What age did your kids give up swimming lessons?

[unlikelychump]

Morning!

What age did your kids give up swimming lessons? My kids are 12, 10 and 8 and I am thinking we might be getting to that point with 2 of them. I'd like them to complete all the levels first really, but I am not sure we will quite get there.

Dd was about 11 but next step was bronze medallion which has age limits so waited about six years before completing that.

DS10 has just finished Wave 7 lessons (Wales) and is undecided whether he wants to carry on as he finds an hour of lengths tedious. He's an excellent swimmer though.

We originally were hoping to get to secondary and complete Level 7, but he picked up music/ensemble for a couple of hours after school, so it was the right time to stop.

He'd got to Level 6 class and was doing 8-10 25m laps in one go, so that was enough for us. We take him in the holidays now.

He sounds like a prime candidate for Rookie Lifeguards.

Until They could swim 50metres .

Mine stopped at age 8 because of covid. They had just completed stage 7. They then went on to rookie lifeguard which they loved.

When they completed all the levels to the end.

DS stopped at eleven after he'd completed all of the levels and the gold award. He did briefly go on to club swimming but just didn't want to commit to the hours needed for competition. I think as long as you're confident they are both safe AND sensible in the water then the age they swim to doesn't really matter.

My child was a slow starter, took a while to get him into lessons (waiting list), and then took a while to progress, but then it suddenly all clicked (partly by us going to the pool more often) - he completed all levels and was swimming competitively by age 8. He did that for a few years, doing really well, but stopped a few years back. Some of his friends finished later (having lessons up to p7), some stopped once they could swim a length or two (older or younger), and some children (who got into lessons much sooner) finished all the levels younger than 8. Everyone is different, as long as they can swim (or have gave it a really good go) then don't worry too much what age they stop at.

My eldest stopped at around age 11, maybe 12 as he only started swimming lessons at age 9 (couldn’t afford it before then). My middle two were around 9 ish when they stopped and then my youngest finished at age 7 as she took to it much quicker than the others and got to stage 8 by that age.

I’d say let them stop once they’ve reached a competent level no matter what age they are.

LOL - 'have given' or 'gave'.....Grammar Police alert......I am not sure why I wrote 'have gave'. 😳

Between 12 and 10 during level 6.

We'd started late due to our previous location but they were good swimmers when they stopped. Actually in school break extra lessons many commented in my hearing they couldn't be on the levels there were as they seemed too advanced.

Then they were stuck for ages on level 5 and 6 on minor things and it turned out it was because there weren't places in higher groups but they didn't say that and it was costing us a fortune. They got fed up and we stuck to just doing the fun free water stuff in holidays till covid hit.

No idea on levels.
400m, including at least 2 strokes.
But we lived somewhere with an unlifeguarded, pool that had a minimium depth of 2m. And gates that were often propped open.
Pool safety was drilled into them from tiny.

DC1 just stopped swimming lessons after she passed stage 7.

In yr 6 when the swimming club wanted them to train every morning before school

Once they get their level 10 and then the additional life saving course certificate. We live on the coast and this is non negotiable for me. My eldest used to go to the beach with friends as a teen and I used to feel more confident that she would know what to do etc..... my youngest is still only level 3 so a long way to go!

I think they are quite good swimmers when they pass Swim England stage 5. DC1 who completed stage 7 can do all 4 strokes well.

But 400m and 2 strokes is just an ok swimmer. I can do that and I would not say I’m a good swimmer at all. I am confident with two strokes with flaws, and absolutely rubbish at front crawl.

Around age 10.

I think really you can stop depending on what kind of swimming you want to do. I’m happy with all pools on holidays and you only need one stroke for that isn’t it?

Mine did swimming lessons from 3-8 then joined a swimming club. The aim was to get them stronger in the water. Once they could dive, tumble turn and swim 3k we stopped. This was age 11 (last year of primary school).

I always said that DD could stop once she had completed level 5 as I think that's pretty much what they need to be able to do if they don't want to swim competitively.

She chose to keep doing them as she enjoys them and is currently in level 7 and year 5 at school.

She doesn't want to do competitions etc so I think she will probably complete this stage then do the 'rookie lifeguard' one but imagine she will stop altogether before she starts secondary.

DS still does lessons and he’s in year 7. Think we might stop at the end of this term though. He’s a confident swimmer and is working on stage 7, but actually can swim lengths and lengths. He needs to brush up on his strokes but they are better than they were.
It has been easy because his external company uses his school pool so he finishes at 4 and his lesson is 4.15, we just have to appear to collect him sometime before 5.

Eldest stopped at almost 9 due to covid. Was planning on stopping swimming a few months later anyway . Youngest is going to stop this summer at 9, currently doing school and other swimming lessons. She can swim lengths comfortably now.

Well I do and paid for years of swimming for DC. I can swim from very young as I actually don’t remember learning to swim. I was taught by my parents and we spent a lot of time in beaches and pools growing up. However I can only swim breast stroke for long distances and not a good stroke either. By long, I mean I can get to the buoys on the beach as a kid. (Grow up overseas). I can do back stroke but who uses that. My front crawl is awful. It’s one of my big regrets to not swim well. I am planning to learn with an instructor when my kids are older and I have more time and money.

He enjoys it, it’s exercise, it’s convenient, we can afford it.
We all make different choices.