Very stressed about dc going swimming this week

[craziedaisy]

My 4 year dc is due to go swimming with the school for the first time this week. She is very nervous of the water and in the pool they are going to she cannot put her feet down in the shallow end. I understand that there are 2 classes going and there will be 4 instructors. We take her quite infrequently to another pool locally but there is a infant pool which she feels more confident in. At the moment when we take her we always hold onto her even with armbands on. I am getting very nervous about it and I understand from speaking to other parents they have reservations too.

Do any of your DC's go with the school at such a young age?

4 years old? Not year 4? If the former, then yes I too would be anxious about them going with school. If year 4, then quite common to do school swimming at this age.

Yes just 4 years old. What would you do?

I'd explain the situation to your dc's teacher and ask if they need any parents to go along to help.

That does seem very young. Will she be expected to get undressed, dressed and dry herself?
Are you sure all the class goes, you can't be the only Mum to feel like this?

Yes expected to be independant. I spoke to one mum who is worried too. I always help her when we go swimming. Getting really stressed as she often takes in water and chokes if we don't hold her head above the water.

Yes not just the swimming but all the drying and dressing etc. I remember them having a struggle getting a class changed after PE, never mind swimming. But my guess is that the parents that aren't worried will be in the minority. Most children at the age of 4 don't have great water skills.
I would definitely speak to the teacher and find out more but if you aren't happy, then I wouldn't consent to them going.

they won't all be in the pool at the same time.

there will probably be a max of 6 children in the water in each mini 'class' and the instructor will be more than aware of who can swim. if they are all the same age then it's quite likely none of them will be able to touch the bottom, and the instructor will know that. it's really common for instructors to have a group of non-swimmers who can't touch the bottom. and there's usually at least one who is petrified. (long hours at the pool emoticon)

i wouldn't be worried about the pool time tbh. i'd be more worried about the disaster that would be the changing rooms. there is no way that 60 4yos could get changed in and out of swimming costumes and dry themselves with just 4 adults.

if it helps, dd2 has cp and swims like a brick, so i'm a bit nervy myslef about her group 'swimming'. but the instructors have seen it all before.

DS2 (10) is going tomorrow and even he is rubbish at getting dressed after swimming/not drying himself/leaving stuff behind.

at my boys school there is a pool so all kids go swimming every week right from reception, they have parent helpers (crb checked) who supervise them getting changed etc and then have a swimming teacher who has helpers in the pool, they have all loved it so far, tho yes at times nervous etc. i think often kids do better than we would expect them to in these situations actually but am sure the staff will supervise and help as necessary :)

Can you volunteer as a helper?

I have always taken parent helpers when they are older.

Well they haven't asked for any helpers so I am not sure.I find it difficult to know whether I am being silly as I know that I can be overprotective.

Pop in and ask if they want helpers.

I wouldn't want to take children that young as a class-or not without a high ratio of helpers.

Our swimming pool has a cafe next door with glass overlooking the pool. Guess where I was when DS1 had his first school swimming lesson? He was 7.

Thanks everyone. Will go in and have a chat tomorrow with school tomorrow.I think I would feel happier if I knew that there was someone in the pool with them. Now feel very guilty that we didn't go swimming more regularly then she would be more confident by now.

TBH I think you getting so stressed about it it what makes her worse. The instructors will have seen it all before and wont let anything happen to her. You need to stay well out of the way and eat chocolate and then make sure that you take her swimming far more frequently so that she gets used to it. You really are being rather PFB / helicopter about the whole thing.

At our tiny primary the whole school would go swimming for one afternoon a week for one term, and they welcomed volunteers for helping in the changing rooms with the tinies with open arms.

pfb? not sure what that is

precious first born

No skulking in the cafe for me with DS2 Bert. But I still think 4 is young, plus the teachers should have a medal.

ok. yep you are probaby right my son of 2 may be less wrapped in bubble wrap!

I am generally the first to say PFB and 'of course your 7yr old can change himself in the male changing room' -HOWEVER-in this case I don't think that you are. They are very young and it would be easy to put them off swimming for life! I also have doubts they would dry themselves properly, quite important in January.
I would have the chat.

My dd has been swimming at school since nursery, many non swimmers in her class. They do small ( very small ) groups 2/3 - 1 ratio in the pool the rest watch, also short bursts so probably only in the water for 10/15 mins and lots of extra staff pulled in sports teachers, TAs and class teachers not all in the water. In reception most kiddies can at least start with getting dressed and undressed unaided.

Where is the pool? If it is on the premises I can see it being easy, in small groups. My advice was for travelling on a coach to a pool. What is the situation?