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Original poster

Would you be happy with this new swimming lesson rule?

109 replies

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 17/12/2021 19:34

Not sure if I’m wrong about this- dd 4 attends a swimming class on sundays, the school has just sent the new rules for the centre given corona virus, near on all are fine: masks, one way systems etc- but they have said parents can’t stay during lessons and must wait in the car/ car park. One issue is that sometimes my child needs the loo midway through a lesson (we always try before class), in which case I take her- and secondly I just don’t feel comfortable not being able to see her. Am I ott ?

OP posts:
INeedNewShoes · 17/12/2021 22:59

4 year olds who have been swallowing pool water can need a wee quite urgently before their half hour lesson is up.

LizzieSiddal · 18/12/2021 07:20

This so a non issue Hmm

Clearly not for the OP or the many other posters who’s said they would not wait outside whilst a 4 year old has swimming lesson.

sashh · 18/12/2021 08:26

@Clymene

Surely a swimming lesson is max 30 mins? Even a 4 year old can go that long without a wee
A four year old that doesn't need the loo and then gets into cool water may need the loo.

OP

Can you suggest you go to the door of the swimming pool at a set time and the teacher can ask?

Obviously this only works if your dd is the only one who needs to go in the lesson.

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Original poster
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 18/12/2021 08:27

Thanks for all the diff opinions- I do think there should be an exception for kids under 6/7 years old, I’ve raised the issue. To explain, when my daughter goes to the loo in school it’s just teachers and school kids in the building, at the pool there are unknown unchecked adults in the changing rooms/ loo area - also an issue with the lock on the door and her potentially touching the toilet when getting on and off which is adult height (unlike reception loos). Not the biggest issue granted but I will raise the question re: the younger kids

OP posts:
MintJulia · 18/12/2021 08:29

That's standard practice at our club.

Look on the bright side, they haven't told you to accompany your dd in the pool yet Smile

Justkeeppedaling · 18/12/2021 08:31

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Yes I take her to the loo beforehand- but sometimes she needs to go mid class not often but sometimes

If she goes before the class, and the class is probably max 1 hour, probably shorter, DD can wait until the end of the class to have a wee.

maryzx · 18/12/2021 08:40

@SergeiL

I get the argument about not being able to wrestle down a wet costume, but half an hour without the loo should not be beyond the capability of an average 4 year old, assuming no SEN.
It doesn't matter what you think should or shouldn't be beyond the capability of an average 4yr old. The OP is talking about her own daughter, and it's hardly helpful to be telling her in essence that she has failed as a parent. All our children have their own particular quirks/challenges/routines, and in pre-Covid times, nobody would have thought twice about it, never mind judged a fellow mother for it.

OP, I think it's completely unreasonable, and yet another example of an OTT Covid Rule. I suspect someone involved with the swimming pool is secretly enjoying making other people's lives difficult and uncomfortable.

SparePantsAndLego · 18/12/2021 08:42

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I’d consider getting her a rash vest and some board shirts to swim in, rather than a swimming costume, which even I find a pain if I need the loo!
You can get both in Decathlon and they’re not expensive.
This may be part of a solution as rules put in place because of covid don’t look to be going anywhere soon...

TallulahsCurse · 18/12/2021 08:43

I wouldn't have an issue leaving my DC as I assume that the swimming teacher would intervene if any problems ... What with that being their job and all. Like PPs say you don't leave them at school!

I'm not sure why your DC needs the toilet in a half hour lesson though... That's ..not exactly normal!

FannyCann · 18/12/2021 08:55

@PiesNotGuys I really admire your dedication persisting with swim classes in these circumstances. Hanging around a fire escape at the back in the dark sounds particularly grim.

I strongly believe it is a parental duty to ensure your children learn to swim, whilst recognising it is an expensive activity for some.

Just very grateful my children are older and I didn't have Covid restrictions to cope with.
I do think the parental restrictions are a bit extreme and I wouldn't be happy, especially when parents are banished such that they would be difficult to find when needed. Kids also slip and get bumps, have nosebleeds, throw up at the pool!
It's helpful to have a parent on hand.

Goldbar · 18/12/2021 08:55

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

Thanks for all the diff opinions- I do think there should be an exception for kids under 6/7 years old, I’ve raised the issue. To explain, when my daughter goes to the loo in school it’s just teachers and school kids in the building, at the pool there are unknown unchecked adults in the changing rooms/ loo area - also an issue with the lock on the door and her potentially touching the toilet when getting on and off which is adult height (unlike reception loos). Not the biggest issue granted but I will raise the question re: the younger kids
I would ask about safeguarding/safety. If 4 yos are allowed to go to the loo unaccompanied and undressed, how are they safeguarded in a building to which random adults have access and where there is unfenced deep water? It's not beyond the realms of possiblity that a small child running back from the toilets would slip and fall into the pool unobserved in an area where the lesson is not happening. Hence why parents are recommended to supervise young children at all times around water and keep them within arm's length when swimming.
AvocadoTrees · 18/12/2021 08:57

No, one of my kids went under when he was in a one on two lesson when he was little and I noticed before the instructor.

megletthesecond · 18/12/2021 08:58

I wouldn't leave her if she needs the toilet. She'll be too scared to ask and it'll start causing problems with lessons.

