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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be sooo cross that our local pool wont let my son start swimming lessons?

37 replies

stoppinchingthedummy · 29/01/2011 14:18

Despite the fact he is old enough and all his school friends are doing them, the local pool have refused to even put his name down on their 3 month waiting list because he isnt tall enough!!!!! I AM SO FRICKING CROSS!!!!!! AIBU??!!! i cant help but feel sad for him :( he is short for his age, he didnt hardly grow at all last year but there isnt anything we can do to make him taller and now he will miss out on something he is desperate to do :(

OP posts:
BabyDubsEverywhere · 29/01/2011 14:21

surely this restriction is in place for his own safety though?

nowanewme · 29/01/2011 14:21

I have never heard about height rrstrictions for swimming! What is the justification given for this?

NorbertDentressangle · 29/01/2011 14:21

I presume its a H&S issue, something to do with him not being able to touch the bottom with his feet??

Do you have any other pools nearby as they will probably have different style pool and different rules/regulations (I know the pools round here vary a lot).

oneofthosedays · 29/01/2011 14:22

I don't understand what height has to do with it at all?! Surely it's the age/maturity thing that's the important factor rather than height? I've never heard of anywhere doing this! YANBU.

risingstar · 29/01/2011 14:23

huh?

sorry- the child has to be a certain height rather than age before they can learn to swim?

really? Why? don't get that at all. He is of school age?

no sorry that doesnt compute.

are short people not allowed to swim? what about people with dwarfism?

yadnbu.

mind you, all leisure centres are utterly mad- its all the time they have on their hands in the mornings- i swear they have special meetings to make stuff as difficult as possible.

ours had a creche that didnt run at the same time as any of classes that mums of small kids might want to go to. then they closed it because it wasnt used

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 29/01/2011 14:24

Yes of course it would be for safety however the lesson is on a 1-3 ration ,1 adult to 3 children and in the pool hense why i am prepared to pay £47 for 5 weeks of lessons but oh no they say his chin level has to be above the water - currently his whole body including head are about 2 cm under the water!!

OP posts:
oneofthosedays · 29/01/2011 14:24

DD's first stage swimming was in the deep end, specifically so she couldn't touch the bottom, so I don't think not being able to touch the bottom would be a good enough excuse?

TheSmallPrint · 29/01/2011 14:25

Go to a pool with an asjustale height. Our local pool has a training pool where the floor moves and they adjust for each class based on the smallest person.

shirazgirl · 29/01/2011 14:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 29/01/2011 14:25

ratio not ration!!!

OP posts:
coldtits · 29/01/2011 14:27

It's for his own safety, if he can't reach the bottom of the pool without drowning, what do you expect them to do? Empty the pool of water to comply with your wishes? He's not tall enough and that's that. Either pay for a one to one private swimming tutor or wait.

PaisleyLeaf · 29/01/2011 14:28

I've never heard of that.
I think it's unfortunate for your DS that your pool has that rule.
Can you go somewhere else?

FranSanDisco · 29/01/2011 14:29

Ring round for private group lessons. They sometimes use school pools which are never as deep as leisure centres and may not have such a strict rule.

moodymama · 29/01/2011 14:48

Erm, my nephew has had swimming lessons since before he turned one. Ridiculous. YANBU.

LindyHemming · 29/01/2011 14:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 29/01/2011 14:53

Coldtits - No i cant pay for one to one because i cant afford to - £48 is too much as it is but imo all children and adults should be able to swim. Ive already said its for his own safety however there is someone in the pool with him and he is the only one of his friends who wont be able to join the school swimming next term because he cant do lessons!! :( totally unfair on my poor ds :(

OP posts:
Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 29/01/2011 14:55

Euphemia so if you want your child to swim now your a pushy mum!! its you who is being unreasonable - swimming is necessary for them as i just said!!

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 29/01/2011 14:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pingpong · 29/01/2011 15:03

That seems like an odd rule.
My DD started swimming lessons where I didn't have to go in with her at 2y6m with a ratio of 1 adult to 3 children and was fine. She can now reach the bottom of the small pool at the leisure centre at 2y10m but at the pool her lesson is in is she is no where near reaching the bottom.
I would look elsewhere for lessons.
£47 also seems like a lot to pay for group lessons IMHO.

Original poster
stoppinchingthedummy · 29/01/2011 15:05

Well yes ok she was , were they both the same age though?? Im not pushing because i need him to swim for me its because he A wants to and B its a life skill - Its not right that because he is under height for his age he should be forced to be behind all his school friends is it?!

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 29/01/2011 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 29/01/2011 15:16

Teach him yourself?

I taught both of mine at a very early age.

I think as you do, that it is a vital life skill.

Water is dangerous.

flippinggorgeous · 29/01/2011 15:19

The school won't be able to exclude your son from lessons because he is a non-swimmer.

If there is a height limit it is for safety of the children. I would look elsewhere for private lessons or take him swimming and teach him yourself.

nancy75 · 29/01/2011 15:23

The being able to stand will probably be a condition of that particular pools insurance, I understand you don't want your child upset - but on the other hand would you really want him taught somewhere that ignores their own h&s rules and breaks conditions of their insurance? If this is their policy you will have to either wait until he grows or go to another pool.

manchestermummy · 29/01/2011 15:34

That's bonkers. My DD's tall for her age (3.3) but there's a little boy in her class who's a good four/five inches shorter than her, and the minimum age's 3.

Take him elsewhere!