Swimming teacher struggling to teach my child to swim

[Mostpeopleonhereareniceitsok]

My dc is almost 5, keen to get them swimming. Second lesson today one on one with a swimming teacher. He wouldn’t go in the deep pool as was scared (teacher was holding him) and when in the very shallow pool, wouldn’t really listen or follow instructions, just wanted to play, lots of shouting etc.
He said he wants to continue the lessons, I asked the teacher and she seemed to be saying if he won’t go in the bigger pool, how could she reach him.
Is he just too young? Should I wait or tell him he has to listen to the teacher etc (have said this before)
Its a long drive and expensive, so I want it to be worth it.

Because generally it’s quite a useful life skill?

We taught both my DC to swim without swimming lessons just through a lot of swimming on holidays and at home. Around 4 or 5. We found it as easy say as teaching them to ride a bicycle but without any deliberateness that that was our goal. Simply encouragement to jump in (lots of silly walks etc), and how to float, using noodles and other floatables, doggy paddle and then bigger reach out strokes. We played lots of diving games later to pick things up from the bottom of the pool but the starting point was them being confident in the water. We always taught them in the part of the pool where they could touch the bottom.

Later school swimming lessons developed their technique and strokes. I guess I hated my swimming lessons when I was growing up so was pleased it just happened organically.

Since when are arm bands frowned upon? That's what I had as a kid and that's what my daughter had before she learned to swim. We are both good swimmers. Why are arm bands bad? 🤷‍♀️

@XelaM Armbands give a false sense of security and they force the body into an unaligned swim position. Remove the armbands and the swimmer will be struggling with buoyancy in a head up position.

For goodness' sake, it's a normal age to start swimming lessons.

Waterbabies is a way to meet other parents; the people I know who did WB still had to take their kids to actual swimming lessons later on.

Mine learned to swim with armbands in a group at the local pool.
I think the group helped as they see the other kids doing it so they are more likely to try things.
Also at 5, he is old enough to be told not to be messing in lessons and to listen to his teacher.

At our lessons you don't move into the big pool until you can swim 5 metres and the starting group sessions are full of the local foundation/reception kids.

I think I'd try a group session, if they're not having fun at this stage if might put them off.

My DS had private lessons at a similar age did used to mess around quite a lot (even more so in group lessons) but I think it's worth persevering. After lockdown DS was scared to put his head under but now he's a complete water baby and and can do all 4 strokes in the deep-end (he's 6) It can be a long slog.. keep going!

I normally bring out the bribery in these situations! 'If you listen nicely to the teacher we'll get you a slushy / surprise machine when you are done!'

DD started lessons at school but the group was too large and she didn’t get much from them. She started private lessons with a smaller group at nine (delayed because of waiting list) and then got her diplomas within nine months.

Your son doesn’t sound ready, he will be ready when he’s ready. I understand it can be frustrating but rushing a child at anything when they are not ready is misery for all concerned. I’d give it a a couple more lessons and if he’s not feeling it, take a break. I get your concern (been there done that) but it really isn’t a big deal. DD was one of the oldest in her group and her teacher said she was just ready and that meant she progressed very quickly. I heard many a parent complaining that their child had taken years to get to DD’s level but their kids were two/ three years younger than DD.

I had my first lesson at five and hated it and it took me a long time to learn and I still wouldn’t say I was a proficient swimmer and I only swim now on holiday.

You expecting alot for second lesson and perfect age to start. Give it time.

😂 it’s not late to start lessons. Our local pool is fully booked with 4 year olds starting to learn to swim. Teacher sounds shit if she’s already saying she can’t do it on lesson 2! Not the attitude you need really.

My almost 5 year old has also just started swimming lessons - when he goes to school in September he will swim at school.

he is shit scared of going in the deep end, so this is his first swimming goal.

if you DC isn’t actually scared of the deep end though maybe he would be better in a group setting where he might be more likely to go along with what other children are doing?

Also agree with PP saying that either yours/the teachers expectations are too high if your expecting much on lesson 2

My eldest 2 did lessons for 5 years from 4 to 9.
Youngest (big age gap) had private 1 to 1 lessons. One hour every other week. Went from non swimmer to doing 800 metres in 18 months.
I would take him for fun until he is 7 and then do private lessons.

I taught my kids to start swimming I guess. I love swimming so they went to the pool with me literally every week of their lives. I had float jackets for them so they could use their arms properly. And I gradually removed the floats. They spent bloody hours jumping in the deep end as I trod water. Good for confidence.

My ds is 13!

Yes 13, and we have been having lessons since December (he has has 3 years of lessons at school too).

He still cannot swim on his front, I'm getting to the point where I will cancel and just accept that he cannot swim and he will have to try himself as an adult.

Your child is years and years younger than mine. You need to have more patience.

My DS now 6 has just started swimming lessons again and is really confident in the water and enjoying it. I took him out last year as he didn't enjoy it and by the end was crying not to go and it wasn't worth it. We have been going every week for the last year just for fun by ourselves and it made a big difference. My DD4 is the same as my DS and is crying not to go - sometimes they're just not ready yet

Children learn quicker when they can’t touch the floor! They gain some confidence in the shallow end, but need to be in deeper water to stop them actually touching the floor. Their legs need to be horizontal, not vertical.

😂😂😂

Late? Hilarious 🤣

Michael Phelps didn't learn until he was 7 and was afraid if getting his face wet before then...

olympics.com/en/news/before-they-were-stars-michael-phelps

This is nonsense. Many kids start once at school.

My DS is 3.5 - he’s been going swimming since he was 2.5. At stage 1 (Swim England) he was by far the youngest - all the other kids are 5-8. Most of the older kids had been taught the basics by their parents - so it was just about demonstrating water confidence before they get moved up. Stage 1 is easy & even DS passed it easily. S2 is when they start expecting kids to float.

Because kids think they can swim when they can't.
Gives the adults a false sense of safety.
Kids have to re-learn the correct position.

The core skill in swimming is staying afloat and and propelling yourself, then fine tuning strokes and breathing there after, to make the propelling more efficient and faster.

Same sort of reasons why stabilisers on bikes aren't actually useful and using a balance bike is better. With stabilisers you learn how to pedal and steer, but probably 90% of bike riding skill is the balancing. With a balance bike you learn the core skill if balance, and then move in to the final stage of pedals

True. DS is 3.5 and he can swim besides us now. Messily - we’re working on stroke actions - but the teacher managed to teach him how to doggy paddle from Stage 1 because he couldn’t touch the floor.

Keep on with lessons but say you like to start in teaching pool to build up confidence. Also go swimming each week for fun with noodle for support and water toys. Good luck!

Group lessons could be good as he will copy more confident kids.