LizzieSiddal · 18/12/2021 09:01

It's not beyond the realms of possiblity that a small child running back from the toilets would slip and fall into the pool unobserved in an area where the lesson is not happening. Hence why parents are recommended to supervise young children at all times around water and keep them within arm's length when swimming

This! It’s just madness to expect 4 year olds to be wondering about in a public swimming pool building, when dripping wet.

Original poster
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 18/12/2021 09:06

I'm not sure why your DC needs the toilet in a half hour lesson though... That's ..not exactly normal! seriously with all due to respect get lost! I’ve explained occasionally it would happen, it’s not a medical condition, god have you never got in the pool and the feel of water make you need the loo all of a sudden. My child is 4 yrs old!

OP posts:
Romeiswheretheheartis · 18/12/2021 09:11

I'm not sure why your DC needs the toilet in a half hour lesson though... That's ..not exactly normal!

That's pretty harsh. I remember loads of times my dd needed to wee during her swimming lessons, despite always checking beforehand. Sometimes they just really don't need to go beforehand, but 15/20 mins later they're suddenly desperate. And there's no way my dd would have been able to wrestle a wet costume down and up again on her own - I find it tricky myself!

Doublechocolatetiffin · 18/12/2021 09:16

Sadly this has been the case for our swimming lessons since the start of term. We could only ever watch outside anyway but now then won't even allow that. Completely OTT in my opinion. Now if children need a wee the swimming instructors need to deal with it. What can we do though? Everyone likes to make up their own completely bollocks covid rules.

Doublechocolatetiffin · 18/12/2021 09:18

Oh and for those saying a 4 yo should be able to go to 30 mins without weeing. Yes they can normally but there is something about being in the water that triggers the need to wee. It seems to be well known and acknowledged in my daughters swimming lessons so is hardly abnormal.

Spudina · 18/12/2021 09:20

Our swimming lessons have never allowed parents to watch as it’s too distracting for the kids. They take kids from three up. It works fine.

morechocolateneededtoday · 18/12/2021 09:22

@Goldbar

A dry 4yo going to the toilet by themselves in secure school premises is entirely different to sending them off by themselves in a state of undress in a building accessed by the general public and where there is free access to water.
Sums up my thoughts perfectly. The fact they can go alone at school is not relevant here, there are no unknown adults floating around unaccompanied at school.

To those saying it's not normal to need to go in the half hour lesson - I'm so glad this child doesn't have a nasty narrow-minded parent like you. They are 4!! Sometimes they suddenly need the toilet at that age

Bunnycat101 · 18/12/2021 09:24

Are all the people saying needing a wee is very unusual actually do swimming lessons with 3/4 year olds. I don’t believe my pool is so much of an outlier but I’ve seen kids do it loads in ducklings and red hats. The sensation and temp of the water, swallowing lots of it etc makes swimming different to just day to day life.

In our pool the teacher raises her hand and the parent has to accompany the child to the public toilets that are in the mixed-sex, public changing room. The children have to walk up the length of the main pool to get to the changing rooms. There is no way I’d be happy with my children doing that totally on their own at 4. When my husband has needed to take her, he’ll take her down to the toilets and then she goes into the ladies on her own but he’s there.

The teacher obviously can’t leave the group of swimmers or supervise any child out of the pool so from that respect it is clearly not ideal.

Mybalconyiscracking · 18/12/2021 09:26

I couldn’t wait for mine to be old enough to be left in the pool. I used to run or go to the gym for an hour.
What’s not to like?

Original poster
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 18/12/2021 09:28

@Mybalconyiscracking

I couldn’t wait for mine to be old enough to be left in the pool. I used to run or go to the gym for an hour. What’s not to like?
Just the safety aspect as she’s 4- this isn’t about me not wanting to miss a “precious moment”
OP posts:
Feetupteashot · 18/12/2021 09:40

Even if you do take them to the loo before the lesson sometimes they refuse to perform as they don't feel they need to go then!

rrhuth · 18/12/2021 09:43

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

i think it's sensible, but what about the parents who don't drive there? Hopefully there's somewhere else inside for them to wait nope says have to wait outside - I drive so selfishly no issue
We had the same rule and we are car-free - when we asked we were told we could to go indoors if necessary - we only used it once in heavy rain (rest of the time used the time to go food shopping!)

I am not sure I would be happy to leave a 4yo, I was leaving a much bigger child who could properly swim.

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