To think level 1 swimming lessons shouldn’t be in the deep end?

[CroccyWoccy]

Because of technical problems in teaching pool at our local pool today’s swimming lessons took place in the main pool. It was all a bit chaotic as classes couldn’t be separated in the usual way, but I was amazed to find my two non-swimming children up in the deep-end on noodles. They were accompanied by a teacher obviously but my youngest isn’t very confident using a noodle and was thrashing about uselessly.

AIBU to think it’s not safe to have non-swimmers in the deep end?

YABU. This is how children learn things.

How shallow is the shallow end? It’s often 1.2m. Lots of children younger than about 7-8 wouldn’t be able to stand up there anyway. Deeper isn’t more dangerous for them.

I tend to find they don't learn properly if they can touch the bottom and become reliant on bouncing about on tip toes instead of swimming. If they have noodles and can follow instruction they should be fine.

I say this as someone whose 3yr old came off their noodle in the deep end during a lesson, but teacher was right there and dived right in to get them.

For a one off I don't think it's a bad thing for them to experience having to actually float and swim rather than just standing there. The swim teachers are qualified and (presumably) there was also a lifeguard.

Ok maybe I am BU - I was just surprised when there was about 12 kids in the lane (two classes getting mixed up together) that one teacher can be expected to adequately supervise multiple non-swimmers. My DS was making no progress so the teacher was understandably staying close to him but this meant other children were swimming far ahead alone and getting mixed in with the other class.

This. My daughter is 10 and is only now able to touch the bottom in the shallow end. She learned to swim anyway.

The shallow end and teaching pool in my local pool is 1.0m my small 5 year old can touch the floor there. My 7 year old can easily touch the floor in a 1.2m pool.
Neither of them would feel comfortable in the deep end of a pool

My 3 year old is in the first class. It's in 3.5m deep water. They all wear swim discs on their arms though, they wouldn't be allowed just a noodle. They gradually gain confidence taking disks off til they're swimming with none.

My DD’s lessons since she was 3 have been in a pool where the shallow end is 1.3m. She’s progressed a lot quicker than friends/cousins who had lessons in teaching pools where they could just stand up.

My daughter is 3 and has her swimming lesson in a 1.2m pool. She's on a noodle or holding the side.

The teacher is pretty on it and felt she was safe

My 5yr swims better in deep water

she’s only learnt 2w ago on an intensive course

It’s not just the teacher there though OP, there are lifeguards as well presumably who no doubt were also keeping a very close eye.

Personally, when I was a kid learning to swim, it was when I went into deeper water that my swimming progressed much better. I think it helps tbh.

Where my dc have lessons they run a 'lengths' session every 6 weeks from stage 1 upwards. Whole class going from the shallow to deep end, all with varying levels of disks/noodles depending on ability. It's fine.

There were two lifeguards but about 50 people in the pool as it was open to the general public as well as lessons. They’re probably keeping watch better than they appear to be but TBH to me they always look like bored teens with their eyes glazed over!

I feel sorry for the teacher, having to tread water etc for the whole lesson. In the shallow end, they can stand up and help the children better...

I agree though, the kids learn better where they can't stand. Although the major part of stage 1 is water confidence.

DDs had their initial lessons in a pool where the shallow end was 1.2m. They had to be accompanied by a parent until 5yo so that there was a 1-1 ratio in case of accidents. They took them to the deep end as well in those lessons.

Lifeguard here. I would not be happy having non-swimmers in the deep end. I frequently rescue non-swimmers in the teaching pool which is only 75cm deep.

Maybe I am paranoid because I had to fish DS out of deep water on holiday and I found out how very much harder it is to do that when I’m treading water myself rather than standing. Obviously I’m not a trained lifeguard, I’m sure it’s not so challenging if you are!

I can definitely understand your worry OP. I remember DH letting a tiny DD (probably about 4), go down a water slide on holiday once, into a deep landing pool, without her life jacket thing on. I was standing at the bottom to check she got out OK and had to dash in to rescue her. We didn’t speak for the rest of the holiday, I was apoplectic with rage.

My 10 day old (a number of years ago!) had his first swimming lesson in a 4ft deep pool. Obviously it didn't matter how deep the pool was he was a tiny baby. YABU. It's learning to swim not walk in water

Our training pool has a variable depth and it was a good while before my DCs could comfortably stand in the 90cm end, then they moved up to the next pool which was 100-115cm so had trouble standing again. It's stage 4 where they get introduced to "deep water" and then despite struggling with depth for much of their time through swimming lessons, DS2 ended up having a bit of an issue about it being deep then.

The staff need to be vigilant about any children struggling at any depth, but deeper water is good for bouyancy and can help develop swimming better than staying in depth.

@Meatshake are you sure?! That’s nearly 12 foot deep!

I’m assuming you were holding on to you baby though!

I wouldn’t have a problem with them being in deep water with a decent flotation device or very close supervision. I didn’t feel comfortable with them only having noodles and the children being spread out across 10+ meters of deep water.

Yup, just double checked.

I'm a swimming teacher was 12 non swimmers to 1 teacher? If so that is completely unsafe, only takes them to lose balance or grip of the woggle and they are under.