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Original poster

Swimming lessons - group or individual? and what age to start?

14 replies

daisylawn · 16/07/2003 13:13

Does anyone have any thoughts on what age to start swimming lessons (as opposed to just going swimming each week with Mum).
And are individual or group lessons more suitable?

OP posts:
katierocket · 16/07/2003 13:19

I started lessons with my DS when he was 4 months - it's a special 'aquababies' class. Teacher takes them from as young as 6 weeks. Held in a special pool which is really warm. Really good, had built up amazing skills/confidence in the water. I would say the sooner the better but it's vital you have an instructor who is experienced in teaching your childs age group.

SueW · 16/07/2003 14:09

If you can find a good teacher, individual lessons are far better than group lessons in my experience with my DD.

We did parent and baby groups until she was nearly 4yo, then moved to Australia and benefited from a pool in the back garden which built up confidence. Then on our return to the UK, she had 1-to-2 lessons with a friend's son - very quick progress (she was just about 5yo). These were on and off for around six months until the teacher stopped. She learnt quickly, and even more so on the occasions when my friend and her son couldn't make it.

It took ages to get more lessons.

Since March this year she has done group lessons at the local leisure centre. She has had two different teachers. The first group had only 5 pupils, the second has eleven. You can probably guess what I am going to say about the progress made but the latest class does benefit from a great instructor which makes things even worse.

Queenie · 16/07/2003 14:41

I have enquired about swimming lessons for dd who is 3 in October. Both the local swimming pools say they start lessons from 2 yrs 6 months and have a wait list of up to 6 months. The lessons are once a week over 12 weeks. I contacted a private tutor and they also start them at this age but say they need to be able to understand instruction so some children are nearer 3 when they start. They are taught in small groups and these are also once a weel for 12 weeks. It's not just water confidence I want but the ability for her to doggy paddle to the side of a pool should she fall in (which she did on holiday in May). Anyway she's due to start in September.

Britabroad · 16/07/2003 15:01

Agree with SW that one to one is best if cost is not a problem.
Dd started with aquababies then at 3 started one to one. She is a fish!
Have tried group lessons but find technique is better learned with teacher looking at one or two children rather than teaching two and keeping at least another two happy whilst they wait their turn.
Best to find a teacher who is involved with a good local swimming club as if your child enjoys swimming they can easily move to join the club if they wish.

monkey · 16/07/2003 21:52

The 'what to expect' series recommends not before age 4, imo they are a bit cautious about everything, but the reason given is a younger child, as well as not having the physical strength often to swim, also can be over-confident & therefore a danger. They seemed to recommend 4 as being a good mixture of strength & awareness of thier situation & ability.

codswallop · 16/07/2003 21:55

Mine start group lessons at 3.

judetheobscure · 16/07/2003 21:59

How do you find out about one-to-one swimming instructors? Id' like to try this over the summer hols as I haven't been able to get my three onto a group course.

SueW · 16/07/2003 22:45

Check at your local health club or council-run leisure centre. During the school holidays, they may run 'crash courses' which is what DD did during half term last October. They may also have details of instructors who run one-to-ones.

There's a pretty useless search facility at ASA website or you could contact Swimming Teachers' Association

judetheobscure · 16/07/2003 22:55

It's the crash courses that I wanted to book my 3 on, but just couldn't get a workable arrangement (without spending 3 hours at the swimming pool or making 3 trips a day!)
Thanks for the weblinks SueW, if no joy I will try the leisure centre.

lorne · 16/07/2003 22:57

My ds who will be 4 in August started group lessons in January. I then started 1 to 1 about 5 weeks ago. He can now swim about 5-6 metres so I feel the 1 to 1 has made a huge difference.We also took him to baby classes when he was younger so he has always been use to going into the swimming pool. It is one of the life guards from the local swimming pool who gives my ds swimming lesson so it is great. The cost is £7 per half hour. It is well worth it.

Ghosty · 17/07/2003 00:30

My DS went swimming once a week with DH and my SIL and her daughter (SIL is a swimming teacher) until he was 2. Just 20 minutes in the water and it was just a matter of confidence building.
When he was 2 we joined a mums and toddlers group (up to 10 toddlers and their mums and one teacher). It was good and DS enjoyed it but he didn't really learn much ... he wouldn't always do what he was told (mainly because I was in with him) and the teacher was boring ... very samey ... same songs and activities every week.
Anyway ... after 2 terms DS was moved up a class to the next level. He goes in without me, in the toddler pool, with two other children and his teacher is fantastic.
He has had a year of this and has come on in leaps and bounds ... is becoming a real fish. They teach water safety too as well as swimming.
I would say that group lessons are fine as long as it is a small group (no more than 3). The other children in DS group often don't turn up so he does get about 3 one to one lessons a term but if I could afford it I would have him do individual lessons.

SofiaAmes · 17/07/2003 22:48

judetheobscure, are you in london? I have a wonderful swimming instructor for one-to-one in West London. She gave my 2.5 yr old ds swimming lessons.

badjelly · 22/07/2003 14:21

As an (ex) swim teacher I would say as soon as they are able to understand basic instructions (e.g pretend you are trying to kick mud off your toes, pretend to be a frog etc) and definately 1-2-1 tuition.
Most pools will take your phone number to pass onto their swimming teachers so they can arrange private lessons, not sure how much they cost now though - 4 years ago the norm in shropshire was £5 per half hour plus the entrance fee to the centre.

jmb1964 · 23/07/2003 23:38

My older two (6 and 5) are doing a swimming nature fasttrack course this week - 5 x half hour. Meant to be 1:2, but both have actually had 1:1 each day so far, and the lessons are fantastic. Miles better than the local leisure centre ones we've been doing for a couple of years, and the children are loving it. The instructors are in the water with them, and are not frightened to hold the children to show them what to do. They do term-time lessons too, and I think they start from 3.
Have a look at this
Haven't tried to do a link before - wonder if it will work?

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