About feeling terrible ds aged 5 cant swim

[Fandangola]

I am really beating myself up about this but ds can't swim- I've always worked full time and not found the time / energy to take him to more than a term of lessons, which he made clear he did not enjoy. Most of his classmates can swim and I feel terrible- have I been a horrible lazy mum?

Why not just take him yourself sometimes at a weekend? No point doing lessons if it just makes him hate swimming.

Oh blimey, five is nothing. You do have to grit your teeth and take home though. Just sign him up and insist he goes. It's miserable but such a relief when they can do it. (And when you can just drop them off at a pool for an hour's cheap entertainment).

Seriously?! Can most 5 year olds swim?!

Take him!

on Mum

No I mean loads of people don't have the time or money for this, going swimming is expensive and lessons even more so and he's only 5. You say most of his classmates can swim, so some can't, right? It's not like you've not taught him how to use a cup or something!

FWIW my DD2 has been doing swimming lessons for a couple of years and she's still pretty crap at it but she enjoys it and I think she'll get there in the end. It's not something you have to learn when you're very young IYSWIM. You can think of what to do going forward - see if he wants to do lessons or take him yourself - but really don't beat yourself up about it!

At my children's school. Most of the five year olds can't swim. At six/seven they mostly can. Nothing to worry about, you have plenty of time. In fact, l reckon you only need to be 'concerned' if they haven't got basic skills by 10/11.

Where I live there's a waiting list for swimming lessons and they only open the list twice a year. My d's will get his turn but meanwhile I am always next to him in the pool.

Ds is nearly 5 and has only been in a pool a handful of times. With a dp who works long hours and a younger dc it's not easy to take him. Can't say I was worried until I read this!

Stop beating yourself up ffs! Neither of mine could swim or ride a bike at that age. They learnt a bit after that, it's only a big deal if you think it is.

Five is very young. I've just posted this five mins ago on another thread, but in our area the minimum age for putting their name down for lessons is 6, and there is about a year and a half long waiting list, so almost no one round here can swim until they are about 8.

Dd1 had swimming lessons at school last year. She was in year 4 and there were quite a few in the shallow end with arm bands.

Dd2 is 6 and has only just started to not sink. She doesn't like putting her face in and can only go a few meters before she needs to be grabbed. This year we put her in for lessons and we've told her she keeps going til she can swim. There is a slow improvement.

The non swimmers at school did get laughed at. That's the reason why I need dd2 to learn.

If it makes you feel any better, DS is 5 and has been having weekly lessons since 3, but still can't swim really. (has my coordination). Take him on your own at weekends, it's more about having water confidence at this age.

No no dexter don't let me make you feel bad- I'm feeling a lot better! Its just chance they can all swim- new area for us- and yes it is expensive to do lessons as well as bloody tiring

For him I mean! Not just me

Thanks ego that's interesting

Our school has a pool.
I have no idea if this is true, although l ha e no idea how my Dd (6) would have imagined it but... Apparently their teacher told them: "we need to concentrate on and * because they can't swim yet, because their parents can't afford lessons"

No big deal. DS is still learning and he's 7. Both of us working parents, long waiting lists for weekend lessons, we did what we could but there's only so much free time available and plenty of other things to do.
Only one of his friends can swim so I doubt most 5 year olds can swim.

(Sorry to clarify about the class- there was a class pool party recently and my ds was one of two who really struggled - out of the whole lot if them!)

Five is very young. Mine was 6 when they could swim, I suggest proper lessons though.

I take mine at teatime..the children change into their pyjamas afterwards so they are ready for bed when they get home.

Wow I wouldn't worry that your 5 yr old can't swim yet. Most 5 yr olds can't swim.

My DS (5.5) has been having swimming lessons for about 18 months now and he can just about swim 5m without armbands but I wouldn't say he can swim yet. A couple of his classmates can swim confidently but by far the majority are either where he is or can't swim at all yet.

Neither of mine could swim at 5 despite the fact that I took them both swimming regularly from 6 months old. Both were always very confident in the water. I tried to teach ds1, but he took no notice of me; he was more interested in spending the entire time jumping in. He started swimming lessons at 6 & learned to swim very quickly. Ds2 started lessons at 5 & again learned very quickly. I'm sure very few children can swim properly at 5.