Can't afford swimming lessons anymore

[Blomdd]

But feel like it's really important my son learns how to swim. Can I teach him myself by taking him a couple of times a week? I'm not an amazing swimmer but cab swim. He's 5 and I'm always so nervous that he can't swim. Feel like it's something he should be doing but I just can't afford it. Has anyone had any success doing it themselves?

Yeah. Just take him and let him splash about. He will be fine.

My two siblings didn't have lessons. They just went to the pool with my dad. They both learnt to swim.

I did have lessons... and I did not learn to swim.

You can absolutely do it yourself, but the most important thing is just going swimming regularly to build confidence. There must be loads of information you could use on you tube or elsewhere on the internet. Swimming is part of the curriculum so your son will have lessons at school as well eventually.

My son learned without lessons. But we did go to the pool a lot. He’s a pretty good swimmer now as a teen.

You absolutely can, it's how I learnt! But where we go is £30 a month, one 30 minute lesson per week. If I took my DS myself even once a week it would definitely cost me more than that.

My youngest is 6 and he's just learned to swim without lessons (he refused to do them). I think there's a lot more that the lessons teach so I would like him to try at some point (but know it's counter productive if we force him and he starts hating the water).

Would both you and him going twice a week be much cheaper than lesson?

I learnt to swim without lessons. But then later DID go and have lessons, more to develop a stroke other than doggy paddle.

I'm a strong swimmer. Much more so than many of my contemporaries who did have formal lessons as kids.

Definitely.

We bring our 4yo to the leisure centre pool once a week (free if a member) and he's doing great.

We just swim about with swim noodles nearby and he's confident in the water, happy to dive in, doggy paddles and can swim half a length under water.

This is without us coaching him, we just mess about when we're there. Been going since he was 2.

We may do lessons when he's 5 or 6 if affordable.

My dh and I have just started taking our children (5,8 and 10) swimming (couldn't swim previously) . After only 4 sessions in the pool, my 10 year old is swimming a width without a float confidently. The others are starting to get the hang of it too. My 10 year old has been swimming with the school before, but got absolutely nowhere, couldn't even move through the water with a float. It's amazing what some one-on-one time can achieve actually!

My mum taught me and my sister to swim herself, and we are both very strong swimmers. If you have the time to do it, I actually think one-on-one teaching is the best way. At least to get the basics mastered anyway.

He is only 5. At this age (and even older) it’s good to be able to swim but absolutely not a problem if you can’t.
If you can’t afford - just stop, slow down pace and take him to the pool yourself from time to time to build up his confidence.

By the way he won’t learn swimming at school, no way you can learn at 6 lessons in year 3 and then 6 lessons at year 4 as some schools do around here.

Isn’t that going to work out the same or more expensive?

Around here, group swimming is around £28 -£32 per month (depending on the swim school) with unlimited free swimming sessions in between.

At my pool, a session for an adult is around £4.80, juniors pay £2.60 - So twice a week that is Around £30 per month (plus extra transport of course, if you are replacing one swimming lesson per week with a couple of sessions yourselves).

Just what other posters have said. Surely it works out the same price? I pay £30 a month.

They may have lessons at school, not sure if it’s part of the curriculum, but my children’s primary go when they reach yr 4. If you can just ensure your child is confident and safe in the water that’s enough for now!

I've just stopped my daughters lessons because I begrudge £37 a month to see her floating around waiting for her turn in a group of 6-8 little ones. Found a local pool membership for £17 a month and we'll see how we go! All good so far, I'm not sure I'm too hot on technique but I'm not sure how much that is needed as long as she has some strength in her strokes and can stay afloat!

I would try and get him onto a local council waiting list. Private lessons can be really expensive.
swimming at school also varies by area- here you do an entire year of a session a week in y5 and then if they still can’t swim a length do a whole year in y6 too.
try not to worry, it you can’t afford it you can’t afford it. If he has generous family could you ask for some money towards swimming lessons for his birthday (realise this may not be possible)
I would also let his current place know why you are withdrawing him- some places have funds for this available (my children’s sport clubs all help children who need to leave due to lack ot funds)

£55 a month at my local pool!

Take him weekly if you can, you don't need formal lessons. Just play in the pool with him encourage some swimming. Get a ball and some toys make it fun x

Yes, you can teach him yourself. It's also worth checking if your local council offers free gym and swim sessions (mine does).

@lieselotte that would get you private 1-1 lessons round here.

If you smoke or drink, or run a car, you could make the savings to afford lessons.

Apologies if none of those apply.

It's really expensive. It actually works out better for adults - they pay the same as for the kids and get an hour's lesson.

The kids get 30 minutes or 45 minutes for the same price.

I haven't taken mine since covid because I'm suffering from extreme post natal anxiety around their health. There I've said it.

I manage school at a push, nursery same, I do tonnes at home, but I cannot cope with the bugs that come every time we swim.

So we go once a week super early just us. As I get stronger I will restart lessons, but I am not coping with the cramped classes and snot and sick that OUR local ones produce.

14 days after sickness for swimming. Nobody ever follows that

I took swimming lessons with school once a week. Never taught me how to swim.

I went swimming with my uncle and cousins, he taught me how to swim.

I think if you take him swimming you can teach him yourself x

Mine just had 3 lessons each, on holiday at Centre Parcs.

Then practice.

They can swim.

You may find that it's just as expensive taking him yourself regularly as having lessons, but I have no doubt you would manage to teach him to swim.
Look at your local high schools, as some offer much more competitive lessons than the leisure centres