Swimming with Toddler

[RedRidingHood]

Pathetic mother alert!

Took dd swimming before I went back to work off maty leave and have not been since.

There are classes at the local pool but most of the kids in there have been swimming since babies.

Dd is now 2.5 and as a poor swimmer I really want her to be confident in the water SO

should I take her on my own a few times or
bite the bullet and take her to a 18m-3years class where all of the other kids can already swim?

Just don't want her to be left out.

Doubt they will be all be able to swim. Personally I would take her to the class as there will be more to keep her interest, you can see what they other kids are doing to give you an idea what to do with DD etc.

I understand where you are coming from. I can swim, not brilliantly but OKish. DH cannot swim at all. I am determined that the kids will learn to swim but its a bit of a slog.

I assume these are classes where you just turn up and pay rather than having to book a course of sessions or whatever.

Yes

Held a few times a week at local pool - its sposed to be really cliquey though which has put me off going on my own before.

But really want dd to be confident in the water - dh swims like a fish so maybe he should be taking her?

No RRH I think it is good that you are putting in the effort. Occasionally we take our two to a leisure pool for a treat and I have to really persuade DH to come but I need him for the ratios with our 5 and 1 yos.

There would be no harm in trying the sessions would there? You will probably be quite busy with DD anyway. It's not the same as a m&t group where you sit round drinking coffee. If you don't like it make mental notes of what they do and go on your own with DD next time.

I take my DD to one and tbh I am bored with it havig been going since DS was 12 weeks (so for 5 years) with one or both of them. But DD loves it so it's not fair not to go.

Very few children in the 18months to 3 years age brackets can really swim more than a few strokes and those that can don't necessarily go on to be the most proficient swimmers when they are older. My dd could swim at 3, but my ds learnt later (about 5 I think) he is now the more proficient swimmer by a long way. Personally, I think taking children for a play about in the pool is best for the under 3's and in many cases under 5's to gain confidence. 3-5 depending on the child is a good age to start swimming classes. I wouldn't bother with the classes you describe - it sounds as though you won't enjoy them and if that rubs off on your dd it could put her off. Do go on your own, or better still with another child + parent. Go to a warm pool, take plenty of toys and have fun.

Thanks - think I will go to play first and take it from there :)

From what I've seen of the classes round here, I'd go on your own and play. There's nothing that they do in the classes that I can't do with her, and she gets my undivided attention for as long as we're in, whereas in the classes they seem to sit around for a lot of it and wait their turn. My swimming teacher friend also told me not to bother with her classes - she said at this age (dd is 2.9) it's all about teaching them water confidence.

I've got a little ball with a seal in that she chases all over the place. We also sing pop goes the weasle and on the "pop" I throw her up in the air and she goes under, and ring a roses and on "all fall down" we go under the water. Dd is Nemo mad right now, so we pretend to be all the characters in Nemo, and she also pretends to be Augustus Gloop and falls into the water and goes round and round in the chocolate.