NOW CLOSED Talk to Speedo about children learning to swim and be in with a chance of winning 1 of 3 £50 Speedo vouchers

[TheOtherHelenMumsnet]

As part of the work we're doing with Speedo, we want to find out what you think about all things swimming-related. Here's what Speedo say about what they're doing: "With new research revealing that 40% of British children can't swim, Speedo has teamed up with Olympic champion Rebecca Adlington and her mum Kay to launch a new learn to swim competition, in a bid to empower parents and children to take the plunge, have fun and get in the pool."

We've provided a few questions to get you started but please feel free to add any other comments you have. Everyone who adds their comments here will be entered into a prize draw to win one of three £50 Speedo vouchers to spend in store or online.

This thread is open to all MNers. Please note that your comments may appear (anonymously) on the Speedo pages on Mumsnet, and potentially elsewhere.

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

You can also enter Speedo's competition on Mumsnet here.

MNHQ

[skyebluezombie]

My DD 4yo can propel herself across the pool wearing armbands. She loves swimming but I cant take her very often. The local pool is full of lessons after school. Lessons cost £54 a term, which I just dont have at the moment.

When I was a child, I learned to swim at primary school. We had a tiny square pool at the school and we went to the leisure centre every week. This was all paid for by the school.

I learned to swim up to 2000m and did my bronze life saving award and some kids did up to their Gold.

I think that the school should teach the children to swim. If parents cant afford it, then those children are losing out.

[rufus5]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

So so important. Kids need to be confident in water, primarily for their safety, but also for their ability to fully enjoy activities and holidays without fear of water. Ideally it's great to start them from very young (less than 1 year old), but at the very latest I think children need to be taught water safety and swimming tips by age 5 or 6. Any older and it is more likely for them to have developed a fear or concern about water that will hinder future learning.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

I think parents (where they are confident themselves) should take the lead in teaching water safety and confidence in water, but as for teaching proper swimming I think it falls to the swimming teachers or school swimming lessons. Swimming is a very difficult skill to teach properly if you are not knowledgeable about it, but the main concern is being safe in water which the majority of people can teach.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

Neither of my children can swim yet (very young), but they are happy in water and learning water safety. I am confident in teaching them as I am an experienced swimming teacher.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

Yes they really enjoy it. I try to let them progress at their own pace and keep it fun as I don't want to be 'forcing' them to learn so they end up getting turned off by it all.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

Yes, mainly from myself as they enjoy swimming so much, but with two young children I cannot take them myself and am dependent on my DH or a friend being free to come along. Doesn't happen often enough for my liking, so I feel guilty for not getting them into the pool more often.

[drowninginlaundry]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? Absolutely. It's a life skill.

Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Swimming teaching should be left to those qualified to teach, but it should be the parents' responsibility that their children learn to swim. Not all children need formal lessons though, and not all children need to learn the perfect backstroke. The minimum is the ability to swim a short distance.

If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? I have three children, all of them have learned in swimming lessons or on their own after being taken to the pool enough times. I wouldn't have a clue how to actually teach them, plus they don't listen to me anyway...

Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? They all love it. Where we live (by the sea with a big surf culture) it is expected that all children can swim, so afternoons at the local leisure centre is like an extension of school day where they see a lot of their friends. One of my children (aged 6) has now taken up diving and he wants to be an Olympic diver. Apparently.

Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? They swim every week but still pester to be taken to the pool at weekends.

[merrymouse]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? Yes. Start as early as possible. As well as safety aspects, being a non-swimmer will exclude children from water based activities in later life.

Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those? All of above. However, unless there is a pool on-site, I think schools are time-limited and can't give children enough swimming experience to make them strong swimmers. Therefore it is up to government to ensure that there are pools available where parents can take their children swimming. Importantly, these should be PROPER POOLS WITH A DEEP END!!! not just leisure pools, and they should be affordable.

If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working? Yes. Helped by baby/toddler swimming teachers. However, the thing that has given my children the most confidence and ability is being able to spend plenty of time playing in the water e.g. diving for rings, playing games.

Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience? Enjoyable experience

Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? - no swim at least once a week anyway. (Although for many families this would be prohibitively expensive).

[melodyangel]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

Yes I think it is extremely important. Get then in the water asap for fun and splashing, formal swimming lessons from about five.

Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

I think it's easier to get swimming lessons than trying to teach them yourself but I do think you need to take them swimming too to teach them to love swimming.

