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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Swimming lessons - I'm going to look like a pushy Mum if I say something, aren't I?

47 replies

Wallace · 19/05/2011 21:25

Ds2 started to swim by himself when had just turned 3. Not knowing what to do next with him i started taking him to parent & toddler swimming lessons. These turned out to be mainly water confidence classes but we carried on going mostly because being in the parent & toddler classes means that when your child is old enough to go into the learn to swim scheme they don't go on the waiting list.

Now ds2 is 4.5 and on a good day can swim 15 metres and is just starting to learn proper front crawl arms etc - we go swimming for fun once a week and if he wants to I try to teach him stuff.

I was delighted to be told that he was allowed to start the learn to swim scheme slightly early. He was put in a level one class and at the first lesson was the only one swimming without a woggle/noodley thingy.

The swimming teacher said after that first lesson that they would give him a couple of weeks to settle in then move him up to a more appropriate level.

At the second lesson he was using a noodle (he told me they were all told to take one) and he was doing stuff he has been able to do for more than a year without any floats etc.

I emailed the teacher just to say that when she moves him up a class it is ok if it is not on the same day. She emailed back to say that he will just stay in the same class for now.

I am a bit at him spending yet another term being encouraged to blow bubbles the water and bob up and down to get his face wet... I was looking forward to him starting to learn the strokes properly which is what he needs.

I can't say anything though, can I? Because then i will be one of THOSE mothers who insist that their child is soooo much better than the others even though he is

OP posts:

heliumballoons · 22/05/2011 22:31

My DS now 6 was swimming with local leisure centre swim school as he was also very confident and I felt it was time for him to swim on top of the water

He did very well and completed up to stage 4 so was in stage 5 group. However I noticed the lessons seemed to teach stamina and not technique so well. My dad and bro are ex county champions and DS wanted to join the swim club (also at centre). He was assessed there and put back into shallow pool (from deep end and length swimming).

His stroke has improved but he seems no further on iyswim, Think its because he doesn't have to put in the effort for 7m he swims now. His swimming teacher tried him in the next group up a few weeks ago after his normal lesson and then said she would keep him where he is. Last week she moved 4 more up.

Fair enough if she think they're ready but she didn't try them and I think its unfair on a 6yo to make them think they are going up and then not to do it as DS now keeps asking when he can try again.

DS 'looks' like one of the better swimmers (my bro says he's really good?) but DS is like some of the DC's above ^^ good at doing not so much listening and concentrating. My dad (whos a swimming coach and trained now olympians) thinks if DS was in a 'harder' group he would concentrate better as he would be challenged - and he is more than able. He says he doesn't put in the effort as he doesn't need to over such a short distance.

Like you op I have decided he is fine where he is as he is enjoying himself and I don't want to look like a pushy mum (which I'm so not even when I should be!)

I have simply told DS it's not always enough just to be 'good' at something. You have to show willingness to try and improve.

With regards to noodles/ floats. DS group uses them sometimes still and they do all 4 strokes. Its just to help support there arms so they can concentrate on getting their bodies in the right place and not so much about bouyancy. A lot of swimming is about body awareness which young children often haven't developed yet.

BTW DS has just passed his stage 2 - again

sorry for mammoth post but feel better after gettig it all off my chest.

anyone??

Original poster

Wallace · 23/05/2011 20:24

Thanks, helium, i would love . glad your ds is enjoying himself - i think you're right that there is plenty of time when they are so young.

ds was given a noodle for a star float on his back - something he can do really well without. but i am thinking of using his old swim fin for buoyancy so e can work on technique :)

OP posts:

heliumballoons · 23/05/2011 21:00

My DS has been swimming tonight. He goes twice a week. Had to laugh when he did breaststroke with a float - he could not do it . Take away the float and he can do it fine. Some children it helps and some my DS it just doesn't. I can see why they do it though.

Original poster

Wallace · 23/05/2011 21:16

lol

my ds can do breaststroke arms - he does then instinctively to get to the bottom of the pool...
but when asked to do them in a swimming lesson - no chance!

OP posts:

Original poster

Wallace · 20/06/2011 20:50

Update, well...

Despite passing all aspects of the level, he is staying at level 2 (odd, I thought he was level 1) until he does what he is told "gets used to the structure"

Meanwhile he is now swimming 25 metres on his front and easily 10 on his back. Next swimming block finishes end of November so I'm sure by the time he goes up to a level where he actually learns the strokes he will probably be swimming 50m confidently front and back...

OP posts:

redwillow · 01/10/2011 22:17

I am having a similar problem my son is 2 years and 2 months and he can swim 5 metres he was put in to a class (by mistake) for three year olds(without mummy) and went for 2 weeks and then they realised that they had made a mistake and for health and safety reasons only they had to remove him from the class and return him to mother and infant classes. He is tall for his age so I think they forgot to ask even though he has been swimming with this place since 3 months. I know have a devastated little boy who wants to go back to big boy lessons no mummy lessons he says!
Anyone know where I can find lessons for him where they go on ability not age? Thanks he loves his swimming and I don't want him to loose out

LilQueenie · 02/10/2011 03:13

Dont mean to be rude or anything but why swim classes? does no one get in th ewater with their children and teach them themselves? I was taught by my dad and he will be teaching my DD.

giraffesCantChaChaCha · 02/10/2011 05:15

red this is a really old thread you night me better starting a new one. And lil did you read the thread?! Op has taught her child to swim! Anyway not everyone can swim, may be disabled, allergic to chlorine or have too many children to take swimming on own!

