Is Swimming a life skill (following on from driving thread)

[girlfriend44]

Alot of people here said that driving was a life skill.

If you drive can you also swim?
Do you consider Swimming to be a life skill too that everyone should learn?

Sorry but if you cannot swim you should be nowhere near water/. You can have a shower, but I'd be even a bit wary of you having a bath in a deep tub to be honest. You are in an element which you do not understand.

My mum always used to say "only swimmers drown!" #missespointofthread 😆 I'll get my coat... 😋

Cycling is a life skill, swimming is an essential skill the same as reading and writing, and the only children not learning to swim should be those not physically or cognitively capable.

My DD is 4 and has been in playgroup/preschool 4 days a week, with the priority on her day off being swimming. She has now finally got a place in swimming lessons which is great. She will be doing lessons, as a priority over other extra curricular activities, until she is a competent/confident swimmer.

I think more should be done to provide swimming for children on lower incomes, and in schools (more year groups) as it is so important.

Big believer that driving is a basic life skill but that's absolutely surpassed by swimming, as someone else mentioned its a life saving skill.

As I said up thread I can swim a very little bit but not a "my life is in danger I need to save myself" amount. 100m would be asking a lot. I'm happy enough to be in the water if I have something that floats though.

When did cycling get added to the list of life skills?

That's a total stretch.

I agree. My dc could cycle when they were 3 and 4 but struggle to see how it could actually be classed as a life skill

Being able to swim gives the ability to save both your life and the lives of others
Bring able to drive has the ability to do the opposite.

Deffo life skill we have sea river and canal within 10 minutes of us.

I can't swim unaided. Money was tight when I was younger and my parents couldn't afford lessons. I happily snorkel with a pool noodle and actually find it easier in deeper water where the temptation put my feet down disappears. When I was in a canoe that capsized I was wearing a life jacket and just floated to the top then got on to my back to get my breath back. My DH is a strong swimmer and is aware of my limitations so keeps me in his line of sight but hasn't had to intervene yet.

I wish adult lessons were more widely advertised and available, I'd start tomorrow if I could as I do think it's a valuable skill. When I started looking 5 years ago, lessons were only during the day and aimed at retirees. Now they have a few evening lessons in different pools in our town but unless you know exactly when they release places you can't get one. None of the pools advertise times and dates or give any real information on class structure, they just say to get in touch by email for more information. I got close once when a pool confirmed they had lessons starting in six weeks but they ignored my next three emails asking how to sign up and didn't answer the phone.

I'd better not go for a walk by the river then

Not life skill that's needed for me. I live in a city and have never been in any form of water. I can see how it's needed if you live in countryside/ do things in water.

Yes no one has ever been saved by anyone with a driver's license ever

We couldn’t afford to give the kids swimming lessons and the guilt really gets to me especially when I see people who live on the coast whose children are like fish. Our kids only get lessons in school and everyone says it doesn’t do much of you don’t swim regularly. We live in the midlands and there’s only the public swimming pool that is too far away and anyway always booked up and some lakes. The guilt really gets to me

Both are definitely life skills as you never know when you might need them.

There are always people saying that they live in a major city and therefore don't need to drive, but I always think it's a bit short sighted; and some of them must end up living elsewhere. There are only a handful if cities in the UK where public transport is excellent. I live in a small city myself and we only have a pretty basic bus service.

I do both and absolutely think both are a life skill. If pushed, I'd give swimming the number 1 spot though as that could genuinely save your life and others more often than driving.

‘Both are definitely life skills as you never know when you might need them.’

well that might be true for some but not for me. I never ever ‘need’ to swim. I don’t go near water.

I drive every day though.

so I think it depends on your life, what is a life skill and what is not. Swimming is not a life skill for me.

Do you really have such a lack of imagination? My daughter has a muscle wasting condition. She will never be strong enough to swim, no matter how hard she tries. You do know that disabled people enjoy outdoor pursuits though? And many have precious few options where they can participate fully and even compete with their able bodied friends. Sailing is a wonderful sport for inclusivity and can be safely enjoyed by non- swimmers.

Yes absolutely. My cousin saved a little girl from drowning a couple of weeks ago. The girls dad was stood on the beach not knowing what to do because he couldn’t swim. It is 100% a life saving skill.

Sorry, but taking your child sailing when she can't swim is foolhardy, risky, and irresponsible. Why would you do that? Also, why can she not swim?! Are you going to claim she has tried, but can't? Because I will find that very hard to believe.

Tbf I had an ex boyfriend who was (and still is 25 years later) in the Navy. Has spent most of his adult life at sea and cannot swim so it's definitely not a complete necessity for sailing!

I don't think it needs to be a competition.
Neither is more or less of a "life skill".

Both are great things to learn and will enhance the opportunities you have, if you acquire them as skills. Obviously there will always be people who can't do one, or the other, or who can't do either, who - in their circumstances - will tell you they are fine.

Swimming is a life skill. Every year a teen who isn't a competent swimmer ends up drowning trying to cool off with mates. It absolutely is a risk to not be able to swim. Also what a huge joy to miss out on? Not everyone will enjoy it but most certainly do. You would miss out on so many opportunities. I'd also be terrified to be near water with my kids if I felt like I couldn't get them out if they fell in. Yes, there will be many people who manage to live without swimming but it seems like such a shame to miss out on so much. My mother couldn't swim and it really limited what we could do in the summer.

The same goes for driving. It just narrows your life choices. Why narrow those the choices of where you can live and work?

Plenty of people will be along to say how they've lived to a ripe old age without being able to do either but there's no disputing that it's life limiting.

No one is ever going to push me into a car and shout 'drive.'

Someone might push me into the Thames though, so I know how to swim whilst weighed down by wet clothes.

Both driving and swimming are life skills

It was always strange people who couldn’t do one or both of those things in my experience

To me, BASIC parenting means your child learns

1. Manners
2. Social skills
3. Reading/writing
4. Swimming
5. Riding a bike
6. Driving
7. Budgeting/ money management
8. Cleaning/laundry etc
9. Cooking
10. Taking responsibility for your own actions/omissions.

Of course, you'll be teaching more in depth with things like problem solving, friendship issues, family issues, bullying/school conflicts etc etc, but, for me, these are the bare essential 'responsibilities' of being a parent.