If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

I have taken both my DC's swimming since they were about one but I haven't really tried to teach them as until this year I couldn't swim myself.

Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

Ds1 always enjoyed both playing and learning to swim. DS2 hated every minute of it for the first few lessons, he slowly got the hang of it but didn't really enjoy it much but kept going and now loves swimming.

Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

No we go quite often together as a family plus regular swimming lessons.

[GangstaGranny]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?
Yes, very important. Started taking both DC to parent and baby/toddler session led by instructor. DD then had private lessons aged 3 as she was too good for the toddler pool, had her 25 metre badge before starting school! DS had lessons in pre-school class from age 3 (Ducklings) and was in a stage 3 class by the time he started school. If you can bring them up realising that the pool is a fun place to go and not to be scared of the water from an early age it's got to help.


~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
This should be a joint responsibility. Parents and swimming teachers need to take the lead but schools should support and the government should help by making swimming lessons available to all (?subsidise for low income families). School my DC go to do a 6 week block of weekly swimming lessons each year, any child not receiving lessons is hardly going to learn like that!

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?
Although I can swim reasonably well I don't feel I have sufficient skills to teach the kids. This half term we went swimming and my DD (9) overtook me swimming a length with far more style than any adults in the pool! I just support by taking the kids regularly during the holidays.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
DD has loved every moment of learning to swim. She'd swim every day of the week and is determined to reach olympic levels!

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

No because my DC now swim at club level so are in the pool at least 2-3 times per week.

[crappypatty]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

It is very important for children to learn how to swim, For safety, health and enjoyment.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

It is a parents responsibility to ensure their child can swim. Either teach their child themselves or pay for lessons.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

I have three children, my eldest two were taught to swim by us, my youngest has Autism and it has proved very difficult impossible to teach him. He is now on his second block of 121 lessons. He is now swimming but still using aids. He is 8 .

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

The eldest two, it was enjoyable and stress free, they were taught through playing. The youngest, very stressful, he now enjoys his lessons but the first block with a teacher who didn't understand his triggers was a nightmare, he would scream and cry the whole lesson, very hard as parents to listen to that. Swimming with us he wouldn't lift his feet up.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

No pressure, we enjoy taking our children swimming and just focus on playing as opposed to swimming laps, or water parks.

[mercibucket]

Mine all have/had lessons and I approach it as a non-negotiable. At various times they've complained but are not allowed to stop til they reach gold. I also sometimes take them swimming and they like going with friends as well
Plenty of kids their age can't swim, it is a class and culture divide - so I would like to see schools do more lessons and also parents encouraged to take their kids swimming. Here, kids swim free but it's a fiver for adults so still quite expensive. Also, there are no 'women and children' times, so muslim women just don't go swimming at all, and therefore don't take their kids either.

[turnipvontrapp]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

Yes very important - right age is probably 4 with lessons, but younger with family.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
Family and swimming teacher

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?
yes a bit, not a very good teacher though.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
My eldest two hated their swimming lessons as the teacher didn't like boys and was so negative all the time. Have yet to take DS3 to swimming lessons.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?
Yes - pressure comes from me, know its a life skill and they should all go swimming more often.

[SourMilkGill]

1. Children should learn to swim as soon as possible from a safety point of view. In reality I would expect this to mean that from 18 months onwards they are able to roll onto their back to keep their mouth out of the water, and from 4 yrs, to swim doggy paddle for a metre or so to get back to the side and then be able to hold on.
   
2. Parents should take responsibilty, though help towards swimming admission costs would be usefull.
   

1. I taught my own children. It was fun and easy. They pra,tised many of the skills in the bath (having water on their face, blowing bubbles, putting head under, opening eyes underwater, floating). My children are really confident in the water which makes them easier to teach. I couldn't ve afforded lessons.
   

I feel pressure to take them more often. The pressure comes from them.

[SachaF]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?
Yes. (my) Children should be encouraged to gain water confidence from as soon as they are old enough to meet the pool's requirements (3 months?). We go kayaking or out on boats every year so familiarity with water (and it's inherent dangers) is important for us. I say water confidence as they wear life jackets when near open water and don't need to swim, they just need to not panic and know we will get them out again.
Children should learn to swim when they are ready. My local pool suggests 3 is the minimum age. Both my children started swimming lessons at 3 but initially again this centres around water confidence for about 6 months. With my ds he was fine when 3, but then at 3 1/2 struggled. I stopped and waited another 6 months until he was ready.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
The main responsibility is with the parent. I have now delegated this responsibility to swimming teachers at the local pool. So today we will go swimming as a family for fun, with little onus on teaching / learning. Yay!