Whatmeworry · 02/10/2011 09:02

I'd leave him, the main thing is time in water.

redwillow · 02/10/2011 09:35

We do mother infant once a week and once a week with me but he wants to have big boy lessons he sees them when we swim and always wants to join them I just think it is unfair he was doing really well and to be told he can't because he is too young seems unfair

redwillow · 02/10/2011 09:36

What me worry he says it is boring they are still blowing bubbles and putting their face in the water he says no mummy hold he wants to be off!

muffinflop · 02/10/2011 10:41

devastated at 2.2 years old?!

worraliberty · 02/10/2011 10:44

Dont mean to be rude or anything but why swim classes? does no one get in th ewater with their children and teach them themselves? I was taught by my dad and he will be teaching my DD.

LOL, am I the only one who saw the irony in that post?

redwillow · 02/10/2011 11:20

Did you read this post please I do teach him but I don't swim well so want him to learn properly and yes he is upset he can't do it he wants to join in where he was

redwillow · 02/10/2011 11:21

I asked this question for some advice not criticism!!!

youarekidding · 02/10/2011 11:35

Dont mean to be rude or anything but why swim classes? does no one get in th ewater with their children and teach them themselves? I was taught by my dad and he will be teaching my DD.

I saw the irony too worra but scarily am often on your wavelength!

Oh and BTW my Dad is a coach and has coached now olympians - He hasn't and will not be teaching DS as the classes are a social thing too, also great or teaching other skills such as being part of a group, concentration and dare I say it a little healthy competiveness.

youarekidding · 02/10/2011 11:36

Oh and red YANBU, but they cannot allow a child under 3 into a lesson as insurance doesn't cover it. I'm sorry your DS is disappointed but it's better he's safe.

Maybe private teachers would take him without you?

LilQueenie · 02/10/2011 12:20

sorry I didnt mean to offend and I did read the post. Was very tired at the time though and didnt realise you had already taught him. I see your point about social interaction now.

SexualHarrassmentPandaPop · 02/10/2011 14:22

YANBU! I only started taking dd (3 at the time now just turned 4) a couple of months ago and they insisted on putting her in the baby group because she hadn't had any lessons before. Although the baby group ranged from kids who were terrified of the water to ones who could swim a bit without armbands .
They then said she would move up to the next group which was a swimming class using armbands/floats. We turned up and realised that she had been put into a class of older kids who were strong swimmers without any swimming aids! We phoned up so they moved her again and she's now in a class appropriate to her ability.
I got the distinct impression that they were just shoving her in any old class that they could fit more kids in without going over the ratios even though they are supposed to be grouped according to ability. I would definitely phone up if you think your son's group isn't the appropriate level.

SexualHarrassmentPandaPop · 02/10/2011 14:23

Oh and I take dd to swimming classes cos I'm such a shit swimmer I actually think I improved from the mother and baby classes.

280169 · 02/10/2011 14:57

I am a swim teacher, children should be assessed on abillity however there is a good reson for going through the levels and building the steps up gradually.a correct stroke for front crawl for example would be to swim a set distance say 10-25m of correct technique, so for front crawl face in breathe out under water turning to side to breathe making sure on the turn the stroke remains correct with ful overarm recovery breathe on a regular patten elbows exit the water first overarm recovery hand entering around mid line thumb and for finger first, head should be slightly down and forward with top of eyebrow at water level

backstroke would be showing rotation correct entry little finger first trying to create s pull on catch of the stroke and thats just the arms :)

breast and fly are more in depth than this, you would also be looking for correct starts on these strokes.

It is complicated and parents ofter think their children are in a class to low but each level works on the small steps building up to the correct strokes and letting the children have fun while they develop.

I want swimming to be a sport for life for my children and I like to give them time to grow and get the steps solid.Also I place a large emphisis on personal survival during my lessons.

If you are certain they can do all the requirements at the level they are at on a regular basis then yes request a move but there may be some elements of the stage they are on that they cannot complete.The teacher should be able to show you their scheme of work lesson paln and your childs personal achievment record so you can see what still requires work.

280169 · 02/10/2011 15:05

hi walllace, if he is doing national paln lots of places teach stage 1/2 together.

If he is it is not il stage 4 they are required to actually swim!!!! and even then at stage 4 to pass you only ned to be able kk 10m of each stroke to pass, arms dont come in on np til stage 5.

I use some np but I have to agree spending half hour blowing bubbles is boring, we work on all 4 strokes from stage 1 and I tend to use bubbles etc as the contrast at the end of the class.

Someone also mentioned their father is a coach, coaching is not the same as teaching and there are seperate qualifications for each.Ciaches are great when children are ready for them and if you are looking at competative swimming, in a leisure centre enviroment you would be working with teachers mainly,maybe moving to coaching via clubs based at the centres.

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