I'm a swimming teacher

[Starlitestarbright]

Hi feel free to ask me any questions. I teach learn to swim 3 upwards and school swimming.

My dd is is 7 and has just learnt butterfly.

I haven't questioned it but really wtf is the point of this? To expend as much energy as possible so you drown before reaching the shore?

what are the parents like?

😂

Switchwitch I agree I'm not sure why it's still on the framework I think its fine If you want to compete at a club level but many just don't use it. I think it should be the three strokes frontcrawl, backstroke and breastroke.

Is it as frustrating for you teaching as it is for me watching 😂

Nimbostratus100 most a great. I get some lovely gifts at Christmas. You can get some awful ones aswell many wanting their child to move up too early, many are good once you expect the reason why with is usual getting the technique right first before increasing distance. I had one parent asked why they hadn't moved up they had missed 5 weeks worth of lessons are prior to that were constant. They couldn't possibly keep up with the next class.

Reluctantadult yes sometimes its more frustrating when kids miss several sessions. Feedback is so important and giving corrections so kids will take them on board, some no matter what you say go in one ear and out the other.

Doggy paddle and floating/skimming is my limit in all honesty.

Switchwitch there are adult lessons if you wanting to learn.

Is it ever too late for kids to start? My son is almost 6 and terrified of the water. No matter what we try. Even in the bath he panics if it splashes his face
He will start swimming with school in 2 years and I want him to have SOME confidence before then but he doesn't even like going to "swim" for fun

What's the youngest it's actually worth having lessons from (ie they'll actually learn to swim)? We've done lessons with DD since 12 weeks but stopped after about a year because it was just a lot of bobbing around (clearly I wasn't expecting her to be able to swim!!). But just wondering when we should start it up again.

Not the op but my son only learned at 7 and was extremely nervous. Once it clicked it really clicked and he is doing stage 6 now at nearly 9 and it is a joy to watch him in the pool, he's a beautiful swimmer showing lots of potential. Never too late!

Thanks @JessicaPeach this gives me hope! Did you keep encouraging or did he just "want to" eventually?

DS is 9 level 8 I think (DH takes him). Swims all the different strokes and does 3 lengths without stopping (despite being skinny and the smallest in the class)

He's now bored with it all and I'm worried he will forget everything. Is it reasonable to give him a few months break and restart when the weather is better.

ParadiseCittyyy ideally the younger the best it depends on the child really. My son is 7 he has had ago at swimming with me but he has ASD and struggles with instructions. I tend to let him lead the way when we got swimming. I have toys and sinkers in the pool for him to use. Do you take him to the pool? I find that helps especially before enrolling him in lessons so he knows what to expect from the pool the depth, warmth.

jemimafuddleduck
Baby lessons tend to be more sociable than swimming and alot you can do with them yourself. Depends on the child we teach from 3 upwards but I'd say about 3.5-4 where they can listen and follow instructions. Many of my ducklings are now in my stage 4s. I had one little girl who would get upset didn't like getting wet she was only 3 I told her parents to wait a couple of months to let her settle and mature she hated having a shower. She came back a different child face in and is now in stage 3!

Nope. Very happy with floating!

purpledalmation Some kids get bored after a while especially if it's constant swimming and that's ok, he wouldnt forget how to swim as its like riding a bike but the stamia won't be as strong as it with him going now. My dd who's also 9 swims for a club and is going for the next level club which will mean state galas is that something your ds would consider doing?

Hi - I've just finished a year of adult lessons and have reached the point where the class is too basic to help me anymore but the thought of joining a masters swimming club is daunting.

Should I go to lane swimming to build up my endurance? If so how often would you recommend a week?? If they're anything else I should be doing???
Thank you!!!

It took a bit of bribery to get him to jump in, put his face in etc but as soon as he realised he could do it he absolutely flew. I just wanted him to learn so he could do it, and as you say, hold his own in the school lessons etc but he loves it so much more than that. I never could have imagined it when he was whimpering at the side of the shallow end, not able to jump in. It was a steep learning curve with some tough moments but worth it.

How do you feel about googles with those hologram lizard eyes on them.

Do you prefer teaching in the water or from the side.

Whats your favourite stage, eg pre school, 5 metres, 100 meters?

Also what is the ratio for your school swimming, and do you have a lifeguard on poolside for it?

Would you recomend it as a career and how do you get into it?

Can you swim yourself really well?

Theawfultruth I would say go every other day if you can, we usually have the fast and slow lanes so go for the times when the pool is less busy. You can get a kick board to work on legs or a pool bouy which you put inbetween your legs to strength arms that will help to increase endurance and stamia.

WestOfWestminster
They are OK googles I prefer clear ones. I teach more on the high levels on a Mon, Tues Thurs and little pool Wed and Fri I like the mixture of big pool and little pool my favourite stages are 2 and 6/7. Stage 2 because they are starting to use frontcrawl arms and swimming across independently. Stage 6/7 refining the strokes and techniques.

We have 32 children for school swimming and 2 school swimming teachers. We use two pools with two lifeguards. Yes I love my job I wish I did it when I was alot younger and would have went abroad with it to dubai, Australia or camp America if I had my time again before kids. I used to swim in a swimming club from the age of about 8/9 till about 14 years old. I swam for my university aswell at one point but was difficult to keep up with my course as a student nurse with shifts. I have nice technique but no stamia now. I got into teaching after I had my 3rd child and I was looking into getting a job around my dhs shifts, the opportunity came up to train to be a swimming teacher.

@Starlitestarbright thanks for your time! My question is how much planning do you have to personally do?

I don't float. I just...don't.

Everyone tells me this isn't possible but I had so many swimming lessons as a child including 1-1 lessons in the holidays and never ever managed to do more than get a 5m badge.

As an adult now I've put on a bit of weight since having my last baby, I find it slightly easier to bob around in the pool but I still don't float like other people do.

Do I have a faulty swim bladder? Or...?

Whatafielddayfortheheat I don't do lessons plans, not many of us do. We of course try new things different equipment, look at different resources for guidance for games and mixing things up really, it helps that I'm a swimmer and that I was in a club so I'm familiar which stroke drills such as catch up, zip up etc. We do go on cpd courses. I've got one coming up about children with autism in group lessons.