Swimming lessons

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Hi everyone.

We did baby swim when LO (15m now) was a few months old but this just ended up being way too much effort just for a splash about.

Just wondering when those of you with kids would recommend starting swimming lessons? :)

I wouldn’t bother until 4, that’s when most of the lessons near us allow kids to get in independently of their parents. Up until then I think it’s important to take them swimming so they aren’t scared to water but they don’t need to “learn” to swim.

Not until approaching school age.

Fir now, going swimming regularly with emphasis on safety and confidence, getting face wet, kicking etc.

Once they can reliably follow instructions, and aren’t frightened of being in the water without you there. Usually about 4 is the earliest I’d say. DS age 4 had a “ducklings” class with a three year old who really couldn’t cope.

Splashing in the bath to get used to face being wet, also helpful in the meantime if you can’t find time to swim

I bring DS 9 months to a parent and baby swim 'lesson' more about having fun and not being scared of the water. We both enjoy it so will continue, but equally could just bring him as a family not a formal lesson for the same result. I have a much younger sister who started lessons age 3 (no such thing in my day😅). That was without parents and she thrived, such a strong swimmer now.

Another vote for 4.

I think it's a great think to do if possible any time from 12m+, if it's not taxing on your finances or getting in the way of other plans.

We did baby swimming (with us in Pool too) from 9m to 4yr and was just a fun thing to do on a Saturday morning. Progress very much depends on the child - our daughter really took to it, and i took her once a week to the local pool too - so she was able to propel herself around independently from about 3yr. That's a big safety bonus near water on holiday etc.

We then stopped for 12 months and started proper lessons when she was school age, and at 5.5 can nearly do a better front crawl than me.

Our daughter is quite sensitive and fussy so having water confidence built up so young has probably been the difference between doing the above vs battling every week to get her to go.

I think school age too. They need to be able to take instructions to learn swimming. Before that, you can save money but just taking your child to swim yourself.

We started a bit younger than suggested at just under 3 and a half. She had 9 months with me in the pool with her before starting school and moving up to stage 1 and having lessons without me in the pool. I do it again possibly slightly earlier starting just after 3 to give a bit more time to build confidence in the water and a rapport with the swimming instructors

I agree with 4-ish. Basically school age, although I think many children don't have the body strength to really propel themselves in the water until they're a bit older - say 5/6. My son got longer and leaner towards the end of Reception and suddenly was able to swim much faster and do proper strokes, and my friend's child in the same swimming group observed the same.

Obviously if a child is in and out of a pool all the time they will develop the ability much earlier, but this is for a normal UK-based child having one lesson a week.

I watch a three year olds class while we're waiting for my son's class to start, and tbh it looks like a nightmare 😂

won’t bother anymore. I did try starting when my daughter was 15 momths old but I found that in the UK, the water is always too cold. Both of my kids end up with purple lips after just 10 minutes in the pool. The leisure centre pools are awful—cold changing rooms, wet crisps on the floor, rubbish everywhere.

Even the so-called “posh” ones aren’t much better. I tried hotel swimming pools too, which were a bit cleaner, but the water was still cold. For some reason, pools in the UK never seem to go above 30°C.

I think 29C is training temperature and that’s why it’s so cold @Katherina198819. I learned with my Dad as a very young child. Before 3 or 4, but I am sure we used an outdoor pool. It isn’t the UK and I am fairly sure the water temperature is above 29C.

Where I live they can get in without parents at age 3. I don't think those classes were a "nightmare" but then my daughter had been swimming with me in an adult and child class from 18 months. I think it depends so much on the child, some are afraid to get in at age 3 without an adult so having done some classes with you in with them first can help, some aren't bothered. I'd agree starting at 3 or 4 is probably ideal.

I don't think a child will really learn proper swimming much before 4 but that doesn't mean swimming lessons are a waste of time before that.

I took my baby swimming about twice a week between the age of 6mths and a year. We had membership at the local leisure centre and in the grey British weather it was a consistent activity we could do and we both enjoyed it. He's now 18mths and in "swimming lessons" with 2yr olds and is one of the most confident kids there. He's happy to jump in, get water on his face, be dunked under the water, splash, lie on his back etc. I could play all the same games without the swimming teacher there as I've been at children's swimming lessons for years but signed him up as his confidence surpasses his ability and I wanted him to learn that around other children
If you've never had to teach water confidence before then lessons are a great way to do that. Otherwise, you risk signing up your 4yr old only to find they can't stand getting their face wet and they can't participate fully in the lesson.

Our local pool does ‘swim tots’ sessions which is actually cheaper than a normal swim price and has lots of pool toys, different floats to try, and the leader does songs and games. Not formal swimming lessons but a bit more fun and engaging than just going to the pool with me. DS is 10 months old and seems to enjoy it!

Swimming teacher here. I think it depends what you want to get out of it. If you start lessons young, expect them to last years. Swimming lessons for little ones are more about water confidence and learning to float/move about in the water. You can save money and just take your child swimming with you very regularly. A lot of it really depends on your child and their personality. Some children are really afraid of the water and don’t like the pool environment. I’d say it’s really important to get them going to the pool regularly either in lessons or with a trusted adult. I think parent and child lessons are the best approach for under 4s.

4+ i wouodnt bother rushing. Most kids have done them since reception and took till y3 to get to stage 4-5 so about 4 years. Minestarted mid y1 i think and is stage 8 in y4. The earlier starters were overtaken

Where I live the lessons at the public swimming pool don't start until age 4, but I wanted DS to learn earlier because he really didn't like the pool at all and I didn't want to wait a year to start lessons. I found a private swimming school which started at age 3 and signed him up when he was 3.5.

Not gonna lie, most of the kids cried to begin with and a couple of them are still crying months later. DS has done really well with the lessons and can now (at just turned 4) swim easily with a pool noodle, do about 6-7 metres unaided, jump in from the side, put his head underwater and dive for objects.

He recently did a holiday course at the public swimming pool which was from age 4 and I didn't see any crying though. So maybe there is a reason they start at 4 and not 3.

I would say that if you can take your child swimming regularly and just get them at ease in the water, starting at 4 is fine.

To actually learn to swim around 4 to 5 depending on how good they are at listening.
I did baby lessons with DS but in a small heated pool. They both learnt to be very comfortable in and under water so when they started lessons they didn't struggle with the initial putting face in the water challenge. DS2 was a bit of a pain as he much preferred playing under the water so teacher had to be quite firm with him about listening as obviously you can have 4 and 5 year old bobbing underwater whenever they feel like it.

I have to agree with the posts here, you don't need to start them with paid lessons right now. YOU go in the water and bring them with you. My grandparents did this with me and I don't remember "learning" how to swim. I just always knew =)