he will take part in activities that encourage his independence and develop his skills.

Also, why can't you teach them OP? If you're not going for the Olympics or whatever, from a safety perspective, you should just teach them

We are in the same boat but my ds has not long turned 2.
He just pushes away from me and refuses to let me hold him. We are in the same classes as you 18-36 months. And then at 3 they independently go in the pool for lessons
I've thought about pulling him out of the lessons until he can move up to the preschool ones. As your lo is closer to 3 maybe you could ask if there is any flexibility in them moving up?

They're a baby! It's possible to encourage a love of the water etc without freaking out about formal lessons! I'm relatively young and didn't have formal lessons until much later on.

33 months is not even close to being a baby.

I would speak to the the teacher. They maybe able to advise.

Swimming is such a key life skill, if your child is loving the water seems a shame to stop everything. Sounds like they are just in the wrong class.

We re-started at 56 months after an experience like this. She’s now 135 months and a really good swimmer.

a) you said you have anxiety about it

b) I don't recall anyone saying anything about a 'serious life threatening problem''

It's quite possible that the anxiety is taking over a bit here so do try and take a step back. Your child is very young, he doesn't need to be an enthusiastic swimmer yet. He's a baby. Kids activities are only beneficial when your baby enjoys them. Otherwise it's just upsetting both of you. Do fun things.

That screenshot looks like the ‘everyone active’ app.
id just speak to the swim manager at your pool you take him to the parent and baby lesson in and ask if he can move up to the ‘preschool / stage 1’ class now.
hes practically 3 years old and while they may stick to the rules of him needing to be 36 months. They may be flexible.

my local one was when I wanted to move my youngest up a stage she was clearly ready for but technically not quite old enough.

Perhaps check out the 3+ lessons. Years ago when I signed my DD up for these, instructor spent more time trying to get 3 of the 5 participants into the water whilst my DD played about with a watering can. I never rebooked the block just took her swimming myself until we found a better class .