Swimming lessons for ds age 4

[slushy06]

I can be a bit over protective and I want to send ds to swimming lessons over the six weeks, I will be able to sit in the spectators (which is a raised stand so should anything go wrong I will be unable to intervene),there are 10 lessons in my local swimming pool, I think it will help him learn to swim when taught by a professional although I don't think he will learn with 10 lessons while only 4, but I think it would be a bit of fun for the six weeks. What do you think good idea?

It will be great fun for him and will raise his water confidence level. But you definitely need to relax about his safety - I doubt that any emergency will happen that is so severe that none of his swimming teachers or life guards will be able to get to him in plenty of time!

Thanks provinceiallady I am trying to be less pfb, I am laid back about some things and funny about others. I strangely don't really feel that anxious about sending him though.

What is it exactly that you are worried will happen? Can you pinpoint it? I am prone to worrying too, though not about swimming (my DS1 has 1:1 lessons at the moment and loves it - I love it too as I have a sauna whilst he swims!).

Will the instructor be in the water with him? They are with mine and it really puts my mind at rest. Even if not as others have said he can't come to much harm with the instructor standing on the side.

By the end of the 6 weeks he'll probably be so confident in the water and have the basic principles of kicking his legs to get him to move.

Good idea, why not? DD did a short course of five half-hour lessons at the beginning of last summer, which I thought would just be a bit of fun and get us out of the house in the mornings, but she actually came on loads during that week.

There is a class of 20, 2 teachers outside the water, I never had swimming lessons so I don't know what they entail.

20 is a big class, but having 2 teachers is good. I prefer the teacher to be out of the water - they kids can see more clearly what she is demonstrating, and she can see THEM more easily. You can't really see what's going on with ten children bobbing about in the water if you're down at the same level and having to keep afloat yourself.

Good point DCMB I believe the teachers are male though (not that it matters either way). They won't all be 4 either the swim starts from age 4 to 8 so it is not like 20 4yo which you couldn't pay me enough money to do.

I am much happier now I will definitely send ds he loves swimming, and there is not many activities I can find for him to do. Do I send him with armbands or not?

DS started lessons at just under 4. He is getting on well, I am able to swim in the lanes beside him and it's great to see him improving, such a good life skill to pick up at a young age.

They can learn a lot in 10 lessons at that stage.
Boy enjoys his lessons, he is 4. I either swim in other pool ( teacher knows where I am) or sit in the viewing area and knit.

Both my dc had lessons as soon as they turned 3, both were swimminig without armbands within about 4 months of weekly half hour lessons(they weren't exeptional - most of the other children were similar). Ds1 is just 8 and he has completed a personal survival award and gained his 1000m swimming badge, ds2 is 4.6 and can easily swim 10m unaided. They are both very comfortable in the water - ds2 had his lesson tonight and had to sit on the bottom of the pool, jump in a the deep end and 'mushroon float' for 5 seconds - he was happy to do all of this (to varying degrees of success but happy to try). I can't recommend swimming lessons highly enough, although I did take ds1 out of one class because I wasn't happy with the safety standards (I am definitely not pfb!) All I would say is, if this is not the class for you, don't think they are all the same and find somewhere else. It is the only activity I have MADE my children do and they get so much enjoyment out of their water confidence.

Thanks ladies I was thinking it would make things easier if he could swim a little especially with a 10mo baby . I think he will love it. This is the only pool within a hour sadly (I don't drive). It only does 10 lessons over the 6 weeks though so I cant re-enrole him it is only 10 lessons. But I am hoping he will pick a lot up.