Will my DD ever learn to swim?

[GlitterKandinsky]

She started weekly swimming lessons 3.5 years ago, she also goes with school.

She still can't swim across the pool on her front without stopping. She can probably do about 25m on her back, slowly and not in a straight line.

She still isn't safe in deep water, I've had to rescue her fairly recently when we were in an unfamiliar sloping pool and she realised she couldn't put her feet down.

I think she may have dyspraxia so this may be relevant.

I believe swimming is a really important skill but I'm beginning to think we should cut our losses and give up for now.

Does she enjoy it? It helps if you can go swimming as a family, so she can see can be fun as well a life saving skill.
It could be the lessons, I have had friends who have either moved to a different swim school or had private lessons and the improvement very noticeable.

Do you think she'd be more suited to one on one lessons? Some places don't charge much more for them than group lessons and she may learn a lot more from them.

Also do you go swimming as a family lots? Does she enjoy lessons?

No she hates swimming lessons with a passion.

We go as a family but she just plays in the shallow end and goes on the slide. Not much actual swimming.

Here lessons are good, small class size, teacher in the pool with them. They seem to focus on the swimming levels and stroke technique rather than getting from A to B. She's learning butterfly before she can actually swim across the pool!

I'd put her in some 1:1 lessons - mainly as I know a child like your dd and she thinks she can swim, but isn't safe at all which is a real issue for safety imo.

Private lessons would let the teacher focus just on her needs and issues.

Oh, and when my ds needed a push to start actually swimming more, and do less playing, I changed pools we went to from the one with a beach entry and slide to a more traditional one. Now we have fun swim time and lengths swim time which means I get some exercise in too.

Think I'd second the one on one lessons, or changing swim schools they're all so different. Even if they're a bit more expensive if you saw progress quicker it'd be worth it (should say I teach swimming but we don't do 1:1, however I think it sounds like it might be a thing to try if you feel you've hit a brick wall).

Incidentally I was reading in a swimming industry magazine the other day about the level of achievement you should have before you can be considered safe in the water (including swimming in the sea etc..) It said that most people consider the level to be approx able to swim 100m, tread water for a few mins and dive down to a decent depth. Although most people think they're competent swimmers they can't actually happily achieve all those things (the point being we tend to think we're safe in the water when we're not). You're right it's a complete life skill, I can't believe some parents don't consider it a priority.

She sounds like my DD. She had years of 1:1 with one swim school but getting nowhere, changed to 1:1 at the local council pool and the teacher said she knew what her problem was. A year of 1:1 and she was getting on so much better. Unfortunately the teacher has moved on and we've had to stop.

My DD is dyspraxic. The teacher explained she can do her arms, her legs, and breathe, but not all at the same time. The most she can manage is 2 of those things at once. Very patient 1:1 with teacher in the water is the way forward.

The thing is I'm beginning to think she's never going to be a competent swimmer. All her classmates can now swim well, they've all been learning the same amount of time. At school she's put in a group with children who have never had swimming lessons because they're at the same level

According to paediatrician she has hypermobile joints particularly in her arms and hands and problems with motor planning and spatial awareness. So basically lacks strength and coordination, and also stamina. She finds swimming difficult and she gives up easily.

She also hates getting her face wet, I think this is a sensory thing as she has other sensory issues too. We have spent hours working on this to the point were she will now have a shower without screaming if she has to But she still hates it.

So basically she has a lot to contend with.

I'm wondering if we should cut our losses for now, and may be give it another go when she's older.

I can't find any info on one to one lessons for children in my area (but loads for adults if you're a member of a private gym).

What area (roughly) are you in?

I had lessons (lost use of one arm and needed to relearn) with someone who is actually a triathlon coach and has an endless pool in the garage (the sort thats pumped to make a current). He does a lot of work with children and adults with disabilities as the nice, quiet, small pool is v conducive to learning. He was also able to use various aids with me so I only had to concentrate on one thing at a time.
So maybe someone like that would work?

But, if she finds it really stressful, and has a lot of reasons to struggle with swimming, maybe just give her a break from it. Yes, its a life skill, but its one of many tbh.

Its worth asking your local pool if they do do one to one. My local doesn't advertise it but do actually do quite a few one to one kids lessons. I think they tend to fill them up without advertisement.

hello, sorry if I have missed it, but what age is your DD? We have had a similar experience.

Lots of expensive 1:1 lessons. On reflection, I wonder was I expecting too much too young i.e. just not physically able to do it so young (late with most physical milestones anyway).

Excellent teacher and eventually is swimming reasonably well.

Coordination is difficult with some of the strokes i.e has to pause to turn head to breathe but doesn't now need to put feet down. Slow and stately with the others. Took a long time from when we first started several years ago.

It is very difficult especially when all other children seem so able. I am glad we stuck at it, but there were no issues about wanting to do it, so I see why you are considering a break. I dare not add up what we have spent on private lessons over the years though. There were times we couldn't really afford it, but did it anyway!!