3 year old swim classes - parents not permitted by pool

[Ifeellikeateenageragain]

Hi all,

Looked through the archives but couldn't find a post similar to this situation - just trying to get a read on what's the norm etc.

I contacted a swim school about options for swimming lessons for a 3 year old. They got back to me promptly and the first point was to let me know parents are not permitted to be poolside during the classes as they have found it distracts the small children. I can well believe this might be the case (!) but was wondering what others' experiences have been with swim classes for toddlers?

There's no viewing area away from or above the pool in this centre so parents would be in another part of the building with no oversight of the pool.

Probs being all PFB but I would prefer to be able to see how my child is and if there was any distress etc? But this might be the norm and I'm over reacting.

If you want to see her and not be anxious why not teach her yourself?

Swimming is about confidence.

A lot of the smaller venues work like this as the parents end up sat virtually in touching distance of the kids and its very distracting. Big leisure centre pools usually let you watch as you are sat much further away and the kids can't constantly be talking to you etc.

One I used for dc said from the start they didn't let parents watch as there was no space (this was true). Because of how I am 🤣 they agreed to let me watch the first 2 lessons for 10 mins. The second time there I was squashed into a doorway/ fire exit type area and I think they forgot I was there (no one usually watching).

It was a beginners class for 4+ years. A little boy arrived late and came in but didn't go to the water (where others were) he sat back against a wall. Well the teacher picked him up and he screamed and she just put him in the water, he was in tears nearly all lesson. When I was spotted by a teachers help she asked me to leave.
Nothing said to mum about his tears/ not wanting to get in.

After that I wouldn't trust that swim school again so pulled dc out.

@Totaly cos I'm a self taught crappy swimmer and I don't want to pass on my bad habits😄

@Hellocatshome ah, yes, that's a good point. I'll look up some others. I don't need to be there at the water's edge looming, but having at least line of sight!

@Annahh yeeeesss... See this is my ever so at the back of my mind concern. Could be all fine and dandy or it could be a bit off and they might have a different threshold compared to me and my family as to what is acceptable in this context. Like @Totaly says, it's about confidence so I don't want DC to have an early upsetting experience.

I would not use a swim school where you can't see them at all no.
Fair enough not right next to them etc but I would definitely need to be able to see my child. And I think any swim school should let you see them

I agree parents poolside is a problem.

we chose a venue with a viewing area though. I would not have chosen one without unless there were no other options

I'd be ok with that for 1:1 lessons but not for groups.

I teach (among other things) swimming.

Parents are always welcome to observe. After baby classes, when one parent is in the pool and the other is taking eleventh million photos, parents are usually poolside and glued to their phone. Scrolling, not taking photos.

If you can’t see your can’t see your child, don’t enroll them.

I said parents are always welcome to observe. That isn’t strictly accurate.

Parents are actually required to be poolside at my swim school. When class finishes, the students leave the pool and I have to see them go to their parent or guardian.

It is a safeguarding issue.

I am responsible for my students up to the point that I see them with a parent or guardian. If they fall in the water before then, I am responsible. If they slip and fall and crack their skull on the tile before then, I am responsible. If they run in the direction of the changing room and decide to jump in the deep end and drown before I see them with a parent or guardian, I am responsible.

Don’t ever send your kids to a swim school where you cannot see them.

I wouldn't be happy with this

Me neither.

Me too.

I knew some children who were scared of swimming because they'd had a teacher who used to swim underneath them and pull them under

Children cannot learn to swim from someone they don’t trust. If your child ever says they have been dragged under the water or pushed or pulled under by an instructor, make a formal complaint and get your child a new teacher ASAP.

(The child will need to get back in the water ASAP or the incident will affect them longer and stronger).

There are a number of ‘old school’ teachers who should, frankly, be fired or drowned.

I agree with this. Little Children drown very quietly.

I’m a really good swimmer and I couldn’t teach my kids to swim. Later I could correct their stroke and breathing when doing etc.. but that’s much further down the track.

I wouldnt send my 3 year old. He would hate it

I also think it’s important parents can monitor child’s swim progress. I would like to know if they actually can swim safely regularly or just enough to pass the next level.

I wouldn't be happy with that at all.

It's my job to supervise my children in the water, even if I'm not the one teaching them.

We had the same. DS started at four and swam while I waited in the cafe or the car. I think it's quite normal.

I wouldn't be happy with that. It's very easy for a small child to drown without anyone noticing in a small group scenario. The only way I could get comfortable with it would be if there was a dedicated lifeguard and I could view the pool on a screen.

We go to our local council pool and they need a parent/grown up in the water with the child at 3 and they go by themselves at 4 but there's viewing areas.

I'm not an anxious parent by any stretch but I wouldn't be happy with that at all, I'd find somewhere else.

My 2.5 year old has recently started a dance class which prefers parents wait in a waiting room. I was really worried as she seems a bit young - although goes to childcare so copes fine. This week I went in for the last 10 mins as I wanted to see what they were up to and how she followed direction. She was doing great but after about 5 minutes noticed I was in the room and then just kept coming back and forth. So they are right it is distracting!

I am planning to sign up my DD for swim classes when she is 3 to a pool with a no spectator policy. It's annoying but it's due to lack of space, and I'm currently doing parent+baby swim classes in the pool with her so I expect her to be quite confident in the water then. It's a 2:1 or 1:1 lesson so I feel comfortable about safety and the pool is shallow enough at one end that she can stand up even now. My older DD started lessons there at age 5 and I was able to watch the first lesson, some parents would watch for a few lessons if their dc needed more time to settle.

We have done other lessons in different pools where parents could watch and I didn't think it was distracting, my dc would wave occasionally but still focused on the lesson.

Thanks @DifficultBloodyWoman . That's good to know from the industry perspective.

I think the majority of people here have confirmed I'm not totally irrational and I'll look into other larger centres with line of sight or viewing options.

DC loves the water and splashing about on holidays so I don't want to do anything that contributes to distress or fear around the water.

It would be a definite no from me, for my child at any age. I have been there for all my DCs swimming lessons, and still am at with a 10 year old, sitting with the other parents.

Swimming teacher here.

I would not be ok with not viewing. Im glad I can teach my own, though.

Too many varying skills of teachers and too many areas of complaint. It's true being watched can distract a child but that's for you to make sure you don't allow. I would pick somewhere with a viewing gallery.