To think that children should learn to swim without goggles first?

[GoggleEyed]

This will out me so I have namechanged.

Now, I am not an eloquent debater like some on here, but here are my thoughts.

Swimming is a life saving skill. That is, if you child falls into a dam/river/lake/pool/off a boat/et al, then they are able to either swim to safety or hold themselves up long enough for help to be forthcoming in the shape of a lifeguard/parent/etc.
The first few seconds reactions can make the difference between drowning and surviving. If the first thought your child has is 'oh my goodness, water is getting in my eyes, I dont have my goggles' then they are necessarily NOT thinking about swimming. They are freaking out about goggles instead.

Once they are competent enough to swim to safety, say a distance of, dunno, 50 metres? (which would be more than sufficient in most cases, unless in the sea/lake) then by all means, give them goggles and they can work on correcting their stroke and distance endurance or whatever. But first and foremost, I believe, that we all teach our children to swim to help them should they accidentally go into a body of water. Yes, it is fun, but it SAVES LIVES.

Swimming lessons for babies and early toddlers are about getting them used to water and feeling comfortable in water and around water. Teaching them SAFETY about water, getting in and out safely. Later, as they progress with their familiarity they start to work on back stroke and free style.

So, AIBU in thinking that we should teach them without goggles first and how to potentially save their life THEN with goggles? Because how many people walk around, even sail around, with a set of goggle strapped on in case they fall in. In fact I dont think I have ever seen a pre-emptive goggle wearer!

Medtrina - I cant believe I never thought about treading water! Yes! Anyone know at what point they teach that? Should be fairly early on I would think? Another useful life saving skill! God, I am so dumb!!

Maybe instead of those life saver rings they have on piers/lakes etc for people to throw out to someone who may have fallen in, they should have goggles hanging on a little hook.

Sorry, read that back and it sounds as if I am being sarky. I am not, honest! I genuinely didnt think about it!

Paisley

Irene, absolutely they help, total acknowledgement of that! I guess the issue is, really, the swimming instructor. I probably should have started the thread about that instead!!

Bluddy - as someone said it is the panicking. If they are panicking about the wrong thing, their eyes rather than shit I am in the water, it might lead to hysteria etc and the vital skills might just fly out of their mind iyswim? But yes, I may be OTT!

My understanding is that in Australia they start with goggles then when they can swim start swimming without and once that is mastered they wear goggles again for all lessons. I always think they know more about swimming than we do!

My DCs both learnt with goggles and would have really struggled without in chlorinated water.

YANBU

Jings - I am a pants dad. DW was not happy with the trauma of rinsing DCs hair in bath with jugs of water, and none too enamoured with "just lie back and tip your head into the water," either!

Yes, the boys were nervous about the sounds of the world changing with splashing / ears in the water.

Yes, bath water got in their eyes.

Yes, they loved swimming. (Though not so much at first in cavernous loud echoes of our local pool)

Oh and now I push them in at the deep-end to 'test their survival skills' - Still got them both.

The thing that worries me most about falling into water is the shock of the cold, and whether it would (literally) take their breath away. I've certainly spoken to them about it - never actually practised it.

As well as distance badges when you're learning to swim, there are personal survival one's. Definitely worth getting the first couple of levels in that.

Treading water for 20 seconds is part of the 25m badge where my DD goes, but I think different places have different requirements - seems so anyway.
She did swimming in her pyjamas as a toddler. But that was at a different place and really good lessons.

Alcopop - Like your style! When teaching sailing in small two man boats we used to deliberately capsize the beginners! They are the most likely to go over anyway and need the practise for when we arent there!

Also, Spatz, am an Aussie Maybe we are all just weird!

We arent up to badge stage yet. Have told them they have to keep going, non-negotiable, until they can swim at least 50m. We are still at the flailing frog stage!

