Would you let DS give up swimming lessons?

[IHeartKingThistle]

DS is 9. He can swim. He is lovely and does what he's told but he's been in Stage 4 for AGES. He doesn't enjoy it at all and would like to stop. He can swim a length, tread water, swim 3 different strokes, underwater somersault etc. Confident in the water, enjoys it on holiday, just doesn't love it. He's noticed he's older than everyone else in his swimming group.

I'm going to ask the teacher how he can improve because he has no idea (which isn't great in itself) but I am considering letting him stop earlier than DD who got to stage 6.

He's very active and plays football twice a week as well as lots of other activities. He's obsessed with his guitar. For context, he won't ride a bike either - he learned because we made him, but he absolutely hates it and so doesn't do it sadly. Swimming we've always seen as a life skill so compulsory. So should I make him carry on?

He's very good natured and won't argue or cry either way. He really likes his teacher. He just keeps asking when he can stop.

I'd like to know this too. My 9.5yr son is going though the Scottish Learn to Swim levels which sound different but he's miles behind my DD was at this age - she was at swim club or just about! He can swim but there's no real skill or finesse there.

He hates going (but mainly as it's super early on a Saturday morning) too.

I say no. You don’t want to turn something that is both fun and useful into a chore. He has other interests, let him focus on those.

Let him know that the lessons already paid for will be attended and you'll not sign up for the next tranche.

He's given his best shot, he can swim confidently. Job done.

Private lesson? Motivation, can you go to a swimming event to watch or wAtch some racing on tv? Interest him in triathlon comps etc

Let him stop the lessons unless you really think swimming is going to lead to brilliant things for him.

If he goes swimming to learn to swim, then job done and let him stop.

If he goes swimming because he's super talented and has always wanted to be an olympic swimmer until recently, I'd push him on for a bit in case it's just a blip in the enthusiasm.

From what you've said about the situation; let him stop!

As an adult who learnt to swim at 31, once I had achieve my goal I found it boring as sin and stopped not long after.

Don't make him continue.

Let him stop. He can swim and is confident in water.

If he is stage 4, can he actually swim? As in, can he do at least 25 metres of front crawl or breaststroke? If not, then I would try some one to one lessons.

We were in exactly this position with 11-year-old DS - he had been stuck in Level 4 for nearly two years. He kept having different teachers - one would say 'He's 99% there - he just needs to work on his stamina before I can move him up', and then three weeks later there'd be a new teacher who'd say 'His stamina's fine but he just needs to work on his technique'. Meanwhile he was merrily swimming lengths with no problem, treading water etc., but finding it increasingly boring and demoralising, so we've just stopped and I must say it's a massive relief!

I'd say one to one lessons rather than give up at this point. At 9 and at stage 4, he can't really swim that well and isn't old enough to retain the knowledge he does have. Since you say he doesn't enjoy it, presumably he won't go regularly if lessons stop.

My ds (also 9) dislikes swimming but is ok at it. It's the only activity I insist he does (he does lots of other things that he likes more). He's stage 6 now and is in Y5. We have a deal that he can stop weekly lessons either when he finishes stage 7 or when he finishes Y6, whichever comes first. He moans a bit, but I do think a confident ability to swim is crucial later in life when he wants to go on water slides with friends, or canoeing with cubs or whatever.

I'm at the same point with my DS who's nearly 9. He can swim 25m front and back crawl and is ok at breast stroke. He's confident swimming underwater and jumping in. He has no enthusiasm for it at all, hates going to lessons after school but doesn't do many other things. He has told me he doesn't want to move up a class because they start doing distance badges.

He is finishing this term's lessons and then he'll stop I think.

Thanks so much for the responses. He's actually really taken to the idea of private lessons - he's quite frustrated that he has no idea why he isn't moving up so I think that's a great idea. Will look into it.

DS also stalled around this age. Turned out he had very tight hamstrings and was never going to be able to do breaststroke legs to the teacher’s satisfaction. The swimming school would not make allowances even though otherwise ds swam very proficiently.
So we left. He could swim, job done!

Yes, a few 1 to 1 lessons will hopefully enable him to pass the stage. Perhaps that will gee him up and motivate him to carry on for a little longer- I think to be genuinely competent in the water, he could do with going a bit further. Sometimes the thought of being able to give up ( at the end of stage 6 say) can really focus their mind!!!
Have you looked up exactly what he needs to be able to do to pass this stage? Make sure he knows. Maybe ask if 1 to 1 teacher could do an assessment rather than waiting for the class?

I never understood why dp push endless swimming lessons they are very tedious beyond learning basic skills.

If your happy he can swim as with nealry every post on here let the poor lad stop!

You can always do some one to one later on if you feel he needs a boost.