Using floats in swimming lessons age six

[Swim456]

Hi,

Looking for a bit of advice on swimming for a six year old boy! My son has lessons, but in his lessons they still insist on him using a floatation device for his technique. I’m not so worried about technique, I really just want him to be able to swim safely.
When I take him to the pool myself he can jump in and get back to the side on his own, and swim a width unaided.

I’m really starting to feel he isn’t progressing in lessons because he isn’t being given the opportunity to try to swim on his own. I ask every lesson but they say his technique isn’t there yet and it will mess it up. I wondered if anyone had anything they could share on what their little ones did in lessons at this age? They’re private lessons which are costing an absolute fortune and I’m not sure it’s worth continuing!

Lessons will focus on technique and having food technique will enable you to swim better and stronger and therefore safer. Even when my two were in the highest level and gearing up to swim the mile, they'd still use floats in some classes to ensure their technique was solid.

If you don't like or trust the teacher then by all means go elsewhere but if you trust them then let them get on with it.

Sounds exactly like what my 6 year old is doing in her lessons. If you've gotten all you want for your son out of the lessons, then by all means stop.

It's like any sport, you can learn the basics easily, but learning the techniques will make you better at it. Anyone can kick a ball, but at football training you learn how to dribble, how to head the ball, ball control, passing. In swimming you learn how to float, and how to doggy paddle. But with the techniques you learn different ways of moving through the water and increase your core and stamina so you can go further expending less energy.

Good technique is what you need for safe swimming.

Bad technique means you are a less strong swimmer, and more likely to get tired easily. You’re more likely to (for instance) get pulled out by a current, tire out before help can get to you, or swim to safety.

My 7 year old can swim 50 m unaided and more on his back, he still uses floats in some parts of his lessons for technique. If you want him just to swim without correct technique pull him out of lessons and take him to the pool yourself. We live by the coast so strong swimming is a must here.

Thank you everyone for the perspectives, that’s really helpful.
It was more that he doesn’t do any unaided swimming at all in the lessons. Totally agree technique is important, but struggling to see how he can apply these techniques when he doesn’t get the chance to swim? Even when he’s jumping in the pool at the end of the lesson they catch him and guide him to the side