To think swimming is an essential life skill

[Efferlunt]

DS1 (5) isn't going to bother to learn to swim - he can't see the point as he can wear armbands. DH thinks that we shouldn't make him if he doesn't want to. I disagree. I think it's my responsibility as a parent to ensure he can swim so he's having lessons whether he like it or not.
AIBU?

There is the reverse that learning how to swim can lead to over confidence and increased danger.
How many people really know what to do if a strong current pulls them away from the beach or the river shore? You don't learn how to negotiate a wave in the swimming pool or strong currents.
But you can do 50m.

Having grown up in a country where everyone learns to swim, I'm always bemused by the number of people who seem to drown in canals and rivers in the UK. As a child I was concerned about being swept out to sea by strong currents, as that was the only way I could imagine being in a situation where I was so far from land I might drown. It's hard for me to imagine that adults are actually drowning because they can't swim short distances. I wonder if the problem is that canals do not have any way for people to climb the walls?

Two contrasting stories in last weeks news:-

1. So many people have drowned in a Manchester canal that people are wandering if a serial killer has been pushing them in.
2. A former American football player slips off his yacht off the Florida coast, which sails away on autopilot. He is 9 miles offshore and swims for 16 hours to reach the shore, being swept 20 miles down the coast by currents in the mean time.

Lewji- every competitive and ex-competitive swimmer I know is terrified of the sea. I am a very good swimmer and won't go more than hip deep. A think there's that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing". Those who can swim 50m aren't "strong" swimmers IMO :)

o/p- take the armbands away. There's no need for them, and as you are seeing give false confidence. One of the biggest issues I've seen in holiday pools are toddlers getting out the pool, armbands off, parent turns round to get something, toddler jumps back in pool and sinks :(. Lose them, puncture them- then take him to a pool he can stand up in and teach him water confidence without them. Get him a noodle if he really needs something to reassure him. He'll soon learn that he needs to learn to swim properly if he wants to have fun in a pool :)..

My eldest is a real 'water baby' he is 8 and has always loved being in the pool.
My youngest, now 5.. Well saying he is less keen would be an understatement.
They both have lessons, and will continue to do so until not only can they keep themselves safe in the water but they are strong/confident enough to be able to safely assist someone who was in trouble in the water.
I wont budge on it! Hugely important imo!

My dad was born in a fishing village and has taught us how to deal with the sea and currents. We even had practice runs.
There is one right way to dive under a wave or to let it go through.
And I'm passing on that knowledge to DS.

My bunch seem to have inherited their fathers 'swim like a brick' gene so we aim for being able to float and tread water, which they can do. Actual swimming is an added bonus.

I think it's a useful skill to have but it's not worth a massive battle of wills with a 5 year old.

Tell him he will have to have lessons when he starts Y2 or something, and then drop the matter completely for many months.

I went from a complete nonswimmer to swimming 400m in 10 lessons aged 7. Some preschoolers can learn to swim but it's physically much easier for an older child than a younger one. They are stronger and more coordinated. Everything starts so young for them these days - not just brownies from 7 but Rainbows before that, gym and ballet from age 3, football from even younger sometimes. It's really not necessary for a 5 year old.

My dc taught themselves it wasn't difficult, but they were older.
They did go with school but unless you went regularly in your own time it was never enough to learn.
I think 2 were secondary age and thought it was time they learned.
It's not as essential as some people make out, my dd is 11 and can't swim.
She will do it when ready, and does practice when we go away so is getting there slowly but surely.
i know some parents who have shelled out hundreds if not thousands for swimming lessons, its each to their own but hardly essential.

I'm always bemused by the number of people who seem to drown in canals and rivers in the UK.

Open water in the UK is cold; a lot of drownings are because the victim first succumbed to hypothermia, which affects your ability to think straight or even recognise you're cold.

Also, if you suddenly hit an expanse of cold water (i.e. because you fall in), the physical shock could trigger a heart attack.

Also, I have some vague memory that something like 25% of drownings in the UK involve alcohol in some way, which this will include things like drink motorboat-driving, as well as falling in drunk while walking home along a canal path. It's a couple of decades since I had to think about stats like that.

Learning to swim is an essential skill. It's easy to avoid things like skiing or tennis, because you have to actively seek them out.

