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Original poster

6 yr old 5 yr old can't swim

38 replies

Catscat · 30/09/2019 05:57

Since my children were born ive rarely taken them swimming as I live to far from a swimming pool and didn't own a car.
Im now close to a pool and I can get there.

Whenever I've managed to take them swimming ( twice during the holidays ☹️)
They do take their arm bands off for 15 mins and try and swim but just don't have a clue. I have tried teaching them but they don't get it

My eldest is desperate to swim as all her friends can afford lessons after school .
She practices in the bath putting her head underwater and holding her breath .but my youngest is still a bit hesitant ( she will do it but doesn't like to )

My family say wait until they get free lessons in school .

I'm now terrified about them being near big body's of water as I want them to learn and I want to get rid of my anxiety

Now I can I'd like to take them every Saturday for an hour in the kids pool
Any advice ?, Anyone late learners ?

OP posts:
Spanglyprincess1 · 30/09/2019 06:02

Our pool does lessons on Sat and Sundays at £22 a month
Really they need lessons and to go swimming to practice.
But I swam way before lessons and went 3x a week with my dad. Maybe Google teaching methods. Get noodles and other tools rather than just armbands to help.

SarfE4sticated · 30/09/2019 06:04

My DD couldn't swim until much later than that. Just went to the pool for fun really. Just before starting Y4 when they were going to have lessons at school I paid for some 1 to 1 lessons at the local pool, just so she was confident and close to be able to swim. I hated swimming as a kid, so wanted her to be prepared.

Fatshedra · 30/09/2019 06:09

If you wear goggles and put your face in the water and take your feet off the bottom of the pool, spread your arms and legs out you will float. Do this within your depth so you can put your feet down when you want.
I only discovered this late in life after being a bad swimmer for years.
You actually float in water. I thought you sank. However you will sink if you try to keep your head up out of the water.
Anyway once floating you can move your arms and 'swim'.

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CroissantsAtDawn · 30/09/2019 06:12

In France they dont take DC for swimming lessons until they're 6. And then the DC learn quicker cos they know exactly how to move and control their bodies.

I think just taking them to play is fine for now. Get them used to being in water and putting their heads under. Ring a ring a roses is a great game to getting them go under.

ChipsAreLife · 30/09/2019 06:12

Our lessons work out at £25 pm. Would that be cheaper than you going every week as a family?
Could you maybe gift her lessons for Christmas or ask family to? I do think they need proper lessons to get the basics right.

happycamper11 · 30/09/2019 06:14

They won't learn much at school swimming - there's a lot of kids and it's a short block. Personally I scrimp and save to send my 2 to lessons. I don't take them that often myself though. It doesn't cost much more for lessons a week than it does to pay the 3 of us in but they learn much more at the lesson, when I take them they just want to play

happycamper11 · 30/09/2019 06:16

Also I'd worry about her being one of the only ones in arm bands and being embarrassed at school. I went along with my dc class as a parent helper and there were only 2 complete non swimmers. It was commented on by some of the boys in the group

allabouteve1 · 30/09/2019 06:21

Lots of pools do intensive holiday/ summer courses. This is how my DD learnt to swim. Could you maybe look for something like this for the October half term?

Tigerty · 30/09/2019 06:22

They’re at a good age to learn to swim. Have a look at your local leisure centre to join either the council run swimming lessons or a swimming club especially because your eldest is keen to learn.

There weren’t that many free swimming lessons at school. I know my DCs needed a lot more swimming lessons to learn to swim. DS1 was reluctant to get in the pool, DS2 used to hop while pretending to swim. They’re now at secondary school doing galas and loving it.

Don’t wait. It’s a good sport to do to keep them fit and healthy plus it’s a good life skill to have (my DS2 needed it on holiday - could have been a different outcome)

CeeceeBloomingdale · 30/09/2019 06:26

Lessons are essential in my opinion. My eldest started quite late at 6.5 and was a fish, one of the best in her class when they went in Y4. My youngest started at 5.5 and learned well, it's a good age to start. If you can't afford lessons try and get a copy of the usborn book Teach your child to swim

SlavesToTheKitchen · 30/09/2019 06:28

6 is a great age to learn. It's a pain having two non - swimmers without arm bands and arm bands won't teach them how to swim properly although it's easier for you.
I put one of mine in lessons and swam with the other during the lesson. Then swapped the following term.
As you've more than 1, it might be worth looking into a couple of private lessons. They might learn as much as in a whole course, depends on your DC.

