Why is MAKING kids do swimming lessons, even when they don't enjoy them, apparently so important?

Agree with Bubbaluv - I grew up in NZ and learning to swim was just part of growing up. Obviously a slightly different outdoors environment (not so f**king cold or dark for 6 months of the year) but we all did it. My DCs have done swimming lessons and have loved it, but even if they didn't, I'd make sure they went - my DS fell in PIL's pond when he was 18 months (fortunately we were watching at the time), and ever since then I've been paranoid about the dangers of water.

Agree completely with bubbaluv. I grew up in Holland and swimming was compulsory. You had swimming lessons with school from teh age of 6.

BTW, I know of 2 families who have lost children to drowning in family swimming pools. Children CAN and do learn to swim very well well before they are 4 - they swim along under water like little tadpole/frogs and come up for air when needed. Very cute!
Fear is what makes babies sink to the bottom.

"But lots of things could help save their - and other people's lives - like first aid courses, self defence/martial arts"

A 3, 4, 5 yo is not likely to be able to deliver a life saving karate kick or perform life saving first aid, but they might make it to the edge of the pool if they know how to swim.

In Australia(where I'm from) it's considered a basic assumed skill like learning to read or ride a bike, and I feel so dreadful that DS has not been doing swimming lessons (he's 17mo) but he's always got a cold or other ailment and it would just seem mean! Plus it's too blardy cold to think about swimming for me!

"get a job as a life-guard while at school/uni"

Thats why my DS is doing his bronze medallion now

I was made to learn to swim from age 4 or 5, and like anything I'm made to do, I resisted it like mad. But I'm so grateful to my mum that she did it now. She is not a strong swimmer, and was determined that we'd be as safe as possible in water.

I take dd (2) swimming every week - not for lessons - but I do make sure that she's very used to having her head and face underwater, as I think that will speed up swimming lessons when she's older and make them more fun.

My grandfather was taught to swim in the river as his uncle had drown there. So it was instilled in me you teach your children to swim so they dont drown

Btw a good instructor will persuade, not force a child to put their head in the water by using toys they can dive/swim down for and so on.

I sent my dd to swimming lessons at 3 as I had a bad experience in school lessons and it took me another 2 years to master a width. Dd can now swim, with various strokes, and is very happy in the water - a year before her school lessons begins. That alone makes it worth every penny spent on lessons, costumes, goggles, petrol and snacks afterwards .

I didn't want a repeat of my fears with dd as I still gibber when I go out of my depth and I have to persuade myself I can swim.

I think it's because swimming is such a useful skill and can bring about so much fun throughout your life. if you're a reasonable strong swimmer you can:

• swim in the sea/lakes/rivers on your holidays
• get some exercise without it costing a fortune
• go swimming with your friends and to pool parties confidently
• take part in lots of water sports such as rowing, canoeing, kayaking, diving, scuba, etc.
• swim competitively
• get a job as a life-guard while at school/uni

I was sooo nervous about going to swimming lessons as a child and didn't enjoy it at all but my parents persisted and once i got the hang of it i was so pleased that they made me go. My mother never learned to swim (she didn't like it and her parents just let her give it up) and has always regretted it. Although she did learn in her 50s and was delighted!

having said all that, I don't think it's necessary to take a baby. if the baby likes it fine but i think it's mainly for the parent's benefit (ie an activity to get out of the house with a young one!)

I'm a bit torn about this. Dd is 4, loves going swimming with me and swims using a flotation aid. She has so far resisted swimming lessons whenever I have suggested it and I haven't pushed it because I want her to enjoy swimming and I think building confidence and enjoyment in the water with me is a good first step. I swam independently at 5 without having had any actual lessons, although I had lessons later.

BUT I know that the main reason dd doesn't want to have lessons is because she doesn't want to be made to put her face in the water, and I know I'm not the best person to get her to do that. So I will insist on lessons within the next couple of years, whether she wants them or not. She is not going to be swimming around with her head in the air at the age of 45!

Mine have all been sailing at four, yes.

