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Extra-curricular activities

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Original poster

What level should my 6 yr old be on for swimming?

14 replies

Spiderwithoneeye · 06/04/2015 18:47

Am paying for a private lesson and she's just passed her level 3 and done 25 mtrs. I'm starting to discover some reception-age have passed 100 mtrs and others in her class at school are on level 6! She loves swimming so I'm really starting to wonder what I'm paying for. Next time she has a lesson I've got a few questions to ask but do I have a realistic picture about where she should/could be at?

OP posts:
Bert2e · 06/04/2015 18:52

It really is different for every child - what age did she start lessons? What age did she start to swim without any aids? And what scheme leves are you talking about?

misssmapp · 06/04/2015 18:54

My two started at the same age and had the same lessons/teachers. Eldest can swim like a fish the youngest is still struggling to complete a length at seven, every child is different. Sounds like your dd is doing well though .

mamadoc · 06/04/2015 18:57

DD is a year older and just passed her level 4. She has had private lessons for 4 years. I was not unhappy with that given she is nervous and was scared of water to start with and I don't practise with her as its not my favourite thing at all.

I think it would be pretty uncommon for a reception age child to be swimming 100m. When I helped out at the school swimming lessons in reception most could not swim at all. It was only 5 or at most 10 out of the class of 30 who could do anything and 1 or 2 who could swim any distance without aids.

QueenofLouisiana · 06/04/2015 20:16

It varies hugely. Many children in reception would lack the core body strength to float, let aone have the co-ordination to swim 100m!

Speed of progress at this point isn't a great indicator of future potential.DS wouldn't put his face in the water at 6,swam his first length at 7. However, he swam 3000m a few months before he was 9. Now swims at county level and holds a couple of club records (he is 10 in 6 weeks).

If she loves swimming, let her enjoy it. It is a hugely demanding sport at a competitive level- a desire to be in the pool is crucial as they'll be there for hours every week!

butterfliesinmytummy · 06/04/2015 20:27

I'm a swimming teacher and this can vary greatly, has very little to do with age.

It's down to a number of factors:
How long you've been swimming
How often you go
What you do when you are at the pool (standing in the shallow end doesn't help much!)
Confidence
How much a teacher challenges you
Whether you enjoy being in the water
What strokes you learn
Body strength (core and limbs)
Body composition (the skinnier you are, the more difficult it is to float!)
Body size
I could go on....

I do think that in Europe, it's unusual for reception aged children to be swimming 100m. I wouldn't worry about it at all, just be pleased that you have a child who is doing so well and enjoying such a healthy (and potentially life saving) activity.

Original poster
Spiderwithoneeye · 06/04/2015 22:07

Thank you all, for some informed perspective. She loves the water, especially being under it, has all the enthusiasm and no technique I think! It's just that she was asked to attend private lessons with a friend and I was dead keen as I want her to enjoy the water as much as I do, but for the price (which is a consideration for us) I have been wondering about her rate of progress. The trouble is I know that in a large group she will be quite happy to 'tread water'!
Perhaps I've been listening to too many competitive mums!

OP posts:
take3 · 06/04/2015 22:08

Our nearly 9 yr old is in stage 2, nearly stage 3. Our year 1 is at stage 1.... we are very slow compared to other children, but we will keep trying!

Original poster
Spiderwithoneeye · 06/04/2015 22:15

Sorry bert, she has always swum, since a baby. We've never used aids- I've always just held or guided her. She's pretty much always had lessons- water babies, nursery took her, then school and lessons. We don't go regularly in term time as a family but try to make up for it in the hols.
One thing I would say to do with confidence is that she's frightened by the drains. A classmate told her they would suck her in a couple of years ago and we've been battling with this ever since. She needs to know where they are and won't swim down the centre of the pool, for example.

OP posts:
ReallyTired · 06/04/2015 22:22

Surely you are paying for her to have lessons in order to swim Rather than being an Olympian. I think children need a certain amount of muscle and coordination to progress. sometimes you hit a brick wall where children just need to grow a bit.

What is you daughter like at sport generally. Some children find swimming difficult.

Mistigri · 08/04/2015 07:30

Swimming's a funny thing. IME ability at other sports isn't a good predictor of how easily a young child will take to it. It appears to depend a lot on body composition, as well as on coordination.

My DD was a little fish even without lessons - easily able to swim lengths by reception age, no tuition other than me showing her how to do breaststroke. She's not really a sporty child. DS on the other hand simply Does Not Float. He's been able to swim underwater for years, but swimming normally (breathing between or on alternate strokes) took ages and came suddenly - I remember going on holiday with a friend and her son and describing him as a "non-swimmer" - so it was a bit embarrassing when he went and swam 50 lengths of the holiday apartment pool - not a full size pool of course but even so! A friend with a son who is a very gifted, naturally muscular sportsman reported a similar experience - her son struggled in the initial stages then became an excellent swimmer almost overnight.

In short - progress at this age will be extremely variable and does not indicate that teaching is poor.

sugarman · 08/04/2015 07:38

I think your dd is doing very well. Most 5 and 6yos are still very much beginner swimmers, but as everyone says, ability varies hugely.

My first child had about 3yrs of lessons before she reached the 1000m mark, while my 2nd child achieved it in 10 months.

Original poster
Spiderwithoneeye · 09/04/2015 17:59

Thanks again for your replies. Glad I did a straw poll before making any decisions.

OP posts:
Dancergirl · 14/04/2015 20:01

There's no particular level your dd 'should' be on. Stop comparing her with other children.

As long as she's making progress she's doing well. Swimming varies so so much between children and yes sometimes it does feel that you're not getting value for money if your child is slow to progress. A child can only reach their natural potential at a particular time.

3nationsfamily · 16/04/2015 14:31

Taking a child swimming in between lessons makes a huge difference to their rate of progress- a chance to practice what they have learned at their own pace. So if you can, do try to fit in another swim session each week.

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