When did your kids learn to swim?

[Ohdobequiet]

I was planning for almost 5 yo dd to start swimming lessons as soon as pools open up again- but have been met with a fair few comments about her being too young.

When did yours learn to swim?
Aibu getting an (almost) 5yo to learn?

DipSwimSwoosh I would try another swimming school or another teacher.

Mine were 3 when they started lessons - I was a bit surprised that there were some by age 11 who had never had a lesson outside of school. Never too young, IMO!

Workinghardeveryday Have they started school swimming lessons? Some places offer one to one sessions or older groups for first time swimmers. Sometimes get intensive lessons in the school holidays. Don't be too hard one yourself.

I couldn't imagine the logistics when they were little babies, and with 3 years age difference I just never got round to it. Would not have liked letting eldest take lessons without me in the water but had nowhere to really put the youngest.
Had finally geared myself up for taking the eldest on a weekend, and taking youngest on afternoons whilst eldest was still in school, but then Covid hit and we haven't had a chance.
Now I'm not so sure. Eldest will be 8 soon and would probably appreciate lessons with me on the sideline, maybe if I could take her by myself first she would gain some confidence. Youngest is 5 in a few weeks but very likely has SEN and wouldn't leave my side for anything, so can't imagine him enjoying it much at all or gaining confidence for a while.
I had lessons from a young age myself and I find it very important to learn. I hadn't expected the current costs of swimming lessons though

@Teardrop2021 thank you for being kind.
I have no idea! I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they have to offer if they are even open yet! It does worry me they cannot swim.
They will be going to high school in 18 months, that would be so embarrassing for them x

For those worried about the cost of lessons discounts are available in some leisure centres if you are eligible for certain benefits or if you have two dc learning.

5yrs is plenty old enough!
My second child started at 6months old and moved on to 'normal' classes when she was 3-4 I reckon.
My first child started the classes when she was about 5yrs old.
My son will be starting asap - he's 4 this month.

Brilliant! I really had no idea!!!! 😊

Workinghardeveryday It might be worth asking the school if they have any catch-up provision for non-swimmers. I’ve randomly seen that my school will provide additional lessons for non-swimmers in y6.

I took my babies swooshing in the pool and the odd ‘lesson’ from around 4 months (we DC2 had one before covid lockdown). I want my eldest who’s just 4 to start proper lessons now but everywhere is closed and the lessons are always full here so god knows when it will actually be. She is comfortable in water though and happily swims independently with armbands and can get in and out the pool.

DS1 was swimming unaided by 18 months but we live surrounded by pools and the ocean and he was impossibly fearless so we got him into safety lessons ASAP.

DS2 was more cautious and would have worn his arm bands in the bath if we'd let him. But he was swimming confidently by the time he was 4, again due to necessity.

I started having lessons around 5 and I was swimming for my county by the time I was about 8 or 9. It's a good age to start!

DS started lessons around age 3. Hes 5.5 now and pretty confident. Can probably swim a 25m length. Various strokes, dive, tread water etc. Last summer we were able to let him swim without his floats, but we live somewhere hot and are at the pool practically daily in the summer so he does get a lot of practice

DD is 3.5 and starts lessons after Easter. We’d probably have signed her up earlier if it wasn’t for covid. She can’t swim at all, although loves the pool

I have no kids, but I personally learned without floaters/armbands at 5. I think I started swimming ‘lessons’ at 18 months.
I ended up swimming competitively for my country from 14 - 19.
That part isn’t necessary, but an easy confidence with the water is.

My dd was a late swimmer for various reasons. She was around 9/10. Most kids seem to be able to swim by 7/8 in my experience, if not even earlier.

My granddaughter is 10 months old and I plan to take her as soon as the pools open

My daughter started at 3 when pools opened up after the first lockdown so she hasn't been in a while. She loved it though and can't wait to go back. Not expecting the next Rebecca Adlington, but it's great for them to learn water safety, it's fun and is a good form of exercise to incorporate into their lives from a young age.

Older 2 Did feckin countless years of lessons at local pool
It was endless, hot , noisy, smelly and frankly brought out terrible behaviour in many parents.
Dd3 (10 year gap) did 121 private lessons for 18 month starting when she was 7. At the end of it She could swim 800 metres.

Thanks all, this has been helpful

I’m taking my baby as soon as pools open

My experience is that some start early with baby / toddler 'swimming lessons' (Waterbabies and the like) and others tend to start formal lessons at school starting age or soon after. There is little difference within a year between those that started earlier and those that started at 5+ - the older children generally pick it up quicker. What does make a difference is water confidence. Even if you don't go down the 'lesson' route with a pre-schooler / toddler, take them to the pool often and or let them go under the water in the bath (supervised!) so that they're not afraid of having their face in the water.
5 year olds who've never been swimming much struggle at first as they're scared.

As soon as she had her injections and was allowed - I think around 6 weeks.
I live and grew up in a seaside town. We spent all our time climbing rocks and at the beach alone (in the 70s). I learned to swim as a baby and I feel its a life skill that should be taught to all children as young as is possible.
It shocks me how many people cant swim.

Just to add a funny story.
We went on a sunny holiday when dd was around 2 - the type where you have villas situated around the pool.
Upon arrival we unpacked our stuff and dandered towards the pool for a dip. DD ran ahead (about 5m - in our eye sight) and launched herself head first into the deep end. Que a bunch of sunbathing parents jumping up and running to the pool side. DD bobbed right up and swam around shouting for us to hurry up and join her.
It was lovely that people we so worried and willing to save the child if necessary.
In later years she swam competitively but then became a teenager and the early mornings and training regimes became too much.

This thread makes me feel a bit sad. I would have loved to carry on building water confidence with my toddler, and take my baby to the pool to splash about. What a shame we haven’t been able to go for over a year. Looking forward to them opening again.

I taught mine. DS is on the spectrum; tried private lessons for him but he hated everyhting about them. In the end I just took him into the pool with a float coat on and took the floats out over time and encouraged him to doggy paddle to me from a couple of feet away, then further, then further.

Did the same with dd.

Neither have any elegance at all in the water but are pretty strong.

5 isn't too young at all. I took mine swimming as soon as they'd had their first jabs, then started them on lessons at age 3. They could both do a length by 5 both using either crawl, backstroke or breaststroke and were swimming 300 metres+, diving and swimming underwater by age 6. Water confidence is really important and swimming is great exercise.