what age should a child be able to swim by

[mad4simon]

My DS is nearly 7 and still can't swim, he has been going swimming lessons for ages now, but still can't swim on his own. He is great with the floats but basically is shit scared of letting go. Everyone is always banging on about how important it to be able to swim and i am very consious of it. I have also tried teaching him myself but have had no luck.

thank you mad4simon for starting this thread as my ds7 is still in improvers. HE can swim 20 metres and has been having lessons for last 18 months. Very expensive and am thinking of taking him to a 1-1 teacher for intensive lessons.

thanks for everyones advice !!!

Bit late to this thread, but my v skinny ds2 finally learnt this year, aged 9 -- I think the shock of suddednly finding his 5-yr-old sister in the same non-swimmers group might have spurred him on.

At the end of that term he was bumped up THREE groups and has pretty much caght up with his peers who are improving their butterfly and crawl style (respect! Can't do either, personally).

Wouldn't worry, in other words!

we had a similar situation, but then DS went on an intensive swim course - every morning of the easter hols a couple of . He is 8 and just passed his 50 metres assessment thingy! I think weekly lessons didn't really work out for him either!

I did not learn till I was 14 as terrified of water and still am (I blame watching Jaws)

My dd loves the water and can swim with her bands on and I am sure she could with them off if I took her more often but I hate it.She loves it and has no fear.DH has started taking her as hes very keen to get her swimming asap

yeah i think i will just stick with the 1-1 intensive lessons in the holidays rather than half an hour one day a week. I know he will get there ...........eventually. i don't know why i moan really, apparently it took me ages to learn , but i got there!