PantsCrisis · 30/09/2019 06:35

When I was small there were no swimming lessons, so they're not essential unless you want to swim competitively. My dad taught us to swim by taking us once a week. I started with an inflatable ring and armbands, then just the armbands and him standing by me supporting my tummy with his hands, until I got the hang of it. Meanwhile my younger sister bobbed happily in her ring and armbands waiting for her turn. Your eldest daughter is already well motivated, which is 95% of your battle and I bet when the youngest sees her swimming, she'll won't want to be outdone!
Going regularly is the key, good luck, you will get there!Smile

SlavesToTheKitchen · 30/09/2019 06:42

Just as an afterthought... She practices in the bath putting her head underwater and holding her breath
Mine were told to practice blowing bubbles in the bath. They need to breathe out underwater rather than hold their breath. Then raise the head to breathe in.

PillarOfSalt · 30/09/2019 06:53

It’s really important that they can swim. I help out at school with swimming lessons and in the 3 years I’ve done it there hasn’t been a child completely unable to swim when the lessons have started in yr2. We do live by the sea so that may effect it slightly though.

Now that you’re close to a pool I think you really need to be taking them every weekend until they can at least tread water. If you get them a woggle each they look less embarrassing than armbands.

stucknoue · 30/09/2019 06:57

Mine didn't learn until later and it only took one course (6 lessons). Take them each school holiday and put a little aside each month, next year perhaps a course of lessons each makes a good Christmas present.

BeanBag7 · 30/09/2019 07:00

The school lessons are really just a box ticking exercise. At our school they get 1 hour a day for 2 weeks, which really isn't enough to learn to swim especially in a big group of kids all at different abilities.
I think swimming lessons are definitely one of the things it's worth spending money on, once they're 5+ and at an age they can actually do it effectively.

BooseysMom · 30/09/2019 07:05

My family say wait until they get free lessons in school

This. My DS didn't have a clue and has only just learned to swim using a float. It was the reception school lessons that got him to this stage. He's nearly 6. We tried lessons and he hated them and so we tried to teach him ourselves but he just didn't respond. So it was amazing when he showed me how he could swim after just two school lessons!
So I'd say don't worry, they learn in their own time. I worried for nothing!

dancemom · 30/09/2019 07:05

First of all ditch the armbands.
Get them a kick board / float, you can often borrow these from the pool.
Goggles on and blowing bubbles not holding their breath.
Hold the kick board out in front with straight arms and get them to kick their legs while blowing bubbles, we use the phrase pencil shape to remind them to be streamline in the water. Small fast kicks, keeping their feet in the water.
Same on their back too.
Also practice star floats on their front and back.
Good luck.

SushiGo · 30/09/2019 07:07

If you can't afford lessons now, you could look at saving up and waiting until they start school lessons, then they will be having 2x lessons a week, plus you taking them at the weekend and that much practice should help them crack on and learn quickly.

In the meantime I would ditch the arm bands and get a pool noodle. Watch some videos on you tubes about techniques.

One of mine has been scared of swimming so just starting to learn at nearly 8 and we're focusing on jumping in the pool and getting his head under the water.

NeverTwerkNaked · 30/09/2019 07:10

Our local pool sometimes does free lessons so they can train new teachers. They are normally over the school holidays. Might be worth keeping your eye out for similar?

Lindy2 · 30/09/2019 07:11

If you can afford it they need swimming lessons.

I would prioritise swimming lessons over any other after school or weekend club. It is an essential life skill.

beela · 30/09/2019 07:17

Our 'free' lessons at school are £5 per week!

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 30/09/2019 07:17

When Dd was that age I was in a similar position, no car and couldn't get to a local pool. DD started having lessons when she was 7.5 years old, 6months later she got her mile certificate and at 9 she joined the local swimming club and started competing. She is a natural and learning to swim later hasn't held her back, in fact I think she excelled so fast because she was older, better able to understand instructions and her gross motor skills were better developed. When you have lessons at our local pool the children swim for free at all other times.

  1. Don't rely on free school lessons, schools in my area don't do them despite being near the sea. Look and see if there is a swimming club near you, they often do learn to swim lessons which are far cheaper than council run lessons.
  2. If you can don't use arm bands as they don't give the child the correct body position, use a noodle.
  3. Go swimming and play games, don't stress about 'learning to swim'. Take a small pool ball and play catch they'll soon start putting their head under chasing each other for the pool.
  4. Get them comfortable being out of their depth, 'siderman' along the edge of the pool and practise pushing off to see if they can touch the floor and then push back up to reach the sides, building skills incase they ever fall in water.
  5. Don't worry about technique, just doing the above Dd could doggy paddle one length of the pool before she started lessons. She could do enough to save herself/or at least prevent panic if she fell in.
  6. Don't be anxious it's very, very unlikely that you'll let them near any big bodies if water unattended.
  7. If you have a garden a big overground pool is great for building confidence in the summer and doesn't cost too much.
Hydrogenbeatsoxygen · 30/09/2019 07:23

Sign them up for proper swimming lessons ASAP. School lessons aren’t that great.

user1493413286 · 30/09/2019 07:25

Can you afford lessons? The school lessons don’t really teach them to swim in my experience so i’d definitely get them lessons. If not then carry on taking them so they’re confident in the water.