Should I persevere with DD's swimming lessons?

[ponderingthisthing]

DD (age 4) has been having swimming lessons at a private pool for 8 weeks. Once per week, 1 to 3 so small groups.

She's had little experience in pools, but was very excited to go swimming. The first couple of sessions went great and she engaged very well, even jumping into the water independently. But she hasn't progressed at all the last few weeks and if anything, seems a lot more scared of doing activities, not willing to jump in anymore, for example. She's happy being in the water, but just doesn't like water in her face.

I wonder if it's worth persevering with the lessons given that she doesn't seem to have got anywhere over the 8 weeks. The classes, being small group, are expensive, too. On the other hand, I fear pulling her out will impact her confidence as she has friends who started around the same time (different session) and have progressed.

Is it worth taking her back for lessons when she's more confident being in the water and having water on her face?

In my experience vast majority of kids sort of 'get it' around the age of 7 or 8. Of course private lessons will get many smaller ones swimming but if she's unhappy I'd pause them, just have fun as a family in the pool and perhaps re start lessons in a couple of years. Mine did lessons from 6 weeks old, must have spent a fortune and guess when they finally got it? Year 4 school organised lessons which were free!

She needs regular fun (ideally weekly minimum) swims to build up her confidence. This may be better than formal lessons for a while.

Ask her. If she says she doesn't want to continue, stop

Are there any summer holiday courses coming up? My DD was a bit of a lost cause at swimming lessons, I booked her on a course where she did a lesson a day Monday to Friday for two weeks, so ten lessons in 12 days. She was swimming by the end of it. Even the teacher said it was a bit of a miracle.

I think a week between lessons can mean you go back to square one every week.

Thank you so much everyone for the responses, v interesting to hear the different experiences and to have a better idea of what to expect. I think we'll stick with the lessons for now as DD still does enjoy going swimming. If there's still no progress after a while then we'll review the situation. The lessons are pretty costly at over £20 for a 3 to 1 session, so I do want DD to get at least something out of them!

Is she swimming out of her depth? DD didn't seem to make much progress over 2/3 years(!) as in she could swim but struggled because the pool was so shallow she almost couldn't help putting her feet down (apparently I was the same according to DM) but once she moved to a new pool & started swimming out of her depth she improved loads really quickly.

@ChimChimeny I think she's on the shallow end so the water comes up to her shoulders. I don't think that's the problem at the moment as we haven't got to the stage of actually swimming independently, it's more getting her used to having water on her face and jumping in etc.

Mine did crash courses at half-term until it looked like she was ready to progress. To start with, she really didn't have the awareness to follow the instructions to improve what she was doing, so although she enjoyed it, she didn't really get anywhere. Once she seemed ready, that's when we signed up for regular lessons. It did still take a while, but you could see the progress over a few weeks.

I've still got 2 going through swimming lessons and I'm a swimming teacher, mainly of young ones. At 4, I wouldn't worry about lessons, they gain so much more confidence in play and once they're messing with the watering can and seeing others jump in, it comes. Most pools here, it is still free to swim if you are under 5, and many do some form of cheap swim in one session e.g. £2 entry or child + parent priced as one. It's a lot of money on an age 4, and you'll miss some for holidays, illness etc. You really can progress so much at that age through just going and playing at the pool. If they are you doing it, they want to join in.

Swim lessons are a 3 year commitment to really see benefit

Mine have been going since they were 3 and now eldest 9 and finally able to swim competently. She needs to build up her stamina but otherwise swims well. The 6 year old still has a way to go. They both love it so we keep going