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Original poster

Swimming drama

61 replies

momofbhoys · 20/08/2021 08:27

I have a 5.5 year old who is obsessed with swimming. Always has been desperate to get into water. He had loads of operations and was unable to go swimming until 4.5... then covid closed all the pools here

We are in Ireland and swim Ireland say that no instructors should be allowed in the water. The club I am part of are saying one adult per child for all swimming lessons. I have a second kid (3- not really interested in swimming). I can't find a single lesson at the weekend. I have found one place that will take him in the water because they say it is a guidance not a law... but only 1:1 and it is €35 for 30 mins, it is a 2 hour round trip. What would you do? I tried you tube but swimming is so hard to teach and he has too much confidence

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SaSamhradh · 20/08/2021 11:26

I went in with my 2 when they were that age. Play is really beneficial, getting their faces in the water, stretching in the water with the wormy thing. You can see what the lesson is doing and just copy it. At that age they want to play, not swim formally.
A quick Google of a local hotel (limerick) gives class sizes of 8. My pool says a parent in the water for under 5s. I don't see why you can't go in with 2 children.

Original poster
momofbhoys · 20/08/2021 13:05

@Clymene

Because he is at work. The only time I can get is 2:15 on a Tuesday. All of the lessons sold out within 2 hours. I did manage to get that slot and was trying to see if I could get in the water with the 2 of them. But alas no, 1:1 is mandatory

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Original poster
momofbhoys · 20/08/2021 13:06

@Pucarbuile

Thanks for that suggestion. It was through a connection I got that 1:1, just location is a pain.

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momofbhoys · 20/08/2021 13:08

@Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons

I could have written that post word for word. The 5 year old is a lunatic in the water.

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FedNlanders · 20/08/2021 13:11

I gave up in lockdown. Mine swim I open water with me now!

Dancingonmoonlight · 20/08/2021 13:16

Are there any other pools? Have you checked school pools?

Have you put him on a waiting list?

Where I live there are waiting lists for every activity. My DCs started when they were four but I had their names on waiting lists since the year before.
Why don’t you want him to learn with an instructor on the side? That’s how group classes are usually run?

Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons · 20/08/2021 13:21

[quote momofbhoys]@Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons

I could have written that post word for word. The 5 year old is a lunatic in the water. [/quote]
Grin
If it helps the DS that was like that at 2/3/4 is a really good swimmer now at 10 although he does occasionally still forget what his arms are doing mid butterfly Confused

I really can't recommend a SwimFin enough- all the advantages of a woggle for positioning but you don't have to worry about them letting go...

HSHorror · 20/08/2021 13:37

I would just wait till he is old enough to go by himself and take him 1-2-1 yourself at weekends.
Swimming lessons are quite slow to teach them. Mine learnt on holiday. 7-14 day uk holiday.
Or dc2 did seimming with us weekly when dc1 was doing lessons.
Then got to stage 2 after only 3m of lessons.
Comparatively dc1 did 2 years of lessons.

Woeismethischristmas · 20/08/2021 13:38

I’d just take him swimming , use a noodle or a swim fin (not armbands) practice floating. Blowing bubbles. If you google you can get a list of skills for each level just work your way through them.

Bananarama21 · 20/08/2021 13:51

momofbhoys get a woggle you can get them in places like bm home bargains make a motor boat get him walk first blowing bubbles. It's important they move in the water and can stand up when needed. Then get him sat on the side kicking up and down. You can then get him in the water hold onto the side arms stretched out and lift his legs up, you can put a woggle against his chest to help lift his legs up, progress further get him to blow bubbles and kick if he's confidence promote getting his face in. Once his happy with that get a woggle make a motor boat so there a gap for him to put his chin forward and get him to lift his legs up to kick if he needs to stop tell him to put his feet down. See how he gets on. If you feel his managing get him on to front holding the tops underneath his armpits like airplane wings, he's got keep his arms still chin forward on the waters and legs up. You can hold on the floats aswell if he's unsteady, if he's happy promote getting his face in the water. You might struggle teaching him though. I can't teach my 5 year old as he doesn't listen with me being his mum even though I'm a swimming teacher.

Whatinthelord · 20/08/2021 13:51

So that all sounds very expensive.
In your shoes I’d probably just hold out until a better option came along and do whatever I could on our own in the meantime.

I think if you swim regularly and he’s keeps up his confidence he’ll
Pick up swimming quickly when suitable lessons are available even if it’s not for another year or ao.

No way I’d be driving 2 hrs round just for swimming lessons.