You can't avoid water really. Not throughout an entire lifetime.

Not to mention it would have a severe impact on their quality of life when they are older.

As a non-swimmer and mother to a dyspraxic DS I think YANBU.

My DS has benefited from swimming as it helps his co-ordination and strengthens his core muscles. He is, however, exhausted afterwards. It takes more effort on his part than other children to keep up but he never gives up (for example when swimming lengths). I feel very proud when I watch him (wipes away tear) and he feels a great sense of achievement! It has been great for his confidence!

In terms of survival, swimming's probably much less important than understanding water, being able to stay afloat, not being scared of submerging, knowing how to resurface and treading water.

The ability to swim distances is also helpful if you're unlucky enough to have a random accident (I can't do this any more.)

Normal swimming ability's a social advantage.

I have saved two drowning children - they'd be dead if I hadn't learned how to do it. It's a survival skill for others as well as oneself!

*What? That's just daft.

There are exactly zero situations where knowing how to play tennis will save your life.

On the other hand, there are countless lakes, beaches, rivers, ponds, swimming pools etc that the average person will encounter over a lifetime.

Nobody is saying the child needs to take swimming as a sport. But a level of confidence in the water is far, far more important than being competent at skiing.*

Actually I don't think the comment was so daft.

As a non-swimmer I have encountered many lakes, beaches, rivers and ponds but I have not been tempted to put myself in a potential drowning situation by actually going in them. OTOH if I had what you call a level of confidence as a swimmer then I might enter the water and could therefore be at risk.

Just a POV.....

FWIW my DD had swimming lessons from 4 as I do think it is a useful skill to have and she can get enjoyment and good exercse from it. But as others have pointed out - a real life, scary drown-y situation prpbably involves strong currents and very cold water so average swimming skills might not be a life saver anyway.

Useful skill. Yes. Essential - not so sure. I am over 50 and have led a full and nomal life so I clearly haven't found it all that essential.

You can't avoid water really. Not throughout an entire lifetime.

You can.
Apart from the beach, where I actively seek the water, I have never had to swim for my life or fell in water.
I also commute in a ferry daily.

Gallic, I think you're right about survival - but I think learning to swim will help with skills for floating, going under water, treading water and so on - most beginners are taught mushroom floats and star floats and surface dives and how to tread water, once they're over a certain level of proficiency. I am not sure you will develop a good understanding of water without having some understanding of how your body behaves in it - but you also need to know that's not enough to keep you safe, and people should also gain an awareness of things like tides and currents, wind, how water temperature can change quickly especially in places like quarries (which is why there is an increased risk of drowning), underwater hazards, lack of visibility and so on.

I don't mean everyone should be an expert, but good swimmers and particularly open water swimmers do tend to have a healthy respect for water and are always aware things can go wrong.

I think you've got until 11ish to teach him, so if he doesn't want to now, try again later.

We told DS aged 5 that he wouldn't be able to go down the slides at the waterpark using armbands, and that was enough incentive for him to decide it was worthwhile learning to swim properly.

And having done an offshore survival course, I wouldn't want to end up unexpectedly in cold water as a non-swimmer.

YANBU

Lessons are expensive here and 6 miles return.

So neither of mine can swim.

It is important for social reasons, but as a life saving skill I think it is overrated ? If you think being able to swin in a warm still pool in, what is basically a pair of pants, is in any way comparable to falling into a cold river or sea in a coat and boots you are sadly mistaken

I think we all appreciate that swimming in your cossie In a nice warm pool is rather different to falling in the ocean ....river etc.

However having a few rudimentary swimming skills can save your life.

Exactly, Only1scoop.

Of course you have a higher chance of surviving a fall into water if you have some swimming skills, than if you have none.

This seems so obvious to me that I'm confused why anyone would think otherwise.

I wouldn't want to end up unexpectedly in cold water as a non-swimmer.

I wouldn't want that as an experienced swimmer, either!

Well Exactly Koala....

well...I think its very very important he learns to swim but maybe he will get it more when older.

as far as I am aware all people who drown are swimmers, I cant swim well at all and i am careful round water and dont go far out into sea.

if child trips into pool should be able to swim yes.