How old were your dc when they could swim?

[Greencordpinkflower]

Just wondering how old children tend to be when they can swim independently (I don’t mean you’d let them in the pool alone but when you don’t have to hold onto them!)

I'm 52 and can't swim (!) so I booked my DC in for swimming lessons as soon as they had their last jabs (six months?). They were swimming independently by 1yr.

They keep offering to teach me to swim now they're adults!

they were swimming independently by 1 year

Really, at twelve months? Sorry, I don’t mean to sound overly cynical but can you explain exactly what swimming independently looks like to you?

There’s just no way that’s possible. Independence by the dictionary definition means doing it without the aid of others so surely has to involve jumping in, swimming, turning as needed to reach the side or end of the pool, coming up for air as necessary and then climbing out. I can totally believe that some kids that spend a lot of time swimming might manage that at 2 but there’s absolutely no way a 12MO can.

I’m not believing this either I’m afraid. So able to jump in, swim to the other side of the pool and climb out, at a year old?

It is possible but rare.
I could swim widths on my own from 18 months was swimming lengths by 3 (she had real problems with lifeguards letting me swim) Competing by 6/7 and early training sessions before 9.

But my mum took me to the pool 3+ times a week from a few weeks old as it was one of the few places I would chill out and was always a water baby. I was also a terrible sleeper except after swimming which is probably why she took me so much!

I’m not believing this either I’m afraid. So able to jump in, swim to the other side of the pool and climb out, at a year old?

Out of interest why does climbing out and jumping in feature?

Mine could swim properly by the time they were 7, before that they could doggy paddle from about 4. My DGCs are competent swimmers at 6 and 8 but have been regularly taken to pool from very young.

I wonder if the children who are swimming lengths of front crawl at the age of 4 are also reading Harry Potter in Reception

Independence. Not needing any parental input to go for a swim.

I’d also want to see stamina to complete at least 25m, a recognised stroke, turning to breathe, ability to tread water etc. A bit of breath-holding doggy paddle towards a parent after being given a shove by a teacher is not “swimming independently”.

DS went to water babies from birth to age 4, completed all the stages, and it was excellent for water confidence, but he was not “swimming independently”, as in doing backstroke up and down the pool, until he was about 6.

Probably not, mine wasn't, but definitely learning that different people are good at different things, something you apparently haven't learned yet. He was a great swimmer (until lockdown when he quit) why let it bother you? And why the eyeroll? Rude.

I’d also want to see stamina to complete at least 25m, a recognised stroke, turning to breathe, ability to tread water etc. A bit of breath-holding doggy paddle towards a parent after being given a shove by a teacher is not “swimming independently”.

I'm pretty sure there's varying degrees between people anyway.

I wouldn't be specifying a 'recognised stroke'
myself.

I count it from when I could sit at the side of the pool reading and they could 'swim' around happily without drowning in the deep end of the pool, without armbands.

I wouldn't be counting getting in and out. Though they probably could.

I think that’s a decent enough definition of independence too. The point being that the kids are swimming without adult involvement and you’re just supervising in case something goes wrong. And if they can splash about happily in the deep end then no doubt they could also jump in and swim to the steps and climb out when they’ve had enough. I’m not trying to be steadfast in any particular definition of independence, although I do think not having to be physically hauled out or else you’ll drown is significant, but however you wish to define it there’s absolutely no way it could be applied to a 12MO, that’s just ridiculous!

This is similar to us (also water babies.)

I’m also not minimising how good Waterbabies was. DS could swim up and down the pool on his back hugging a float from age 3. He could jump in and climb out. He was happy swimming underwater. It was great. We all loved it. He just wasn’t independent.

I'm a swimming teacher I've never seen 1 years old and 2 years old independently swimming, it doesn't happen, they don't have the body strength to swim a safe distance not the capacity to do it, the motor skills arent there. I also agree swimming 5 metres or even 10 metres isn't safe swimming. There's a reason school swimming is 25 metres and even then that's not really enough. Only on mn have I ever seen early swimmers. I take it with a pinch of salt

all the lessons my son has had have included safe entry and exit to the water. So what if they can swim 25 meters at age 1, they will drown eventuallly if they are unable to get out though.

all the lessons my son has had have included safe entry and exit to the water. So what if they can swim 25 meters at age 1, they will drown eventuallly if they are unable to get out though.

I can see it's a great safety thing but just not what I count when people say " can your child swim"

My friend's kids did those " infant survival" lessons ( I think that's what they're called) but basically they teach babies to fall/ jump in the pool fully clothed, then not panic, turn onto their back and kick to the side and hold on. Lots of babies between 1-2years do these lessons so presumably it's not that hard to learn. If I had a pool in my garden I would have definitely done them but I agree it's not " swimming".

@Greencordpinkflower

a lot depends on readiness. Some kids can / do swim independently very young (there’s a YouTube video of an 18 month old diving in and swimming to her parent)

but they have to have both the aptitude and the opportunity.

i don’t think you HAVE to do lessons from baby or toddler upwards to create a good swimming. It won’t necessarily bring forward the age they can properly do it themselves.

for our younger on it would have put him off to do lessons too young.

people post on these threads if they are proud of how early their kids did it so it’s not representative

if you don’t think they are getting much out of the lessons now nothing will happen if you stop and start again when they are 5ish.

4 when they were relatively safe to play about and get themselves to the side safely, 6 when pretty competent swimmer.