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Original poster

swimming lessons worth the stress and expense?

19 replies

all4girlz · 05/03/2006 16:59

Just got back from the swimming baths DD2 and DD3
3 and 5 years old.
Boiling, stressed out the lessons are middle of day so ruin plans for sunday, they get 30mins in a class of around 9- 10 and spend the last ten mins doing star floats and jumping in. I cannot see any alternative I have been looking for intensive courses or private courses but not found any yet. Would love to take them myself but have eczcma not compatible with chlorine pools.

OP posts:

charliecat · 05/03/2006 17:15

Is there no way you could switch times?

GDG · 05/03/2006 17:21

IMO, swimming lessons, provided they are decent, are well worth any stress and money - swimming is a life skill and it's something I just won't compromise on - my kids go and that's the end of it, a bit like school (they love it though so not a problem!).

However, it does sound like you do with finding something with a more suitable time - we even find Saturday mornings a right off as we currently have swimming lessons at 2 different times (ds1 and ds2 - will be 3 when ds3 starts!!!) and also football coaching for ds1. I don't mind this though as it gets us all up and dressed and the kids active rather than slobbing in front of morning TV. Slap bang in the middle of Sunday would be a PITA though I have to admit.

Re the actual lessons - it sounds as though they are just targeting water confidence but that in itself is worthwhile. But 9-10 in a class sounds a lot- are they actually doing any swimming?? Mine are in a class of about 4-5 - ds1 went from age 3 and was swimming without armbands after about 6 months and did his 25m by the time he was just 4. Ds2 has only done 5 lessons so far (he's 3) and she already has them swimming a small distance without armbands for the last few mins of the lesson.

Original poster

all4girlz · 05/03/2006 17:21

looking into this there are waiting lists for the week day lessons, when we started lessons were just chuffed to get them in together.

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charliecat · 05/03/2006 17:24

Yep I have had numerous dodgy times and now both dds are swimming at 6.30 on a sunday, suits us all fine. Great way to end the weekend/get ready for a new week ahead.
I would make sure your names at the top of the list and keep lingering at the reception to get a time more suitable for you all, its the only way!!!!!!!!!

Original poster

all4girlz · 05/03/2006 17:28

gdg
they both got a STA TERENCE badge last week dd2 is down to one float but dd3 is always getting into trouble for not paying attention I think the group is too big --we got switched from another one when we first started just under a year ago for that reason -

OP posts:

Original poster

all4girlz · 05/03/2006 17:35

I will have to keep lingering too -have asked but the right person is never there

I agree it is a life skill and I have been perservering this time

It is just murder getting dd3 out of the shower after helping dd2 get dry and also keeping an eye on dd4--
she rolled over for the first time in the swimming baths' playpen while I was chasing the others round the changing room an did not have a camera as they are not allowed at the baths!

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GDG · 05/03/2006 17:38

Hmmm, would it be easier to take them to separate lessons so only dealing with one at a time? Do you have someone to watch dd4 so you don't have to take her along?

It's very difficult to deal with it with another one - sometimes I take ds3 with me (18 months) and it's hard to control him round the pool and changing room while dealing with the one swimming! Usually either I or dh goes with just the one having a lesson and it's a lot less stressful.

Agree with Charliecat - linger and keep pressing for a different group.

Is there anywhere else you could consider going?

charliecat · 05/03/2006 18:16

Would noone have the other dds while you are taking those 2 swimming? Make it an hour at gradmas/aunties whatever ??? Then you get a coffee when you go to collect them!

roisin · 05/03/2006 18:42

Lessons are worth the stress, and it does get easier - but it's worth starting young.

IMO the older they get the harder it is to persuade them to do something they find difficult. (My boys are not natural athletes.)

DS1 (8.5) was saying today he doesn't want to do lessons next term - I hope he'll change his mind, but I'm not going to force him. He's a strong, confident swimmer, has done plunge diving and considerable distance qualifications, as well as ASA skills Levels. But he wouldn't have achieved all this if I'd waited til he was older and it was 'easy' to take him and ds2.

mcmum · 05/03/2006 19:35

definately worth it!

two of my friends have drowned one when i was seven he was 7 too and when i was 18 he was 21 because of this i can't swim but am on waiting list ive just paid £125 for dd and ds swimming lessons but money well spent as far as i am concerned

Yorkiegirl · 05/03/2006 19:38

we have DD1's lesson at 10am on a Saturday. Definitely worth it. Lunchtime lessons would not be good tho. Definitely see if you can change that, I take DD2 with us and she plays with all the water toys on the side of the pool while DD1 is in.

irresponsiblezebra · 05/03/2006 22:06

Honstly can't tell you if it's "worth it" exactly.

