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AIBU?

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Original poster

Am I expecting too much from swimming lessons

61 replies

Penns · 26/01/2023 19:26

My 3 year old son has been having swimming lessons for about a year. His GP takes him normally as I work FT but I go along to the odd lesson to see how's he doing.

I took him this week and left feeling abit disappointed with the lack of progression. His confidence is better but not much else has changed.

The instructor is lovely and my son likes her, but we are paying £60 for 6 x30min lessons and not much seems to be happening . Another thing that annoyed me recently is that on one occasion when no other children turned up, she cut the lesson short by 15 mins rather than spending the full 30mins with him, which I didn't agree with.

AIBU to expect more from the lessons or is this typical to not really see much progression at this age?

OP posts:
Usernameisunavailable · 26/01/2023 22:39

I don’t think you can necessarily expect the same linear progression at 3 than you might get at 4 or 5. Building water confidence is progress in itself and once he feels truly confident (and gets a bit older) I think you can expect to see greater improvement.

Original poster
Penns · 26/01/2023 22:40

MsSquiz · 26/01/2023 22:33

My DD has just turned 3 and she's been having swimming lessons for about 1.5 years. We started her that young as she was 3 months old during when the first lockdown hit so it was more of a social interaction thing. But she has now started to have her lessons without DH in the water with her, she has so much confidence in water now, and loves to show me what she's learnt when we go for a family swim along with her baby sister. She can float like a star, she can do tiger arms and pizza arms (front crawl & breast stroke) but not the actual full swim. She's learnt to blow bubbles if she goes under water rather than panic and gulp!
I see all of that as progression for a 3 year old

He isn't doing any of these things to be honest

OP posts:
Original poster
Penns · 26/01/2023 22:45

cptartapp · 26/01/2023 19:44

So he started swimming lessons at two?! Very early. Mine swam like fish but didn't start until they were about five IIRC.

Yes, he was but nearly 3. We started so young and he frightened of water

OP posts:
Original poster
Penns · 26/01/2023 22:54

xyzandabc · 26/01/2023 20:20

He's only 3 now and been doing it a year? So he was 2 or 3 for all of the lessons?

At that age, they can't physically swim in terms of strokes as they still have 'toddler bodies'. Large head, short limbs, they are just out of proportion to be able to actually swim. It's not until they get to about 5 that their bodies become more able to move in the right way for swimming.

They can have fun in the water, learning to float, how to hold their breath under the water, blow bubbles, jumping in, splashing about, generally becoming water confident. But in terms of actual swimming it's still going to be a while before you see much progress.

He started at 2 nearly 3, he's now nearly 4. I should add he is very tall for his age, he does have long legs and arms so I'm not sure that's the issue. He's still
scared to jump in,won't put his head under water and doesn't like to splash about so he's not making progression on those fun things either. But atleast he doesn't cry when he enters water now

OP posts:
GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 26/01/2023 22:57

I agree they don’t really learn much I lessons at 3. I just used to take both of mine at that age.

I’ve got my 8 yo in 1-2-1 at the moment as I don’t think they learn much in group lessons - hoping cost will be similar long term as he’ll learn much quicker. He swims quite well but loves it so much I thought it was worth helping him really improve.

Brainstorm23 · 26/01/2023 23:00

It may just click with him. My daughter missed a lot with Covid and when she came back was petrified of the water. It took almost 6 months of her clinging to me every lesson until it finally just clicked. It was frustrating but I didn't push her and eventually she told me "I've let go of my fear".

If he's not going underwater then maybe some visits to the pool with you to mess about and have fun would help.

Original poster
Penns · 26/01/2023 23:03

My partner is a member at a gym and he's just found out that they do a swim session at the weekend where they can take a child for £5. They get out all rhe floats and stuff so its a fun session. Based on the replies I'm tempted to stop lessons and just take him swimming with us for a while and maybe revisit lessons when he's a bit older

OP posts:
LeCarre · 26/01/2023 23:04

I found group swimming lessons pointless.

We did a few 1:1 seasions and then he could swim 😃 he just needed focused attention from someone who knew what they were doing.

Swim schools advertise for staff in my area all the time. “No experience necessary” apparently.

Bunnycat101 · 27/01/2023 01:45

I’d do the fun session tbh. Main thing for me from what you’ve said is he doesn’t actually like it. Biggest thing for us in my 3yo loving it was a family holiday where she was in the pool having fun and wanting to be like her older sister.

WandaWonder · 27/01/2023 01:47

We didn't start till 5

Tiredmamma8 · 27/01/2023 02:20

cptartapp · 26/01/2023 19:44

So he started swimming lessons at two?! Very early. Mine swam like fish but didn't start until they were about five IIRC.

Mine started at 3months 😂

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