To consider Swimming lessons for a 27 month old

[Beachfun123]

Torn between attending a small class in my local area or a block of private 1-2-1 with a tutor I know. I can’t swim myself and I’m thinking about ttc - so i thought it might before might be useful before trying to manage another pregnancy/newborn etc. I’ve seen some say it’s pointless before the age of 3, but I want them to learn some water safety more than anything. Any advice welcome .

I started both mine as babies. Second a lot less due to lockdowns but I'd say early introduction to it has helped their confidence hugely. But then a lot of it feeds off your confidence too. My DS is a maniac in the pool (2 and a half) because I bath him and his sibling together and he's very used to going under water, water being poured on him, lots of splashing etc. If he didn't have that and we were nervous getting in the pool with him he may be more wobbly in water.

I'd say give it a trial, most places allow a trial. See how you go. We've found it a good activity for DH to do.

Can you get adult lessons? Your confidence might be a big factor.

I’d say 1-2-1 is overkill at 2, unless you have money to burn. Largely they’d be learning water confidence - putting their face in the water and splashing around - they generally haven’t the coordination to learn the strokes properly. Baby swimming groups are fun at that age, as they sing nursery rhymes and splash around together.

My daughter did toddler swimming from almost 3 in a small group then at 4 did a couple of council run crash courses and got up to stage 4 - swimming 35m of front crawl. She then looked outsized swimming as a teeny 4yo in the deep end with a bunch of 8-10 year olds.

Sadly with covid she stopped lessons and forgot it all, but did crash courses last summer hols and got back up to passing level 4 and now (at 8 yo) is doing well in stage 5 again.

That’s all long and a bit of a random way of saying that the 1-2-1 courses would be much better value for money in a couple of years! 🤣

Hope you can take adult lessons and as for your DC, suggest group classes.

Sorry 25m - i.e. a length of the pool. Not that it matters that much.

If you have the money for the 1-2-1 now then use it for yourself, as kids learn a lot from fun swimming with their parents x

I would suggest a fun toddler class, but young for formal lessons

I think booking swimming lessons for yourself would be more beneficial.
If your young child is swimming around but you can't leave the shallows what use would you be if they got into trouble in the water?
Plus swimming isn't going to be much fun for your dc if their Mum can't leave the side

My daughter absolutely hated it, even as a baby. She screamed and shuddered. It was a shock as my husband and I are keen swimmers, who love the water. We figured out it was the noise and volume of the pool rather than the water, because she was fine on holiday in a lake. Therefore, despite my normal firm belief they should start as young as possible, we waited until she wanted to. At almost four, she decided she did, and has had lessons ever since making good progress.

So I guess what I am saying, is I agree with the above. Do some trial runs first, before committing to a block.

I'm a swimming teacher a 2 year old isn't going to be swimming they struggle to listen to instructions at that age it's all about water confidence for baby lessons. I teach ducklings from 3 but again it depends on the child's ability to listen and follow instructions sometimes they aren't ready and another 6 months can be massive development wise. I get my ducks swimming with two floats by the end front and back under there arms, we do about of tiger arms with woggle under them but stage 1 is swimming with their face with floats. It wouldn't be until stage 2 where they would begin to use their arms and swim a recognised stroke.

No point. Their heads are too big and their arms are too short to learn to swim. They can do fun sessions but they can’t swim yet.

In agree with you having lessons and take your little one to the pool anyway. With my toddler I’m never out of my depth because we are either toddling in the shallow end (love family friendly pool where its like a shallow sea for a long way) or I’m carrying her.

I can't swim either and I've taken my DS to swim lessons since he was 6 months old. It's in a small group of about 5 other babies. Mainly songs, splashing etc. He has learnt to kick his legs which is cute. We also dunk them under water (when they're ready) and that's meant to teach them to hold their breath for if they were to fall into water they'd be able to survive for a fraction longer. He loves his lessons

I took both of my DC to baby swimming lessons straight after their injections. I can't swim so it was important to me that they learned without any stress and anxiety as I used to sob with terror on the school bus to swimming class.

They're adults now but have always been water confident and swim like fish! (I still can't swim however!)

I don't think you need 1-2-1 though. A group class at your local leisure centre will be fine.

It's interesting, I'm in australia and most children start group lessons from 3-4 months old here.

My DC have been doing lessons since they were babies and could confidently swim unassisted at 2.5-3 years old. I mean, they weren't swimming laps but if they fell in they could get out and they'd jump in and out of the pool. It's never to early to get them comfortable in the water.

But also, as others have suggested, it would be great for you to get some lessons too - you need to be confident and able to help them too.

My DD could swim by 27 months. In Australia that is not unusual.

So I challenge anybody who says it is not possible for a 2 year old to swim.

My 15m old does lessons and has since he was a baby. The pool for this age group is very small, warm and shallow- up to my chest maybe and I'm short. You'd be able to do this. The parents are just standing in the water and holding them. Check the facilities and you will likely see a small training pool.

Do the group parent & baby/toddler classes at that age. So long as you're confident standing up to chest deep in water then you'll be fine not being able to swim. It's just swooshing around and splashing to gain confidence at that age. If you can afford some 1-2-1 lessons yourself then it would be well worth it in years to come when your kids want to go swimming for fun.

I'm pretty sure my DD could swim at 27 months too. I took her to swimming lessons at the local leisure Centre from about 3 months. She loved them. They don't do 121s in the leisure Centre until age 4.

she was swimming lengths up and down in the adult pool by her 4th birthday.

What definition of swimming are people using? At 3yo DD could jump in the deep end, float for 30seconds, then propel herself with kicking and underwater arm movements to the shallow end 25m away. (The aim of her preschool classes). None of them could do a recognisable stroke, it was a safety and confidence aim. (In a country where garden pools were normal).

That definition of swimming, or doing proper front crawl etc?

I'd prioritise learning the swim yourself first and paying for lessons for you. Group lessons good for a 2 year old as water confidence and enjoyment is key

Some two year olds can definitely swim if they have plenty of opportunity, but they'll catch up if starting later.

Take them to the local pool and have a splash and play in the toddler area. No need for ‘lessons’ if it’s not something you want to do yourself. The classes my dc attended wouldn’t take them before age 4 anyway. The baby swimming classes weren’t my thing at all, but then I hate swimming and pools and everything that goes with it. Plenty of time when they’re old enough to actually follow a teacher’s instructions.

I took DS to baby swimming lessons and it was a waste of time. He then had lessons at a small private pool from age 4 and it was good for gaining confidence in the water and learning the basics.

He didn't really make much progress though until he joined the big lessons at the council pool aged about 7. IMO the small private ones can be very hit and miss quality-wise. I wish I had just started him at the council pool as soon as he was old enough.

I agree you should use your money and time to learn to swim yourself first.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves at 2 mine were similar, doggy paddle but no buoyancy aids. Proper strokes came once they started formal lessons at 4.

We did 'toddler fun swim' and then worked our way through the leisure centre swim programme. DC were 'swimming' around, buoyant in the water at two - competent/smooth in the water swimmers at 7 ish. We live on the coast so water safety is important and was my initial driver. Learning to be a good swimmer is a great thing and it helps to start early.

At this age I think group lessons are better than 1:1. They learn a lot from seeing other children playing confidently in the water and doing the activities (blowing bubbles, putting their faces under). It also makes them more likely to do it themselves.

My oldest did swimming classes from babyhood and it made a huge difference to her water confidence. She progressed fast in real lessons later on as she wasn't nervous about jumping in or getting water in her face. Save the money for 1:1 till later, when a teacher can really focus on improving their technique.