Should I let dd stop swimming lessons?

[Deminism]

DD is stage 5 (and is nearly 9yo). She is a really strong swimmer (had a sea swimming lesson this summer as part of a surf lesson and and was complemented on it by surf instructors) and really liked it up to stage 4 but she hates stage 5. Says it is just doing lengths and very boring. TBH I would be happy for her to stop so I don't have to find childcare for her siblings and drag her out in the cold and dark for the lesson each week. Anyway she is very active so I am not worried re the exercise but just wondering whether others have let their kids stop once they are good swimmers or what the benefits are to carrying on.

In the same situation I found other swim related things to keep skills up - water polo, lifeguard training, synchronised swimming

DC was a similar age when we stopped swimming lessons. She could swim 1km in 3 different strokes, could tread water and swim in clothes. Was confident in the sea on holiday and fine with being under water.

She was never going to be a swim squad swimmer. It wasn't scientific but I was confident that she could be safe in and around water and had enough swimming ability to take part in water-based activities in the future - snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, water skiing, canoeing etc.

Don’t see the point. Find a sport she enjoys personally think team sports preferable for dc development than ploughing up and down the pool unless swimming really her thing

DD stopped at the end of Stage 6. That was the deal we had with her. She had to be able to swim 100m and be confident diving/falling in plus in Stage 6 at our pool, they swam with clothes on, which I thought was useful for her to experience.

Basically, our goal with swimming lessons was that DD would have the skills to be safe (as far as she can be). We've subsequently been to places like Centre Parcs and it has been reassuring she's able to swim and be confident in the water.

I don't think stage 5 is a great end point, they focus on stroke technique but not so much distance or stamina building, all three are needed for strong swimming skills imo. Agree with pp, add other swimming related things if they're bored, but at 9 and stage 5 I don't think lifeguarding is an option just yet. But many friends have allowed even younger children to stop at a similar stage as they "can swim now", and lots do get stuck at stage 4/5 because they're not that fussed. She's can go back to it later but that 'great swimmer' thing comes from practice.

DD as similar at that stage. We knew she would never consider a club so thought about stopping.

But then she changed the timing of her lesson and it was the same as for the life guard training. She was so keen on doing this she spoke to the main teacher and when she learned she had to finish all stages first she threw herself into it, managed the last two stages in less than normal and now does rookie lifeguard since 18 months and absolutely loves it,

So,if there is anything else she may find interesting, continue. If not, I would stop.

I'm in a similar position, I've found swimming lessons very frustrating as they seem very repetitive and my DD hasn't learnt to tumble turn etc yet.

It is unlikely that she will be good enough to join a swimming club but is bored by the lack of progress in weekly lessons.

What are your and her expectations of swimming longer term? Something to do competitively, or just be safe and have fun in the water? If the former, keep going, but if the latter, let her stop (and make your life easier).

Another one to suggest rookie lifeguarding instead.

My rule with swimming was always that they could stop when I felt they could save their own life. Both chose to continue because they enjoyed it, and DS1 who is 14 swims competitively. Both do kayaking so they're in water week in week out, which I like.

If it's something she's not enjoying I wouldn't force it since you know she can swim. Just make sure she goes regularly enough to keep up with it.

DS stopped in stage 4. He was bored. If he falls in hopefully he can save himself. He is safe in a swimming pool with his friends. You can't force them to keep going.

DTS are 8 and in stage 6. We have agreed they will stay to the end of stage 7 which completes the course but then they will go on to Rookie Lifeguarding to keep skills up. When we swim as a family they don't actually swim properly so will lose the skills.

The emphasis on technically correct butterfly completely baffles me though.

Sounds like she has it nailed.... Just take her out.... Doing lenhths over and over again would be so tedious