There was an interestingly horrible moment two years back when my then-11-yr-old sped halfway across a lake in his titchy dinghy and capsized himself and his 4-yr-old sister. He did a textbook rescue while she bobbed about spluttering in her lifejacket, but I wasa very conscious that a couple of lifejacket straps were all that were between her and the bottom of the lake. We've stepped up the swimming lessons in case of lifejacket carelessness.

Actually, round here, it's bloody difficult to find a pool open for casual family swimming, except maybe for 45 minutes at the weekend. They're booked solid with swimming lessons, over-60s swims and birthday parties.

There is always the option of teaching your child yourself.

But I do think they ought to learn.

well-trained teachers not well-teachers

In my experience school lessons are horrible with too many kids in the pool and not enough well-teachers.

For that reason i'd like to choose my child's swimming teacher myself and have them confident and happy with the water BEFORE swimming lessons at school begin. Then they can take or leave what they get taught at school but it shouldn't put them off if they like their out-of-school swimming lessons.

You may be right Foreveroptimistic.

But the thought of him learning and probably having to be rescued on a daily basis whilst he is having the lessons fills me with dread, especially as I don't think he would want to carry on afterwards.

I don't swim very well - I had a few lessons as school, I could probably swim a couple of lengths and I have never felt the need to learn any further nor have I ever felt I was missing out. I haven't been swimming since I was about 21 and I am very very pleased I don't have to go now.

oops "on hols and weekends"

Oh yes fluffles - riding a bike also essential

Your friend at uni - that was like me. On holsends, everyone else goes swimming, I sat at the side pretending yes, I was absolutely happy sitting by the poolside with my book while everyone else was enjoying themselves, yes really

surely it depends on the swimming lesson - they can be 'child centred' or they can be awful experiences. And different children need different types of teaching (maybe even 1:1). I don't feel confident that i'd be the best person to teach my child to swim but if i couldn't find a sympathetic professional we both bonded with then i'd try to do it myself. It's on my list of non-negotiables because i went to uni with someone who couldn't swim and have seen how hard it was for her to learn at 21 and what she missed out on.

And i'll 'make' them learn to ride a bike too for the same reason.

I know that sounds bossy and horrible but i will try all sorts of gentle and nurturing ways to help them learn but they will be able to swim and ride a bike at some point.

Because swimming is a social activity, exercise and life skill. But to be able to enjoy the 'fun' stuff you have to learn it all properly first.

I never learnt to swim (learnt as an adult) and I felt soooo miserable and left out so many times. It's the one and only thing I've made my children do.

I agree with you Niecie that around 4 is the right age. I didn't see much point in starting ds any earlier.

I may be wrong but I read somewhere that although learning to swim takes much longer if you have dyspraxia, once you have mastered the skill it is one of the best sports for people with dyspraxia. My swimming instructor admitted to me that she didn't think I would ever learn as my co-ordination is non-existent but I did eventually manage it.

I understand where you are coming from Scrumplet. I didn't bother when mine were little because I read that children don't have the coordination to swim properly until they are 4ish.

I didn't want a toddler who is confident in water. I would rather it was something they fear. Toddlers have no sense and I didn't want them to see water and think they could go for a swim. I would rather they were afraid of it and stayed away.

Besides DS1 has dyspraxia and poor bilateral integration. I am pretty sure that he isn't going to be able to manage to swim to a safe level anyway in the same way I don't think he ever going to manage to ride a bike safely.

I make ds go, he is nearly 4 and a half. He liked it at first but now the novelty has worn off and he would rather not go I think he just wants to fast forward to the stage where he can swim. I do it because I think being able to swim is an essential life skill and like a lot of things the older you start the harder it is. I didn't learn until I was 23 and I don't want ds to miss out on things like I did. He will thank me for this in the long run. I hope!

Actually baby lessons are very useful and could save a child's life. Young children drown in small amounts of water because the panic underwater.
A good baby lesson will teach them to

automatically turn towards and reach the side if the fall in.

water confidence so they don't panic and swallow water if their face is underwater.

Also when my dd burnt her hand as a toddler the doctor said swimming was a really good form of physio to stop kelloid scarring.

It was also good fun.