Survival swimming is good and not enough of it is covered in my opinion but I am also frustrated by technique only being taught once the kids are up at a certain distance - sometimes teaching good technique will help even the unnatural swimmers. I would rather see them learn one stroke well than bugger about with butterfly legs, breast stoke, backstroke and freestyle (generally doggy paddle and a bit of splashing up to 15 / 20m) etc.

yabu

It's bloody uncomfortable getting chlorinated water in your eyes. That'd soon put off loads of kids.

I found my kids ended up coping very well without goggles but not enjoying it, naturally enough. They never 'freaked out' about goggles, once reasonably confident and mature.

Hurrah for weird Aussies .

My two learnt good stroke techniques - head in water with goggles from first lessons. Life-saving type stuff - pjs, treading water etc came later when they were confident.
It certainly worked for them - they are now great swimmers and safe too.

I can't imagine how you could possibly give enough of a fuck to think about this. But if you really do care, then bless your little goggly heart.

You just posted something equally twatty on another thread MsTeak. Are you pissed?

yes I am. Was it twatty though? What was it?

'Survival swimming is good and not enough of it is covered in my opinion but I am also frustrated by technique only being taught once the kids are up at a certain distance - sometimes teaching good technique will help even the unnatural swimmers. I would rather see them learn one stroke well than bugger about with butterfly legs, breast stoke, backstroke and freestyle (generally doggy paddle and a bit of splashing up to 15 / 20m) etc.'

Yes, I think they should be taught this first too. Then do strokes and whatever. As I said in my op, I am not the most eloquent, but that is one of the points I was trying (badly!) to get across.

Pointy - yes, once reasonably confident and mature. Thats the crux. It is toddlers who are at risk more so than older children who understand about the goggles/swimming/survival thing. My point was, ok , badly worded, that toddlers should be taught to save themselves without goggles. Toddlers would worry about goggles. And we all know they obsess about the oddest things in the strangest of situations!!

MsTeak - I care about my childrens survival near and in water and in the case of an emergency especially. Thats why I give a fuck. But I accept all opinions are not the same, so thank you for your contribution. ?

MsTeak, if you can't remember your postings then you need to read the threads you are on. Go to bed now

I suppose I'm just saying that survival instinct is more important than goggles, and surely if they have lessons they will learn enough.
But I ma quite drunk, so who knows what I'm saying. I think I will syop posting.

Oooh, interesting one - I've always wondered about this one. I'm fairly happy in the water, although not particularly skilled - but I can't put my head underneath without goggles, so usually end up swimming with head above water as they are not much of a fashion statement! I've often attempted minus goggles but can't manage it. Now I don't know if this is because I wasn't taught that way or if it's just because I'm a bit of a wimp. I was planning on goggles for my little ones but I can see they will already be much more sporty than me (coordination, confidence etc) so maybe should try without first. Yet am also worried about water stinging eyes and so on.

Another opportunity to post this link , which I know has done the rounds, but as a qualified Lifeguard I feel is really important.

IMO, I don't think a child who was in serious trouble in the water would be hindered by the fact they were not wearing goggles.
Human nature puts into practice something called the instinctive drowning response which would ensure they used any swimming ability they had learnt and override any realisation that they are not wearing the goggles they are used to.

I understand your frustration at the swimming teacher though goggleeyed, if you had made a request and explained your reasoning then this should have been listened to.

amsterdamster I hadn't opened my eyes underwater for years until I was forced to when doing my pool lifeguard qualification.
I'd built it up into a big thing and was convinced it would sting my eyes and give me the bloodshot look of someone who hadn't slept for 10years, but after 5days of having to resuce dummies from the bottom of the pool I realised it was fine.

I tend to panic and sink if water gets in my eyes.

Gals, as you discussing this, I urge you to read this scary sobering article from a life guard about what drowning really looks like. Might focus the mind a bit. Gave me sleepless nights, but now you've reminded me I am going to book swimming lessons for the 5YO.

mariovittone.com/2010/05/154/