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?
I did baby lessons with ds to guide me and give me confidence as to what to do in a pool with a baby. We then went regularly with family. When dd came along I had the confidence to know what I was doing so I just continued going weekly with 2 children. I have developed safety and confidence with them. I have left specific swimming instruction to the professionals- I don't have the patience!

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
When they started lessons, I continued with our 'fun' sessions initially so they could 'show' me what they've learnt. It took dd about 4 lessons to settle into the lessons. Generally they enjoy lessons, although they want more play time in the pool. The unenjoyable part (for me) is the getting there after school and the getting showered and changed after the lesson, up to 70 children all wanting to use the showers!

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?
Yes, from them! Also the swim teacher occassionally mentions 'when you take them swimming next, can you do this skill with them please?'.

[Boysboysboys]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?
I think it is a vital life skill, and they should be taught from as young as possible. They should certainly be learning from reception at school.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
It should be part of the curriculum, children should be able to swim by the time they leave primary.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?
I take them swimming, but they have lessons so I leave the teaching to the teacher. I wouldn't really know where to start.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
My younger son loves it, the older one tries to get out of lessons every week. We tell him it is non-negotiable.
~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?
Yes, most of the pressure comes from the children!

[yousankmybattleship]

I think it is incredibly important for children to learn to swim, but I think children learn too early these days. I would say 6-7 is a good age. If children learn too early I think there's a real danger that parents will take their eye off the ball in terms of supervision. I think children under five should have an adult very close by at all times regardless of how well they can swim because they simply don't have the skills to assess risk below that age.

[notcitrus]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them?
Yes - by age 5 if they aren't enthusiastic before. Before that you're next to them anyway.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
Parents/family, then backed up by primary schools (so requiring govt funding)

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
My son was terrified of water until recently - I figured no point trying swimming if he wouldn't paddle. Got him in paddling pools over the summer but still not had a chance to go swimming, as despite him now being enthusiastic to be like a big cousin, I can't supervise him and baby in the water at the same time (only allowed one non-swimmer/child) and the creche is only open while schools are taking up the learner pool.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?
Other parents surprised I've never been swimming with him, media, my own fears about water, and the fact that I love swimming and want to share it with my children. My husband is allergic to chlorine so can only take them to the Lido or paddling in the sea, but the weather this year has scuppered that.

[Tobermory]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them?
Yes, I think its really important. What age? As early as possible i think. A child with water confidence gained by lots of dips in the pool form a young age makes for a better swimmer.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
I think the onus is on parents/family in the first instance with additional support in schools - primary to get children swimming by the time they leave for high sCHOOL.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working? When we go swimming together we take the opportunity to practise skills they have been learning at swimming lessons. Also on making swimmign fun and improving confidence in and around water. Despite being a strong swimming i dont feel i really have the skills to know 'how' to teach swimming. Ive never done the teachign of it before


~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
She very much enjoys swimming lessons. Not so much at the beginning when she hated getting her face wet, but now she has mastered that she just loves it.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from? No, dont feel pressure. We go swimming as part of what we do as a family on a weekend and its something we all enjoy and gain from so no pressure needed.

[amarylisnightandday]

Of course it's important to teach children to swim - bit of a cliche but it could save their life one day. Also I live in the coast and love the beach etc - my dd's need to swim well to enjoy it too.

I started dd1 swimming with water babies at about 15 months - as soon as I could get her there. It was a huge success and she really enjoyed it. She was swimming independently (we have never used arm bands or back floats) at around 2 and is swimming up to 50 metres now at 3.

I didn't see progress though until I joined the local health club and took dd swimming up to 3 times a week. The weekly lessons were good bit thru weren't enough. I always say I had to kick the arse out of swimming every week to really get dd the hang of it. It was a big effort but it paid off - she adores swimming and is now getting toys off the bottom and practising her diving.

I see other parents look at dd with astonishment when they see her swimming and I am often asked how old she is etc. there no fluke/amazing talent or whatever -it was just the hours I out in with her that paid off.
I see it as my responsibility to make sure my kids can swim.

[keepitrunning]

I have 3 small children. When my twins where born I had 3 under 3. Before having kids I was very active in all sorts of sports including swimming.

