7 year old, swimming lessons

[BakedBeeeen]

I have a 7 year old who has never had swimming lessons and can't swim (sharp intake of breath! Yes this is truly shocking in the MC area in which we currently reside!)
My question is, will there be swimming lessons for non-swimmers his age? Or will he have to take a class with much younger kids? Perhaps a week-long crash course would be a better bet to teach him to swim? Thoughts much appreciated...

Can he float / submerge his face in water / doggy paddle?

If not I would book him for a couple of 1-1 sessions, they will get him confident in the water before looking at the actual swimming part.

If he has a level of confidence book a crash course and then move into the appropriate class when he's ready.

OR on the off chance you are going on holiday somewhere with a pool this summer...see what they offer.

Another thing COVID has ruined for kids. I am lucky mine were already at stage 7 when lockdown happened, my niece and nephew have gone backwards if anything and the whole bloody drop beach ready and change in the car isn't helping things either.

Your child is in no way alone, many adults can't swim. Lots of swimming pools and swim schools cater for exactly this situation. The issue you will have is deman is massively outstripping supply. I'd get yourself on every waiting list near you for regular lessons and do as much as you cna prior to getting a place to help water confidence - so lots of family swims and water play etc.

Worth looking out for summer holiday intensive courses and 1:1 sessions as they're often held in smaller private/ school pools.

Thank you idontlikealdi I hadn't considered 1-1 lessons. Will take it from there.

I’d maybe try 1:1 lessons to get to stage 2/3 so you can try and skip stage 1 which feels a bit painful. My just turned 5yo is the youngest in her stage 2 class. I’d say all of the other kids are between 6 and 8 so your son wouldn’t be unusual at all in our pool. I think mine will stay in her class a while as you can see she doesn’t have the strength or coordination of the older ones. Your 7yo should probably catch-up really quickly.

My 6yo just started lessons. He's with others aged 4-6. He's learning really fast and enjoying it (he hated lessons when we tried pre Covid). 1-1 lessons are a great idea too.

Swimming lessons are usually based on ability not age group (apart from the parent / child baby & toddler type ones). There will be a lot of kids who've missed joining lessons in the last 18 months so I would suspect he wouldn't be alone in being a bit older than the minimum age. My nephew is 6 going on 7 and has only just started lessons and looking at them I'd say his group are all a similar age to him.
1-1 lessons or a crash course over the summer would be a great way to get him started though. Also go as a family if you can (I know bookings round here are rarer than hen's teeth at the moment!) so he's confident being in the water, getting his face wet, blowing bubbles in the water, holding onto the side etc.

Thanks all for your advice, v reassuring!

My 7 year old has just starting and the rest of the class are all similar age. I think lots of people are in a similar boat of starting later due to covid.

Yes, my 6 year old could swim before COVID but she's only just gone back to lessons and has regressed massively. So she's in stage 2 lessons and the others in the class are 6/7/8 I'd say. So he won't be out of place.