to be considering stopping toddler swimming because the teacher doesn't speak 'properly'?

[TreeTrunkThighs]

She doesn't say the 'h' at the beginning of words that begin with 'h'.

Today we sang:

Umpty Dumpty
Ickory dickory dock
Eads, shoulders, knees and toes

The little girl next to us was called Hannah. She was called Annah all lesson.

Or should I just grit my teeth and stop being such an Orrible Snob?

This is a wind-up isn't it?

This is a windup innit?

Might not be! my mother tongue is french, I do have the same "H" issue, worse even maybe as I tend to not put them where they are and put them where they deffinitely are not! I lead a toddlers group and do sing a lot af nursery rhymes with them! Thanks goodness OP does not seem to be one of "my" mums she'd have a fit!

either this is a wind up or you have already answered your own question.

But georgimama, would you take your toddler to classes if you weren't at work?
I am off four days (incl weekends) with my DS and I wouldn't dream of it. I didn't take him either when I was off on mat leave. What a load of crap they are and so costly. And even worse, parents really think they are "learning" from them.
Someone told me the other day Socatots was brill because her 21 month old had learnt to kick a ball
Another Mum told me that Tumble Tots was great because the classes taught her DD how to climb stairs
I find it hard to believe so many apparently intelligent people are sucked into what amounts to nothing more than hyped up commercialism.

Actually we used to take all 3 of ours to similar swimming sessions at the local pool on a Saturday morning.

They were for 3s and under and it was a lovely session where the instructor led singing sessions to get them used to water, gave parents advice and help, allowed us access to superior swimming aids (foam rings that, if allowed at open sessions, used to just vanish) and helped the children do Duckling swimming badges.

It was a council-run thing and cost £2 to register and afterwards just my admission to the pool (under 5s free).

So don?t be so scornful gateau. Not everything aimed at toddlers is an expensive waste of time. I thought it was excellent and as a result all my 3 started lessons at 4yrs able to put faces into water, jump in confidently etc etc.

(Mind you I agree that a toddler will learn to kick a ball or climb stairs without assistance from Tumble Tots )

gateau - my mum has DS one day a week. She takes him to tumble tots because

a) he likes it
b) she has limited mobility and its a safe place for him to run around and use up some energy in the company of other children
c) she can afford it.

I took DS to baby swimming classes when he was about 18 motnhs despite the fact that I am an extremely good swimmer myself and could have just taken him to the pool myself (I did that as well). He was terrified of the water and being in a small safe pool with only the other childrne in the class relly helped him and copying what the other childrne did (an early form of peer presssure) was extrmely helpful to me in acclimatising him to the water.

Not sure why you're so sneery about classes - they can also be a way to make friends for mothers.

It is a slight over reaction to stop learning a potentially life saving skill because the teacher doesn't pronounce her H's.

IMO.

Clary, the swimming classes you describe are NOT expensive. I'm talking about the overpriced, private classes.

This fred is ilarious

awwwwouaoua!
BitOfFun said what I was going to say fiiiiirsssst. Whine.

YANBU. MOST important that your child shouts 'help' not 'elp! 'ELP!' when drowning.

well actually gateau you were talking about "any classes" for a toddler.

Are you going to stop contact with everyone that doesn't speak as you do though? If not then what's the point and if so then you run the risk of being seriously limited for friends in the future.

I've been taking DD to swimming 'lessons' since she was about 6 months and she can now, at 2.4 jump in on her own turn around under water and swim back to the pool side and cling on. [boast emoticon] A lot of kids this age don't even like getting their hair wet. Her confidence is all down to the group sessions. Kids enjoy learning around and with other kids. Swimming and confidence in water isn't a natural skill they'll pick up with age like climbing, it's a learned skill and why not start early?

I was talking about "overpriced private lessons" Gateau, by all means respond to my post instead.

Oh right, well I didn't mean ANY. I meant MOST.
The swimming instructor at my local leisure centre said swimming classes were a waste of time and money for any child under three; a reliable source.
That's my opinion re classes. People can waste their entire salary on them for all I care.

OK then don't answer my post, I'll just stand here against the wall unitl someone takes pity on me [wallflower emoticon]

What exactly are you waiting for, Friar?
A prolonged argument, I deduce.
Sorry, but you may argue with the wall. There's nothing esle to be sadi from my side. You think Tumble Tots is wonderful, I think it's a load of crap. Nothing else to be said

Swimming lessons a waste of time for a child under three???

Thanks partly to regular swimming lessons my 2.5 yr old is swimming without armbands. And they weren't expensive - £50 per term so about £3 per lesson. And yes, we sang nursery rhymes while he learnt. (I'm too deaf to know whether the nursery rhymes were properly enunciated so can't add to that part of the debate).

(But surely that part of debate is tongue-in-cheek, no?)

gosh you are grumpy gateau. And very certain.

And actually Gateau, why the feck should it concern you what other people spend their money on???

My brother had a girlfriend...once she called to speak to him...

GF: "is xxx there?"

Me: "sure. Who's calling?"

GF "it's 'Elen"

Me: "Ellen?"

GF: "no, 'Elen"

Me: "Oh right, Ellen"

GF: "no, it's 'Elen with an HAITCH"

It didn't last long!!!

Call me a snob but I do mind a teeny bit that ds1 has picked up from his teacher that 'h' is pronounced Haitch.

Every week when we practise his spellings he says Haitch when spelling out some word or other and I gently correct him "right spelling darling but we say 'aitch' don't we, not 'Haitch'. "

He invariably answers back with "it doesn't matter mummy, I write the spellings down at school when we do our spellings test so I won't get it wrong"

What's worse, dropping h's or adding them unecessarily ?

I think you are all being very Ard on TreeTrunkThighs. She phrased her OP Umorously and intended no Hoffence, I'm sure.

gateau - not sure why you beleive that I think tumble tots is "wonderful" I was explaining why my mother takes DS (unless I have serious mulitple personality disorder, we aren't yet the same person). I was asking why you are so sneery about classes and explaining my reasons behind taking DS to swimming as well.

Foolishly thought you might realise that despite you not liking classes for small children that there can be a benefit to them. My mistake.

My name is Helen. I am loving the thought of a woman called Helen who can't say her own name properly. At least she doesn't suffer as I do.

No Gateau, I don't think I would take him to classes as such, not the 35 quid for 6 sessions and really it's a glorified coffee morning to compare one's Boden purchases. My mum takes him swimming (two quid) and if I were off work I would take him to Rhyme Time at the library (free) but apart from that you can't beat wellies, a dog, a stick and some mud to poke the stick in.

Oops. Just read Kewcumber's posts. Here we go.