To take 3.6 yr old out of swimming lessons or not? WWYD?

[EggsOvaryZee]

WWYD?! I take my DD to a swimming lesson once a week. It's a taught lesson where I sit there and read in peace watch whilst she's in with a teacher and about 6 other kids. A while ago, she kept saying she didn't want to go - not crying or screaming but firmly saying 'I don't want to go swimming mummy' - when asked why and she menioned about getting water in her eyes, we bought goggles...which was OK, but actually she only wore them once; isn't too keen on those either.
Now, she has stoped complaining too much (I must admit to bribing her before) and the teacher said she's better because she now trusts her but DD still turned round to me the other day and said she didn't want to go.
I'm torn.
My DS goes swimming and is OK with it. We live on the coast and I feel it's a very important skill....and myself and OH are poor swimmers. I don't mind going int he water with her to 'play' and splash but am not cononfident to 'teach' her myself. The swimming is paid for termly.

Do I enroll her for next term, or just leave it? I guess I'm worried about a number of things - forcing the issue and putting her off for life, but also if she's learnt a bit and then we don't go for a few years, will she unlearn whatever progress he had been making...? Also, is it any sort of lesson that if she complains then I withdraw her? What about sticking at stuff etc...?!

I would see them through to the end of term and then just take her 'fun' swimming for a while and try again next year.

^ is what I'm doing with DS, who wails loudly through the whole thing. Only 4 weeks to go!

DS still complains about his weekly swimming lesson at the age of 6, even though he is doing well and has been promoted through the levels!

Presumably you have paid up for the term, so I would keep going for now. Like peasant says you could give it a rest for a term but make sure you take her to the pool so she doesn't lose the sensation of being in the water and gets more comfortable with it. At this age I don't think she will get the long term relevance about sticking at things etc etc. and children seem to pick up swimming more quickly the older they get, so I don't think you will lose too much of what she has learnt so far.

I'd start her again in the summer term and see how she gets on or even see in the summer if they have any of those one week intensive courses where they go every day for a week.

Alternatively just keep going with it and ignore her complaints, provided she seems to be doing ok in the lessons and isn't lagging behind or being upset then I don't think it will scar her for life to keep going.

Take her out for now. Try again in the summer.

Persevere. My DD had a bit of a wobble when she was 3.75 and I'm still not sure what it was about but for 3 or 4 weeks she was doing exactly what yours is doing now, saying she didn't want to go. Then just as soon as she started it, she stopped and she loved it again.

Having said all that, part of the reason I made her keep going is that it is murder to get into swimming lessons here - once you are in it's easy to progress but getting into 'the system' is very hard. If lessons were more easily accessible I might have caved.

Yes keep her in. I remember spending a few years in Oz and being shocked by other people s determination that their child should stay in the lesson even though they were crying to get out. I was thinking... wtf?! Cant these mothers see their children are unhappy?? Then someone said 'they just need to learn. There s too many back yard pools about over here for them not to. ' and you know, within the space of 6 months, they were fine. No more crying, smiles etc. can you get the teacher to insist on goggles? Is there a nursery playmate that cd take the same class so it s seen as fun and a social thing?

I think unless you are willing to go yourself frequently it might be worth continuing now that you have started. Having said that I don't tend to pay for lessons until they are school age, as they probably won't swim much before that, yes I know there are excceptions, including ds who is just 3; never been near a lesson in his life (well except to drop off his sisters), but just loves swimming under water. Most children don't though.

Make sure she keeps going and take her in between lessons for a fun splash. At 3 children are old enough to learn strokes (normally breaststroke first). A good teacher will be able to win her over and make sure the lessons are fun and engaging with lots of praise and encouragement.

Don't insist on goggles, children should learn without them unless the pool is very chlorinated and she's coming out with red eyes. Find out why she doesn't want to go. What is she like in the lessons? Does she join in? Is she independent in the water without a buoyancy aid? What does the teacher say? If not, and especially if she's lacking in confidence, you should ask the teacher is there is a lesson where you can get in with her.

Please ensure your child can swim, it's as important as knowing how to cross a road. I'm a swimming teacher and teach children from 6 months old, mostly in 1:1 lessons, semi private or groups of 4. Most kids wher we live are independent in the water by age 2 and starting strokes by 3. 4 year olds who cant swim lengths are unusual. It takes a while to win over a small child in a strange environment and 2-3 is the age when fear of the water kicks in. You can only overcome this by spending lots more time in the water, during lessons and in between. Get to the pool as much as you can, make it fun and she will get there.

I would just take her our of formal lessons, but still take her for regular fun swims (aim for weekly). It will increase your confidence, too.

I don't think you get value for money out of swimming lessons for most children under about 5.5yo. After that I tend to make them stay in until at least 10yo to (try to) make sure they are strong swimmers for life.

Oh dear, you've had polarised responses, haven't you!!?

Good luck. Remember it's your life & you have to live with it.

We had exactly the same and we are near the coast too... We took her out and left it a couple of years, then when she was 6, I enrolled her in a half term every morning flash course at a local swim school with only three kids per teacher. She came on so much, and has done about 4 terms since then and is a really good swimmer now.

I think it's about picking your time...(but I would carry on till the end of term, then leave it for a while).

All mine started lessons around their 4th birthday and it was made very clear to them they will be going every week until they achieved level 7, swimming is none negotiable, i wouldn't be able to live with myself if anything was to happen to them.

How quickly did your children reach level 7, Hoodoo?

I agree hoodoo, it's not up to the child.

Whether OP continues with the current teacher, finding out if the lessons can be done differently or adjusted to suit her dd, making them more appealing, or with another teacher, I would not stop a potentially life-saving course of lessons because a 3 year old child wasn't keen.... If there is a dislike or fear of swimming lessons, find out what it is and correct it with the teacher, don't just cancel the lessons.