Booboosweet · 20/08/2021 14:08

In aura you don't go in the pool with them. They go into their own little groups for lessons and then you watch them from the viewing section at the side.

Flakeymcwakey · 20/08/2021 17:54

What does "a lunatic in the water" mean?
I just took my two swimming until they were competent (no specific help from me except teaching them to starfish). Now, aged 8 and 10 they are doing swimming classes. Are there no children's pools (same depth all across) near you? Is it only sloping-floored pools that get deep that you have access to? The 1:1 thing just sounds crazy

User5827372728 · 20/08/2021 17:58

My son is 4.5 and has self taught how to swim and bloody loves it. No technique what so ever but he can make his way across the pool.
I would just wait til the storm has passed and carry on enjoying it for fun and then look for lessons in 6 months time. Mine has never had a lesson before and probably won’t for a year.

Dancingonmoonlight · 20/08/2021 18:42

€230 upfront for the 16 lessons

That’s too expensive too. My kids work out at a cost of €10 a lesson (30 mins) x 2 for two kids.
Do any nearby hotels run classes?
The drive would put me off more than the price though.

Honestly I’d put him on a waiting list at all local pools.

Original poster
momofbhoys · 21/08/2021 09:09

@Dancingonmoonlight
Are you in Dublin? This one is €14 per (it is actually €224, I double checked the receipt). I think it is for 45 mins. Do you mean €10 for 2 or 1 child? There are only 4 children per class.

The other place is 1:1 in the water and €35 per 30 mins.

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Lucked · 21/08/2021 09:16

In Scotland and instructors in the pool with my kids, I am glad that we were private before COVID hit because places are now like gold dust.

Council opening of pools and lessons has been ridiculously slow.

I agree to just go yourself until you can get into lessons that suit you.

Cyanchicken · 21/08/2021 09:31

Have you tried Westwood if you are in Dublin. I just got my beginner 5 year old into a group class there?

Original poster
momofbhoys · 21/08/2021 09:35

@Flakeymcwakey

I mean he is confidence over ability. He is having a great time flailing all round the place with his head over and under water. He has started going really far underwater when I take him into the bigger pool. Having a great time but I am terrified he will get into difficulties. I asked the lady who he had the 1:1 lesson with if she could tech him some safety techniques. She has him doing star fish front and back and swimming with a noodle so it at least looks more in control.

If I didn't have the 3 year old on my hip it wouldn't probably be an issue.

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Flakeymcwakey · 21/08/2021 09:44

Oh, okay. Head under and over the water is good, it's how he'll learn to be aware of risk. My eldest is 2.5 yrs older than my youngest so he did learn in similar circumstances. The eldest has ADHD so you can imagine how all over the place he can be.

Original poster
momofbhoys · 21/08/2021 09:54

@Flakeymcwakey

I can understand! I am very glad we got the 2 private lessons because at least I know what he is doing. There is no coordination to arm and leg movements, but I think it would take a lot of private lessons to get and that would just be too expensive. It is a shame I can't get him into a group lesson for his age because he is very obedient for teachers. Just a nightmare or me when I have the other guy too!

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Dancingonmoonlight · 21/08/2021 10:45

Do you mean €10 for 2 or 1 child? There are only 4 children per class.

€10 each for a 30 mins class. I didn’t realise yours was a 45 mins class so €14 is actually ok especially if in a group of only four kids.

You are expecting too much re coordination. At four he is probably unable to use his knife and fork himself to cut up his food but you are expecting him to coordinate his arms and legs when he is just beginning to learn to swim? Your expectations are too high.

Original poster
momofbhoys · 21/08/2021 11:16

@Dancingonmoonlight

He is 5.5, he had a lot of operations and swimming wasn't possible until he was 4.5. I only really started taking him in June. He has always wanted to be in the water, odd really given he had no experience

I don't expect him to have it all, it is just after I teach him how to torpedo glide. I am not sure where to go, it gets too technical for me.

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Dancingonmoonlight · 21/08/2021 11:21

Sorry to hear he wasn’t well.
4.5/5 is the usual time to start lessons so he won’t be ‘behind’.

Is he in any association due to his health status? Eg some offer swimming physio lessons. Is that an option?

Original poster
momofbhoys · 21/08/2021 11:47

@Dancingonmoonlight

We found the public system really slow and went fully private for his 3 operations. We are due some speech therapy publicly but it never materialised. We are a bit worried about school because he is pretty far behind his peers in counting/ alphabet etc

we met with a clinical psychologist and she said he cognitively and socially where you would expect for all the hearing problems. She said he wouldn't qualify for extra support, if he struggles we will deal with it then. He does seem to be catching up.

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