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?

I think it's great they are starting them swimming at that age. Please try not to worry, she will be fine. Most children behave differently when mum is not there.

My dd at age 4 was very nervous going into the pool and wouldn't put her face in. Then we moved countries and the school had weekly lessons for all kids from age 3 upwards. I asked the teacher how she did after the first lesson and she said "she doesn't like putting her face in does she?". Well I don't know how they did it but literally within a week or two she was swimming without any floats and happy to go underwater too. Now at 5 she can swim at least 50 metres breaststroke and front crawl and loves the water. I'm sure frequent and early exposure is the best way.

can you take her to the pool to practice and see how she gets on before the lesson with school?