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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think school should not ban goggles from swimming lessons?

95 replies

DizzyMum · 14/09/2012 19:31

My dd in Year 3 starts swimming lessons with her school next week. The note from the school states that they are not allowed to use swimming goggles but does not explain why. When my elder daughter was in Year 3 and had these goggle-less lessons her eyes used to water terribly and she was in pain.

AIBU to challenge the school about it this time around? Can anyone think why you wouldn't let them wear goggles?

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 14/09/2012 19:33

Learning to swim is learning to overcome fear of water. If a child accidentally fell into water, they would not be wearing goggles.

4goingon14 · 14/09/2012 19:37

omg ridiculous!! Did you see any of the swimmers at the olympics not wearing goggles? I think not!!

I swam competitively when I was at school and goggles were compulsory. In addition to this I am a qualified (non-working) lifeguard and scuba instructor and there is zero practical reason for this.

My only thought is that the school does not want to be responsible for losses.

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 14/09/2012 19:38

Swimming should be fun and encouraged. Falling into water, the water would not be chlorinated. The point of lessons is to teach swimming, thus potentially saving a life. If you make a child uncomfortable in lessons they won't learn the skills.

procrastinor · 14/09/2012 19:38

Actually I'm with you OP. It really depends on how chlorinated the pool is. If its heavily chlorinated to hide multiple children's wee then goggles may be a necessity. I used to wear goggles all the time because my eyes would go blood shot and hurt afterwards. Nowadays I think they've toned down the chemicals so it's better. Plus I strongly believe teaching kids water comfort and safety should be in addition to teaching kids how to swim properly.

saltnpepashere · 14/09/2012 19:38

I am a year 3 teacher and take the kids school swimming. With us, it is the pool's policy for no goggles, partly because of the reason sqeakytoy stated above and partly because apparently they had goggle related injuries (not sure what though!). If a child needs to wear goggles they have to have a note from a doctor.

I agree with squeakytoy 100% - swimming is a skill that can potentially life saving. Not much good if you fall into a river but have only ever swam with goggles before!

fait · 14/09/2012 19:38

Goggles are compulsory at my son's school and they are not allowed to swim without them.

SCOTCHandWRY · 14/09/2012 19:39

If this had been the case with my DC's schools, none of them would have taken part in school swimming lessons... like many people, they are sensitive to pool chemicals and HAVE to wear goggles. Without them, very stingy eyes while in the pool, to the extent they would give up and get out, and very red eyes for hours after.

geegee888 · 14/09/2012 19:39

How on earth can anyone learn to swim properly without wearing swimming goggles in a chlorinated pool? Yes, you don't need goggles in an open lake but thats just ridiculous.

Original poster
DizzyMum · 14/09/2012 19:39

Yes but

a) she can already swim and
b) if she accidentally fell into water she would be wearing all her clothes and not a speedo swimsuit so I don't see the big deal about the goggles

OP posts:
fait · 14/09/2012 19:41

To those of you who believe that goggles are not required - as if a child fell into a river by accident, they would not be wearing them, may I respectfully suggest that EVERY swimming lesson should be with the child fully clothed, possibly with hat, scarf and gloves, and maybe wellingtons as the chances of falling into a river wearing just a pair of swimming trunks is just a teeny bit unlikely.

JollyCoddler · 14/09/2012 19:41

I agree with Scotch. I would not have been able to take part in swimming lessons without goggles. The few times I forgot mine I spent the rest of the day with my eyes streaming.

Cheddars · 14/09/2012 19:45

I think it makes sense to learn how to swim without goggles at first. Unless you have very sensitive eyes I don't see any reason to wear them at all during a school swimming lesson.

saltnpepashere · 14/09/2012 19:47

Kids do wear pyjamas etc in the pool when they become more advanced swimmers. We have had a few comments about no goggles from parents and kids in the past (even we have told them it is the pools policy not the school's for the 100th time!), but tbh, once the kids realise that they cant wear goggles and they are just going to have to suck it up, they are absolutely fine and there are never any issues.

One girl (an advanced swimmer who had never swum before without goggles) made a fuss about it and even got a doctor's note. A few weeks in and she kept forgetting them and realised that actually she couldnt really be arsed with them after all.

squeakytoy · 14/09/2012 19:47

As they progress through the lessons, they will learn how to swim in clothes too.

procrastinor · 14/09/2012 19:47

Agh people should also learn how to swim properly! Otherwise you'd deck your dc in full outdoor gear and randomly shove them in the water. You could start small and have them wear shorts and t-shirts but build up to full snow suit.

Water safety is just one aspect of learning to swim. Otherwise why do we teach children anything beyond doggy paddle?! As an adult I swim with goggles because its more comfortable. My dc will do the same if needs be.

For goggle related injuries you hold the goggles out while someone's wearing them and snap it back on their faces. Just saying.

3duracellbunnies · 14/09/2012 19:50

We were encouraged for them not to wear goggles at stage 1+2 for the falling into the water reason, now dd1 is more competent they don't mind her wearing them and it's better than the bloodshot look she would otherwise be sporting! If she suffers from sensitive eyes then get a note from the dr.

Ephiny · 14/09/2012 19:50

I wouldn't go swimming without goggles, so certainly wouldn't expect a child to.

Surely it makes it more difficult to learn to swim, as they will be understandably reluctant to put their faces in the water if it makes their eyes hurt?

scurryfunge · 14/09/2012 19:51

If the children are learning the traditional strokes then goggles should be allowed. Any part of the lesson that involves life saving techniques should be taught without the need for goggles. Stroke teaching is different from water safety so do not see why a school would not allow them.

LindyHemming · 14/09/2012 19:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fait · 14/09/2012 19:51

Yes - of course they learn to swim in pajamas (which they will never be wearing when they fall in the river) but this is once in a blue moon - not every time they get in the pool.

There is NO good reason for not allowing children to wear goggles. If children are so silly as to ping goggles on each others faces, then I would suggest that they are not fit to be allowed into a swimming lesson - with or without goggles.

DeWe · 14/09/2012 19:52

We weren't allowed goggles as a child (pool policy) as they'd had a number of nasty injuries where a child had pulled the goggles out and they'd snapped back into their face. There was one particularly nasty story they told which ended with child losing sight in one eye. Shock Don't think it happened at this pool though.

DeathByChocolate01 · 14/09/2012 19:56

I know goggles aren't allowed on water slides because they can slip down around your neck and choke you - maybe there is a similar concern here? If the kids pulled their goggles down around their necks when they weren't using them?

saltnpepashere · 14/09/2012 19:58

Yes, I would imagine that swimming pools think of every eventual possibility that could happen if the kids wear goggles and dont want to get their asses sued, therefore they have a blanket policy of no goggles, therefore no injuries.

TudorJess · 14/09/2012 20:00

YABU. The teacher needs to see whether the children are making eye contact and listening to instructions.

FiveHoursSleep · 14/09/2012 20:03

My children all swim in chlorinated pools( plural) without goggles. My eldest (10) has just started wearing them as she's doing her silver award. Goggles weren't allowed at our school swimming lessons and they don't wear them in our pool either.
Kids need to learn to swim with water in their eyes if need be.
A child that has never swum without goggles will panic if they fall in water, even if they are already good swimmers.