Wwyd swimming lessons

[Reluctantadult]

Wwyd here, and partly this is my problem! It's soooo frustrating watching my Dd's swimming lesson! She's age 7, she's in level 3 swim England or whatever its called. She's repeating it for the 4th time. It's £50 a term although money isn't the point. I feel like she's getting worse. She doesn't hold her position across a width. She's stopping all the time and coming upright to breathe. She's really slow. Her teacher feels like she can do it but is not trying. Dd says she doesn't want to go. She says she's got tired legs from PE. She says she can't do it. I think it's important she learns to swim. Do I keep making her come?! Do I ask to change the time or day of the lesson so it's not straight from school? I've currently got ds in at the other end of the pool which is a huge perk. Do I book her some extra sessions? Do I take her swimming more myself, trying to leave ds at home so it's not just play? Do I take the pressure off? Ignore it?!

Can she swim well enough to get herself out of trouble? Not necessarily a perfect stroke, but just get 25-50m from a-b if she needs to? If so then I'd consider stopping and replacing with another form of exercise that she enjoys. If she can't swim a reasonable distance then I'd look at an alternate school/teacher

Just take her yourself and let her have fun in the water.

I wouldn't stop lessons. I tend to think if you stop then you'll probably never start again.

The basics for being able to swim (according to the national curriculum) is to be able to swim 25m. The usual minimum needed to be able to use the deep end when public swimming is 50m swim. So I wouldn't consider giving up until my child had reached that level.

Id suggest changing the time / day of the swimming lesson. As wellas the different time, she may also benefit from being with a different teacher.

My DD is also not really progressing. I would try and take her occasionally. I’ve also spoke to the teachers and have asked if they can push her a bit. We have been stuck on 25 meters for a year!

I’d book them for a weekend and see if it helps when she’s not tired from a day at school

Pay for a term of 1 to 1 lessons it will be more but probably the last lessons you need to pay for. At 7 my DS wouldn't let go of the side he had a term of 1 to 1 lessons and was spotted by a competitive swim club and now swims at Regional level. You obviously don't have to go that far!

I think that if I stop she my go again too. She can swim about 3/4 of a length but more like doggy paddle and is learning front crawl and breast stroke. BUT this is not consistent and she is not a strong swimmer. She absolutely could not get herself out of trouble.

Could you find a different swim school that continually assess’s? That might take the pressure off. Doing it 4 times sounds demoralising. DD is in level 3 and has no idea she is being assessed each week. Her friend is with a different swim school and they get assessed once a term and if they don’t get pass they carry on in the same group.

Your lessons are a bargain tho!

My dd was similar, we were in holiday and told her if she could swim from where we were to the edge, around 10m she could quit, within 2 days not only could she do the 10m but 20m (length of pool) she just hated the lessons, too tiring at 4.30pm after school.

It's £50 for a block of 10. I also agree it's an OK price! But I swear she's getting worse each block! I think I'll ask to swap to a different time.

Do you swim together/spend time in the water much? I feel swimming is a bit like driving lessons - you only learn so much in the slot and the confidence, fun and stamina is learnt through regularly being in the pool (or beach if you’re nearby).

I moved my DC when they stopped progressing. Some class sizes are just too big and for only half an hour a week, it isn't enough. I also put mine into holiday crash courses to get them over humps as they are half an hour every day of the week which definitely help. Mine both swim for a club now.

I would definitely not stop lessons until your DC is a competent swimmer, it is the only non negotiable hobby imo and is such an important life skill.

What about some one 2 one lessons we did this for dd made a huge difference and at our pool if you pay one 2 one they actually get in the water with you and show them the correct way to do a certain stroke etc, well worth it

I moved my dd to a different swim school and weekend lessons when progress slowed. The first swim school the teacher stood at the side (pre pandemic, I moved her just before first lock down) the new swim school the teachers are in the pool. She can swim now despite lock down after locksdown.

The school does do holiday crash courses where they have a lesson every morning. Probably can't sort that for half term next week but if things don't improve I can sort for easter. I don't take her swimming for fun often, but have done twice this month. She just plays and enjoys it. She's not lacking water confidence. I could take her more and not take my ds but I'm not loving the idea!

My feeling is she could do with someone in the water worth get to correct her position. This is what her stage 2 lessons were. Stage 3 they're suddenly in the deep end and on their own with the instructor on the side. I think one to one's might be a good shout. Although I don't think she'll be impressed!!

We moved our DC to 1-1 lessons when DS1 was stuck in stage 4 forever. It made a huge difference. He was liable to hang at the back and muck about in group lessons. There's nowhere to hide in individual ones and his teacher was able to adapt the lesson to his style of learning and his interests. He thrived.

We moved DS2 at the same time so he had the same opportunity. He's a fairly lazy swimmer. He will default to doggy paddle despite being capable of 25m front crawl at a minimum.

We kept them in private for two years and only stopped because DS1 joined a swimming club, so now trains and competes instead and DS2 asked to go back to group as he missed the social aspect.

I never took my two DDs to formal lessons, just took them to the pool with me from when they were babies. They loved just swimming for fun, and always clamoured to visit pools and water parks on holiday.
They are grown up now, and enthusiastically go wild swimming in the North sea off Scotland. In winter!
The point I’m making is that if your DD hates her lessons, is not progressing and is finding excuses to not go, she may much prefer fun informal swimming. Maybe just ditch the lessons before they put her off swimming altogether?

I'd give it a break for a term then try and book on a weekend or on a day she doesn't have games. There's no point pushing if she doesn't like it.

@Babdoc

I never took my two DDs to formal lessons, just took them to the pool with me from when they were babies. They loved just swimming for fun, and always clamoured to visit pools and water parks on holiday. They are grown up now, and enthusiastically go wild swimming in the North sea off Scotland. In winter! The point I’m making is that if your DD hates her lessons, is not progressing and is finding excuses to not go, she may much prefer fun informal swimming. Maybe just ditch the lessons before they put her off swimming altogether?

I get this point and that's one thing I was wondering. But the trouble is I don't want to take her swimming every weekend! Dh won't go in a pool. When I do take them I take both kids and its quite hard work. They have fun but I definitely don't! I could take just Dd, which I will think about.

At that age ours started with 1:2 or 1:4 with swimeasy. They went from barely swimming to diving in a year, it was amazing. Definitely instructor in the water at that age. I think it’s worth spending less time on more expensive lessons if you can.

@Hellocatshome

Pay for a term of 1 to 1 lessons it will be more but probably the last lessons you need to pay for. At 7 my DS wouldn't let go of the side he had a term of 1 to 1 lessons and was spotted by a competitive swim club and now swims at Regional level. You obviously don't have to go that far!

This! It's not just swimming 25 or 50m that you need it's the confidence to survive if they fall into icy water whilst fully clothed. My daughters got much better value and came on so quickly with 1 to 1 lessons.

I also had this with my son,complete waste of money for group swim lessons.
Switched to 1:1 and honestly couldn't believe it when he was swimming independently by the 4 lesson.

Thanks everyone, I've dropped the school a line to see if one to one lessons or lessons where the instructor gets in the water are an option.

My daughter is the same with being reluctant to go sometimes and I ask myself the same questions! I do let her have the occasional session off if she’s really not keen but ours is £25 a month so slightly less of a hit. Normally after a break she’s quite happy to go again 🤷🏻‍♀️