I feel for all4girlz coz I had a very hard time taking DS1 (age 5-6) swimming. DD (3-4) got bored, DS2 (age 8m-18m) spent all his time trying to escape, climbing, usual toddler behavior. Toddler would only be happy to run around outside while DD was inside hiding behind the bin (glass windows, but I still lost her sometimes). The worst was after lessons DS1 usually got diarrhea & DS2 would be trying to run into the pool or get his hands in the toilet... usually seconds after DS1 had voided his bowels into it. DD would be refusing to cooperate, too, running off to hide in lockers or who knows where.

I tried paying a local teenager to come help but she flaked out & didn't turn up -- plus the 4yo really didn't like her. Sometimes I have just left during the lesson & gone home for 10 minutes. At least in the summer we could all go outside (provided it wasn't tipping down with rain).

We stopped DS1's lessons for a while just to give me a break, sometimes DH would come help but couldn't always. The good part is that over 10 months DS1's swimming improved enormously (I can relax & let him go where he likes in the pool, now)... but it's been such hard work for me.

FrannyandZooey · 05/03/2006 22:10

I gave up too as I loathed it so much. Fearful isn't it. However I am lucky, as dp takes ds about once a month and I think he has learnt as much from that one-to-one time, as he would have done having lessons. Have you anyone who could take them for you once in a while?

harpsichordcarrier · 05/03/2006 22:13

I really really don't think it IS worth it at this age, sorry.
not worth the sort of hassle it seems to be for you.
plenty of time for them to learn.
I am all in favour of making exercise FUN and not a chore, otherwise I think you are storing up trouble for the future. also not hugely in favour of turning everything into a quest for achievement and the next badge... fun, that's the thing, fun.

Original poster

all4girlz · 06/03/2006 00:45

WOW can I say thankyou for the response on this thread --ignore the time all kids in bed and I am catching up on e-mails and mumsnet before I go to bed trying to workout what was no 1 in video 100 show.

Both the girls love the swimming my DH helps when not working he either comes or stays at home with dd4
he does shifts 4 on 4 off 2 days 2 nights so I try to save the granma help for the days that he isnt around (pauses to lust after Robbie in rock DJ).number 6 in video countdown.
Hard to arrange the one to one through his work and also try not to upset the other one.
Thankyou again for advice and omments I definately can relate to you irresponsible zebra love your name Goodnight

OP posts:

GDG · 06/03/2006 10:37

Cannot disagree strongly enough with those that say it's not worth it - school runs are a hassle but we deal with those. For me, swimming is just as important - I don't want my child drowning on holiday or whatever - learning young is the best way imo and no amount of hassle would lead me to stop lessons. I've got a 4 year old who can swim confidently without any floats and to me that is worth any amount of hassle. Being able to swim can save your life ffs - you can't put a price on that.

Hulababy · 06/03/2006 10:42

I wanted DD to do lessons, but there are no places in the week day lessons at present, and none on my day off either. I soimply cannot do weekends. She already does dancing at 9:30-10am on a Saturday morning - this encourages her self confidence as she can be shy and that to me is very important too. And our weeknds at present are so busy and we are often away, o weekends are out. I keep looking, but so far nithing.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 06/03/2006 10:42

Well worth the stress and the money. For the piece of mind of knowing that they can swim well enough to get them out of danger. Being able to go away on holiday and actually read a couple of pages of a book whilst they jump in and out of the pool is brilliant.

The star floats and jumping in is all about confidence building which is just as important at that age as swimming itself.

Original poster

all4girlz · 25/07/2006 23:45

hi everyone
thought I might update this thread.
My dd3 and dd2 -we managed to change the times to a thursday at 5.00 was quite good because dh could help nearly all the time as before he went to work or my eldest dd1 who was usually at her dads on a sunday could help with dd4 while we are there as it was after school.

Brill BUT dd3 did not take to her new teacher plus there was nobody in the pool with them --

after she spent a half a lesson going round in circles and was asked to leave we decided to give her another chance but
---- the next week she was as bad and after getting upset because she did not get the pink woggle was totally ostropalous ?? how do you spell that?
dh said he was not paying 4.50 for her to muck about and the teacher basically told us that she was not welcome ie expelled at the tender age of three!!!

Well my life was bit simpler as she dd3 started a rainbow type group at 5.00 on a thurday so we did not get too many tears and tantrums as her elder sister still goes --we will start her again after xmas when she is four as I really believe that swimming is an essential skill.

Just thought I would let all you mumnetters who were kind enough to reply and btw my dd2 has done her 5m and is swimming geat on her front and back wih no armbands.

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