~ importance? Yes, very, it's great exercise and a necessary skill today for your child to be safely included in swimmng activities, even birthday parties.
Age? In the pool by at least 1yr.

Who resp.? Financially, government incentives to pay for regular participation would be helpful, and encourage active family activities.
. Support for people with multiple small children (under 5s) would also be helpful. This is the primary reason I am unable to take my children swimming. With the safety ratio of 1 adult-2 kids, and I have 3 prevents me from going unless I find someone willing (at much effort) to go with me.
. Regular group baby/toddler swim sessions would be helpful to guide parents practically in activities that would help their child to get comfortable in the water and learn.
. I think that generally a combination of govn funding support, and school and nursery opportunities, would help the overall statistic. Parents quite often repeat history ... Having more classes available with qualified instructors is also important. There are so many places with long waiting lists.

~ My teaching? As a result of the ratio issue mentioned above, I have been obliged to pay for lessons which I can ill afford, but I feel it is better for him to learn now when he is 5. Most kids in his circle of friends know how to swim already.

~ Enjoyable? He has enjoyed learning to swim. He has been quite apprehensive at times, and has required a lot of encouragement but I think he is getting there. Regular twice weekly sessions seem to have made the positive difference in attitude.

~ Pressure? Yes, as he is still in the beginning stages of learning I feel a pressure to take him more often when I see him regressing as a result of not getting the opportunity to swim regularly (1 - 2 times a week).

~ Multiples? Crazy idea perhaps, but I would have gone swimming over the last 3 years on a regular basis if there had been some sort of swim-buddy system at the pool. I constantly find having twins hugely restrictive with everyone being so busy and needing to check their calendar so much

[cherryjellow]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

I think its really important to learn how to swim, it can belifesaving at times. I think get them used to water as soon as they are ready, and then when ever they are ready to start learning start. each childs different.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

I think its the parents responsibility, to make sure they are gettng lessons fom somewhereno matter where.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

My childs too young

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

DC loves the water,we try and go every month

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

I don't feel any pressure, but I enjoy doing it

[Chopstheduck]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?


Yes, for life saving purposes. I think it's best to start them as young as possible.


~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

Ultimately parents. My children do get swimming lessons at school,but twice a week for half of the summer term doesn't really do much for them!


~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

I've taught two of mine to swim. The older two learned at school, but lessons here don't start until year 3. The twins are more sporty and were ready to actually swim earlier, and they can both swim now. It has worked to a degree, because they one can swim 10m, the other 25m, but their strokes are appalling. Though at least if they do fall/jump in the deep end while at a water park, I know they aren't going to drown - something that has happened with all the kids at least once!

I do think it is a difficult thing to teach. I do struggle with getting them to improve their strokes, but hope the school will work on that with them, or I will maybe take them for a short swimming course to help with that aspect.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

The twins loved learning. It was never frustrating teaching them. Though it was rather embarrassing once, when the lifeguard dived in to 'rescue' dt2 who in the early days, did look more like he was drowning rather than swimming! ds1 struggled because he has sn, and even extra swimming lessons didn't help him, and it was a bit frustrating seeing him struggle.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

Only pressure from the kids, who would love to go more. It's a shame that it is so expensive and the government cut the free sessions for children. Before those were axed we did go a lot more regularly.

[RarelyUnreasonable]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

Yes. It's fun, good exercise and potentially a life-saving skill. DD started at about 12 weeks old - she's nearly two now and loves water. She is confident and happy at the seaside/in the pool (obviously with supervision!).

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

Parents ultimately. Schools should offer lessons too (government funded).

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

Fine at the moment as she's a baby. I'm not a great swimmer, so as she gets older, I imagine school or swimming clubs will take over.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

Enjoyable so far at baby/toddler swim groups - lots of songs and games help.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

No.

[TamasinR]

i think it is vital and fun to learn to swim, my little girl is 2 in january and is happy in armbands and getting the hang of breathing and kicking. We started going to the pool at about 5 months and lessons at about 8 months. We both really enjoy it, she goes twice a week at the moment and it is great for getting her to sleep.
Parents have to take the lead as it's much easier to start before they get scared. i think parents should be able to take children to the pool for free at least to try it as i know a lot of the lessons are quite expensive. However our teachers are great and very reasonable and i really appreciate their guidance for her and for me.

[aristocat]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

Yes, swimming is very important, it could help save their (or someone elses) life. Mine have been swimming with me from an early age - they were only about 6mo old to start with and obviously were only splashing about at first. The most important aspect is getting them used to the water and not to be scared.

