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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To stop swimming lessons?

52 replies

CocoBean22 · 28/02/2025 22:47

DS almost 8 years has been doing swim lessons from toddler stage and is now at 78% of Stage 4.
He can swim confidently and has learnt lots. If he was to fall in the pool or sea I feel he could get himself to safety.
He's lost interest and enthusiasm in going to his swim lessons every week, he loves swimming in holiday all day every day with us as a family, swimming at home for fun in pools but has no interest in lessons anymore.
I think the thing that hasn't helped is they are assessed and moved up a certain percentage each lesson and he hasn't moved up much lately, the early stages he would go each lesson from 20% to 30% or more now it's more like 75%, 76%, 77% each week if that, some weeks he doesn't even move up as the instructor isn't assessing the children each week.
He's most interest.

He has also taken on two more extra sessions a week (totalling 3) of martial arts training which he LOVES so I think by the time swim lessons come around he's tired from school and then has training 3 times a week with MA.

So my question is.....

Is it ok/reasonable to stop swim lessons at this point?

Or Would you keep going regardless?

OP posts:
FrozzyBrain · 01/03/2025 23:08

Growlybear83 · 01/03/2025 10:32

If your son can swim but isn't enjoying having lessons, can you not just take him swimming yourself on a regular basis?

Yeah, do this. My son lost interest in lessons when he was 8. Stopped going and prioritised other sports.
He’s 13 now. Swims two or three times a week, 30/40 lengths. Enjoys it as a hobby.

SwimGuide · 10/07/2025 13:41

CocoBean22 · 28/02/2025 22:47

DS almost 8 years has been doing swim lessons from toddler stage and is now at 78% of Stage 4.
He can swim confidently and has learnt lots. If he was to fall in the pool or sea I feel he could get himself to safety.
He's lost interest and enthusiasm in going to his swim lessons every week, he loves swimming in holiday all day every day with us as a family, swimming at home for fun in pools but has no interest in lessons anymore.
I think the thing that hasn't helped is they are assessed and moved up a certain percentage each lesson and he hasn't moved up much lately, the early stages he would go each lesson from 20% to 30% or more now it's more like 75%, 76%, 77% each week if that, some weeks he doesn't even move up as the instructor isn't assessing the children each week.
He's most interest.

He has also taken on two more extra sessions a week (totalling 3) of martial arts training which he LOVES so I think by the time swim lessons come around he's tired from school and then has training 3 times a week with MA.

So my question is.....

Is it ok/reasonable to stop swim lessons at this point?

Or Would you keep going regardless?

Theres still lots for your son to learn but it sounds like the lessons are boring, repetitive. Teachers lose interest or are not as skilled/knowledgeable as they should be at taking higher level ability children. Lessons should be fun, rewarding and challenging to maintain interest. Lesson providers will continue to take your money for as long as possible, insisting you should maintain regular classes but is it value for money? Did you know 70% of parents are not returning to swimming lessons for this and or some other reasons.

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