To stop 33 month old swimming lessons?

[Melissae]

I’ve been taking ds to our local swimming pool since he was 9 months old and started lessons when he turned 16 months.

He Initially loved the lessons but the last 3 lessons it’s been a nightmare. Doesn’t listen and wants to try to swim off alone. It’s a parent and baby class so I have to hold him. He will not be held and wants to do his own thing. He’s very confident in the water. Today is his lesson and I have anxiety about taking him incase there’s another tantrum like the last lessons. He seems to be the only one who does it.

We are in the same boat but my ds has not long turned 2.
He just pushes away from me and refuses to let me hold him. We are in the same classes as you 18-36 months. And then at 3 they independently go in the pool for lessons
I've thought about pulling him out of the lessons until he can move up to the preschool ones. As your lo is closer to 3 maybe you could ask if there is any flexibility in them moving up?

Also, why can't you teach them OP? If you're not going for the Olympics or whatever, from a safety perspective, you should just teach them

Don't do what someone upthread advised and put arm bands on him!

When you say parent and baby class, is it for all ages or is it an age specific class? Eg He should be in a parent and toddler class with others of a similar age, not newborns etc If you choose wisely he will take part in activities that encourage his independence and develop his skills.

I've just seen the age group - have a look around for other swim schools that have 2 1/2 yr old upwards group.

Do not put arm bands on him. They push the head underwater. Use a swim vest. Arm bands need to be banned.

And it’s not a baby class. It is a toddler and parent class. The OP originally said baby class but then she posted that the age range and there are no babies in that class. They’ll all be toddlers.

Mine coould swim a length of the toddler pool by 4.5yo doing ducklings 4.
Covid happened so restarted lessons at 7. Now stage 7 at 8yo.
Within 6m had caught up all the kids who continued during covid.

"Swimming is such a key life skill"

For some people it is.

Not sure anyone said he was freaking out. If he was freaking out that would be different!!

The kid wants to swim - encourage him!!

So many of the parents of kids in my children's classes thought they would just take their child swimming regularly rather than doing 'formal' lessons. They would have fun, it would all be great family bonding time!! - and then each weekend there was always something else on. By yr 4 when lessons started at school, around half the kids couldn't swim 5m. By then many were scared (or at least nervous) of the water, and 5 weeks of 30mins lessons at school was not going to change anything.

On this experience (only mine) I would not stop lessons if he is enjoying it - its such an important life skill. Just find the right class.

According to the OP he is not enjoying a formal setting (aka freaking out). So why bother? Encourage the love of swimming but formal lessons are a bit much imo.

I am a SAHM and it was just can activity to keep us busy and I wanted him to experience a range of different activities.
Of course I’m not expecting him to be amazing at swimming.
I knew he loved the water so thought why not.
He clearly isn’t enjoying the structure of the lesson with me having to hold him for most of the lesson.

I think after this morning I’ve come to conclusion that he doesn’t need these lessons right now which is fine. I can book us at the local pool instead so we’re still doing swimming.

33 months! 😂😂😂😂🤣

Is the next class up the one where they are just with the teacher and the parents don't go in with them? Maybe he's ready for that and will focus better.

The trouble is, it could be a key life skill for anyone at any time if you happen to fall into a river.

Jeez the worst kind of posters are out in force today.

You asked advice about swimming lessons. You explained why you used the term '33 months' given the context.

Bloody hell.

@Mostlycarbon "The trouble is, it could be a key life skill for anyone at any time if you happen to fall into a river."

The amount of swimming a two year old can do in a warm pool is not going to help a fully clothed two year old in a cold river.

Op I'd either stop and keep going yourself until he is 3 then put him onto the next level class.
It sounds like he's ready for it but they won't move him because if his age.

Just a guess but it might be insurance reasons.

Hi @Melissae

I did similar as you, took DD to a swimming group when younger, more for me than for her then regularly took her swimming myself. Playing lots of games, swimming under legs, catching water balls, spider manning around the edges etc etc. She could happily doggy paddle a length, jump in at the deep end and swim to the side, tread water but had no real technique - then I put her into classes. Went straight in at stage 4 where the start doing proper swimming and learning techniques.

The lower/younger groups spend most of their time stood against the wall and got very little actual swimming time in a 30 mins lesson. You get a lot more 'bang for your buck' if you teach through playing and it's a lovely bonding experience if your child likes the water.

Totally agree. Arm bands should be taken off the market.

@Melissae just make sure you keep taking him, very easy for other things to get in the way.
And make sure they have a space in the next class for him.

My LO was similar age yours is now combination of factors (pool closed for maintenance, illness 🤒 then covid) he was lucky if he was in a pool 4 times in 18mths.
By the time I could get him into swimming lessons at 4 and a bit, his confidence was completely gone. Took a year of serious effort to get any confidence back into him. He was too frightened to learn anything in that first year of lessons.

Who calls their almost-3 year old a 33 month old?!

Anyway, it just sounds like he's bored! He's still in the "babe in arms" type of swimming class whereas it sounds like he's more than ready to move up a stage.

She has explained WHY
Didn't you read it all ?!

You pretty well said that he can swim. "Doesn’t listen and wants to try to swim off alone. He will not be held and wants to do his own thing. He’s very confident in the water."

Mine didn't begin swimming lessons until they showed signs of being able to do some doggy paddle so around 84 months. Is now 175 months and swims competitively for a club.

P.S. I know I am being facetious but seriously op it's time to start using years not months.

My child absolutely hated water at 2 he was terrified of the sea etc so didn’t bother with it for ages. He is now almost 4 and I only started bringing him recently to the swimming pool. he loves it and can’t wait to start proper lessons. I didn’t bother bringing him as a baby/toddler i couldn’t anyway because of Covid. I started lessons at 4 and all of my childhood I took part in swimming competitions yearly and I am a competent swimmer. Baby and toddler lessons aren’t essential. I don’t think there is any pressure to bring them before age 4/5 to be honest so give it a break if you feel like it.

Stop the lessons and go for fun for a while. You can easily re start when he's old enough to go in alone.

We stopped and started and stopped and started with my eldest. He progressed the most from 8-10.