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Original poster

To let DS stop swim lessons?

80 replies

user1478188491 · 14/07/2025 22:48

DD age 8 has just completed Stage 4 (swim England) swim lessons and it’s been a struggle for a while to keep him motivated to go every week.
He can swim confidently and strongly and swim 25m backstroke and front crawl with good breathing technique.
If anyone is familiar with the system of the swim England they go up in Stages in percentages, it took a looooong time to get from 80-100% on stage 4 and he was getting disheartened each week realising he hasn’t moved up any percent.

Would it be irresponsible to let him finish now?
Or would it be ok to stop?

I am battling with the mental ‘It’s a life skill non negotiable’ view that comes with swim lessons however he can swim and unless they want to be in Galas or competitions is this enough?

WWYD?

OP posts:
Youcancallmeirrelevant · 14/07/2025 23:06

I don't tell my kids what % they are up to. As others have said 25m isn't far, and unless you are going to replace the lessons with taking him weekly he'll get out of practice and it'll undo loads of what he has learnt in the lessons.

PermanentTemporary · 14/07/2025 23:04

I stopped swimming lessons when I realised I was having a screaming row with ds every week. He was exhausted by them. He wasn’t doing as well as your son.

Learning to swim is important but swimming lessons aren’t. Tbh I think they’re a bit of a scam. We went on holiday together, swam every day for a week and he was confident after that. I’d stop without hesitation.

Springadorable · 14/07/2025 23:02

I'd try a different swim school without the percentage system. 25 metres isn't a strong swimmer and his technique isn't great if he's knackered after that, so I'd not let him stop but would let him change provider.

FortheloveofCheesus · 14/07/2025 23:00

Stage 4 really isn't enough to stop imho. 25m is only one length of a pool.

Not all swim schools bother measuring it by percentages, if that's off putting for him maybe try lessons elsewhere?

Will he do school swimming? I'd let him stop lessons outside school if there were goingto be school lessons instead

anon15830201174585920220384848320204738229 · 14/07/2025 22:57

I stopped when dd could swim the length of the pool because I knew she could swim safely to the side should she get into trouble in the pool.