Would you let your 7yo do this much exercise this late?

[Romanarama]

DS is very sporty, and esp good at swimming. He's just been 'promoted' into a special kids section of the, quite serious, club at our local pool. There are 4 8yos, ds, and 1 6yo (son of national champion or s'th). They swim from 7.15 to 8.45pm twice a week, basically doing lengths of a 50m pool.

Now, quite apart from the fact that he goes to bed at 7.15 on the other evenings, is this a bit much anyway for a 7yo? I don't want to stand in the way if he's going to be an olympic swimmer or something, and I realise it's a sport that starts very young, but I'm concerned he'll be exhausted.

swimming doesn't have to start that young. older sister started swimming in a club competitively when she was about 12 - that was in the 80s and she still still holds lots of national records. i think if the ability is there, it's there when they are older as well

are you sure 715 - 845? that's a long time to be swimming for a 7 year old let alone anyone!

He'll be exhausted. If it were on the weekend then perhaps he'd have time to recover but if he's got school the next day, won't it be a bit much?

Does seem quite alot for a 7yo.

Hmm, I think I'm going to let him go a few times and see how it goes. They're not literally up and down the pool the whole time - they have breaks where they talk to the instructor etc. but it's still an awful lot of swimming. There's no way you'd catch me doing lengths for more than 30mins.

I would if he was happy, he coped ok and most importantly enjoyed it.

Try it and see.

I was a swimmer and I'm really keen for dd to take it up competitively too. But I do this this is way too much at this age. My dd (6.5) would be tired just from being up that late (and it'll be nearer 9.30/10 before he's in bed by the time he gets changed and gets home) on two weekday nights, without swimming for an hour and a half as well.

Is it a school night?
DD (8) swims 3 - 4 times a week but the only late (8pm finish) is on a Friday night.
Otherwise she finishes around 7pm.
Most sessions are based around pool availability though so they may not have that much choice in their times.
DD loves her swimming club and it has given her more than just a healthy sport interest. She loves all the socials and the comps and just being involved in something.

I wouldnt have her out at 9pm on a school night.

I think it's the bed at 10 twice a week on school nights which is the problem, esp if he's normally in bed at 7.15. DS is nearly 8, his bedtime's around 7.30 but he pushes it at the weekend and it shows! The trouble with starting it to see how it goes is that he'll think it's great, and if you don't, then there'll be a lot of friction.

He'll be home at 8.45, the pool is pretty much across the street - I like the pool and the club, and the club time is because it's after pool closing.

Tbh although theoretically bedtime is 7-7.30pm, his younger brothers usually go to sleep straight away or near enough, and ds1 stays up reading until 9ish anyway. He stays in bed until 7am, while the others are up at about 6.30. I'm going to see how it goes - get him to do 5 or 6 sessions, then see whether he wants to carry on or stop. My main concern is his little body swimming all those lengths! If he loves it I'll let him carry on, and maybe stop another activity that he doesn't like much instead (ie piano!)

talk to the coach with your concerns. it may be he can do the first half for a while to ease into it, see how it goes swimming say till 8.

to be honest, if the coach is not interested in discussing your DS's welfare with you then (s)he is not a coach you want!

p.s. i wouldn't worry about 'all those lengths' as if he's an efficient swimmer it wont be that tiring - when i was 12 i could swim literally thousands of metres without any effects the next morning...

can't swim more than a couple of hundred now

DD has been doing gymnastics once a week until 8.30pm (so home and in bed by 9-9.15pm) since the age of 8.

I have to admit that she does struggle to get up the following morning so certainly wouldn't consider it more than once a week.

Also I would say that the gymnastics isn't as demanding in the same way as the swimming -I imagine swimming to be constant whereas with gym theres a lot of waiting their turn to use the equipment.

Could you discuss a compromise with the club/coach?

I also meant to ask what your DS is like at settling to bed afterwards though?

Is he likely to still be buzzing from the exercise or does he have the ability to switch off and go straight to sleep?

Its just that after gym DD can still be on a bit of a high and slow to settle

Well, he's done it and just gone to bed (it's 9.25 here). Seems very pleased with himself! I look forward to 7am......