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AIBU?

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Original poster

To feel a bit embarrassed my nearly four year old is in a class with two year olds!

185 replies

notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:13

I know I shouldn’t but …

We have been going swimming since ds was a baby. The final class before they are able to swim independently is aged from two to starting school.

DS can’t yet swim independently, not even a little bit. So he’s still in that class - but all the other children are aged two. Now we’ve gone back after summer the difference is quite marked.

its my issue I know

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 08:28

notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:26

Taking him swimming alone won’t teach him to swim, he’ll just want to play on the slides and so on (our local swimming place has gone all out centre parcs)

Plus it costs a fortune!

More of a fortune than paying for classes that aren't really doing anything?

Four year olds should be playing on the slides and having fun!

Original poster
notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:27

I don’t know @Cantgetausername87

Many can, mine can’t. I thought either was normal to be honest.

OP posts:
Cantgetausername87 · 21/09/2024 08:26

4 year olds generally cannot swim? But if he's in a water babies type swim school perhaps looks for some more normal swim lessons for school ages because he's doing fine x

Original poster
notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:26

Taking him swimming alone won’t teach him to swim, he’ll just want to play on the slides and so on (our local swimming place has gone all out centre parcs)

Plus it costs a fortune!

OP posts:
Outwiththenorm · 21/09/2024 08:25

Our DC was similar and it took until this summer when they went swimming with a neighbour’s kid and just started copying them. I think sometimes they really need to see another child doing it correctly - it all just clicks. Do you have a friend’s older child you could go swimming with? It was the same with riding a bike - it just clicked after watching other kids in a way that we couldn’t emulate.

Skipsurvey · 21/09/2024 08:25

we were advised not to start until 4
yabu

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/09/2024 08:25

Usually parents can't wait till they are 3 and go in water alone 😂

So I would find lessons that offer this

And sure they will come on leaps and bounds

I don't think swimming lessons when so young help them to swim but more give them confidence in the water

I took mini blondes swimming for fun and so wasn't afraid but not lessons till she was 4.

She did an intensive course of 30mins every day for a week and by the end she was swimming

Best money I spent

And then weekly lessons after that

turkeyboots · 21/09/2024 08:24

He's still young for swimming. It takes a level of coordination which is harder for some kids.
DD couldn't pass those early stage classes at 3 and 4, so we stopped for a while. Age 6 she was flying through the levels.

Milkandacookie · 21/09/2024 08:24

Yes I wouldn't have him in with 2 year old. They're just playing. I'd stop and just take him swimming for fun with you and some toys.

Get some 1-1 when he's 4.5 with someone good and hell progress so much quicker.

BlueMum16 · 21/09/2024 08:23

notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:20

It’s similar to waterbabies. I don’t know though, I keep reading arm bands are detrimental to learning to swim. No idea really!

My DC is a swim teacher. They have disc type arm bands. They start with 3 on each side so they float. Then move to two, then one and so on.

jeaux90 · 21/09/2024 08:23

OP stop worrying.

My DD15 is still a terrible swimmer, some kids just aren't good at it.

What did really help was the intensive daily course ran over half term etc and I have done 1-1 coaching for her more recently to get her confidence up which has worked wonders.

Hadalifeonce · 21/09/2024 08:23

My DS had swimming lessons for nearly a year, and still wasn't swimming, I put him with a different swimming teacher, and within a term he could swim. Sitting on the side watching, I could see a totally different approach between the two teachers.

MouseofCommons · 21/09/2024 08:23

Don't worry. My dc's took years of lessons to learn, I had to pay private to really crack it in the end. Looking back I should have saved money on pre-school lessons and jusy started private lessons at school age.
Eldest has now qualified as a lifeguard.

sunsetsandboardwalks · 21/09/2024 08:22

It sounds like a waste of time and money if he hasn't progressed at all yet.

Just take him swimming yourself and put him back in lessons when he's a bit older, or find a different teacher.

BlueMum16 · 21/09/2024 08:22

notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:19

I don’t think there’s anything else available but can look into it. I think it’s just one of those things he’ll ‘get’ when he’s ready.

Show quote history

Speak to the teacher about how you can stretch his lessons to bring him on more.

Once he moves into the full lessons he'll probably skip the first one or not too.

Does he have swimming aids? Work with the teacher to remove those. It's not about water confidence after all this time.

Original poster
notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:21

MeinKraft · 21/09/2024 08:19

Hes only 4. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself and him and let him be a normal kid.

lol how is taking him to swimming lessons not being a ‘normal kid’? It’s not like he’s Macauley culkin!

OP posts:
Original poster
notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:20

It’s similar to waterbabies. I don’t know though, I keep reading arm bands are detrimental to learning to swim. No idea really!

OP posts:
Wrongsideofpennines · 21/09/2024 08:19

What do you think he's struggling with that meant he hasn't progressed? Is it confidence in the water, or teacher's technique, or coordination difficulties?

There will be children that start school without ever having had a lesson, so I wouldn't worry about that, but if he is at exactly the same ability as a year ago then there is something not working for him.

MeinKraft · 21/09/2024 08:19

Hes only 4. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself and him and let him be a normal kid.

CuriousGeorge80 · 21/09/2024 08:19

Is it like a Waterbabies type of thing? If so, I would get him out of it and into beginners swimming for four year olds without you in the water. We have moved to Australia with our just turned three year old and she’s gone from waterbabies to proper swim lessons and I cannot tell you the difference. She can almost swim independently after six weeks, when two years of waterbabies just helped her enjoy the water. Obviously ignore me if he’s in a proper swim class already.

Original poster
notaswimmer · 21/09/2024 08:19

Zapx · 21/09/2024 08:17

At 4 children at the lessons near me are eligible for different classes, that are independent with a teacher instead of parent. Could you look to move him when he’s 4 or is there nothing else available?

I don’t think there’s anything else available but can look into it. I think it’s just one of those things he’ll ‘get’ when he’s ready.

OP posts:
Mynewnameis · 21/09/2024 08:18

I'd move him to a class where he goes in Water alone. They don't need to be able to swim.

Milkandacookie · 21/09/2024 08:18

I think many kids are just too young and at 5 they can get it quickly!

Hankunamatata · 21/09/2024 08:18

We moved to a 1:1 instructor as our middle one just wasn't getting it. I'd be more concerned he has been at same level for 18months. I'd look at 1:1 instructor who can get him swimming on next 6 months rather than paying another 2 years of lessons

TheBottomsOfMyTrousersAreRolled · 21/09/2024 08:17

Didimum · 21/09/2024 08:15

I just don’t think it’s worth getting wound up about this sort of thing. He’ll learn to swim in his own time. I didn’t learn to swim until I was an adult due to a medical issue. Don’t feel embarrassed for your child.

Tbh id move his school if he hasnt made progress in 18 months. Unless he likes it. Then id be tempted to add a different class on top of this one. Or go for a course of one-to-one classes.

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