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

The responsibilty is everyones. In the first instance it is our job as parents to help them swim but then I dont think any child should leave junior school without being able to swim a little.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

I am a very good swimmer but when I tried to teach my children it didnt go so well. My DH and I tried for about a year and then gave in and booked swimming lessons at the pool. I was confident enough to teach them but they were about 4 and 2yo at the time and didnt really take it all in. Perhaps if I would have waited until they were older we would have done better. Anyhow they are still having lessons and are now 10 and 8yo and are excellent swimmers. We do swim together once a week and they have their swimming lessons once a week too. Obviously when on holiday we swim much more. It is a super feeling to be able to swim lengths with your DCs


~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

Yes they like swimming very much. It can be frustrating when learning but improving their technique takes time and patience.



~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?


Me, I swim 4 times a week and my DCs swim twice a week. I think this is about right for their age group. It is such an important life skill and one the whole family can enjoy together.

[stealthsquiggle]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

Yes, definitely - it is a life skill that every child should have. I think baby swimming is a lovely thing to do with your baby if you can, but doubt somehow that it makes much difference to swimming ability in later life. About 3 or 4 seems the right sort of age for actually learning to swim, rather than jsut enjoying the water

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?

Confession time. My DC have both learned to swim entirely at school. However, they are lucky enough to have a pool at school and swim without fail once a week. I don't think it is practical to put the main responsibility on schools when many struggle to find the time and resources to take DC swimming - so the main responsibility must sit with parents, with a government responsibility to support access to pools for parents, children and schools.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?

I try not to be too involved in teaching my children as it tends to end in shouting matches. They have learned at school, with no involvement from me beyond making sure they have their swimming kit at school.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?

They have both enjoyed it, to date. DS is a very confident (but not very fast) swimmer, and when he tried diving the instructor commented on how much "at home" he was in the water. DD has confidence beyond her abilities at the moment, but I hope am sure that will change.

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?

Yes, DC would like to go swimming "just for fun" more often, but that pressure gets largely applied to DH. When on holiday, they would both quite happily spend the entire day in the water given the chance.

[SpringSunshine]

~ Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?
Absolutely essential for children to learn to swim - it is excell;ent exercise and could save thier life or that of a potential rescuer. They should start as young as possible - 4 months old +

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim? Should it be swimming teachers, schools/nurseries, parents/other family members, or the government, or a combination of all of those?
PArents need to take responsibility with assistance from local council schemes running lessons

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them? If so, do you feel confident doing this or a bit out of your depth? (no pun intended!) Do you feel your teaching is working?
Both my children learnt to swim thro a combination of me teaching them and lessons at the local pool. I am a competent swimmer and have trained my daughter in stroke technique. My husband cannot swim and could not accompany the children so he was definitley 'out of his depth'! My teaching certainly works - my daughter and I love swimming together and she is better than me now! My son has issues with glue ear so is less able but still loves to play around in the pool

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim? Does it/has it caused any tension between you and them if they've been frustrated by it? Or has it been an enjoyable experience?
My children both love the water, the only tension was if I couldn't take them any time!

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often? If so, who/where does the pressure come from?
Yes - now my daughter no longer swims at school we should go more often but there is limited time with her other activities. The pressure most definitely comes from her!

[Kingcyrolophosarus]

Do you think it's important to encourage children to learn to swim? If so, what do you think is the right age to start encouraging them? If you don't think it's important, why is that?

Yes,I think it's important, and I think that if you start them as early as possible, it helps with their confidence in the water. But I don't believe that taking them to baby classes will make them a better swimmer eventually

~ Who do you think should take the main responsibility for teaching children to swim?

Swimming at school would be fab, but I don't think there is any money for that. Parents can encourage, but swimming teachers have the knowledge and the experience so I am happy to leave it to them.

~ If you have a child who has learnt or is learning to swim, have you been helping to teach them?

I have encouraged DS to swim, but really, he just wants to play when we are in the water together.

~ Does/did your child enjoy learning to swim?

It caused a lot of frustration with group lessons, because he has a very short attention span and really didn't get enough to do. But he has been thriving with individual lessons, and he absolutely loves the water
I find the whole thing fraught with tension, getting there on time, getting him changed, making sure he didn't jump in the pool before he could swim, but that's just my son!!

~ Do you ever feel under any pressure to take your child(ren) swimming more often?

No, but he has been regularly