Share your questions with Olympian Swimmer and dad Adam Peaty - £200 voucher to be won.

[EllieSmumsnet]

Do you want to get your child interested in swimming? Perhaps you are unsure on how to do so? This is your opportunity to ask Olympian Adam Peaty (Speedo Swim United Ambassador) about why swimming is great for your children and how you can help make sure they don’t miss out on this vital and enjoyable life skill.

1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to swim; and it’s only set to get worse. Find out more information here and sign the petition to help children stay safe in the water.

● Anyone that shared a question below by the 02/05/2023 will be eligible for the prize draw.

● Once lucky Mumsnet User will win a £200 Amazon voucher.

● Adam will be back online in a couple of weeks to answer a selection of your questions.

About Adam:
“This isn’t just about or meeting curriculum requirements, it’s about physical and mental health and, most importantly, saving lives and safe-guarding our children.

We need the government to support campaigns and initiatives such as Speedo Swim United if we are to give ourselves the best chance of success in the future”.

About Speedo Swim United:
“Swim United is our commitment to greater equity in the water, through learn to swim programme work, partnerships and communications we are working to help ensure all children can find their joy in the water.

Currently 1 in 4 children leave primary school unable to swim, of which the majority come from socially disadvantaged or ethnic minority backgrounds. At Swim united we’re connected by the shared belief that everyone belongs in the pool.

Our programme supports 7-to-12 year olds and their families to swim, based in some of the communities we know need the most support in England.

Swim United communications feature diverse community of swimmers who stand for inclusion in swimming. Discover Swim United at Speedo UK."

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

This Q&A is now closed.

If a 6 year old hated lessons and won't let go in the water with me, what's the best option to get her swimming

Hi Adam

Do you have any plans to put pressure on the government to increase funding and raise the profile of children's access to swimming, like Marcus Rashford has done with school meals?

Do @EllieSmumsnet think this is appropriate after his latest update?

Armbands or floats ? what would you start a new swimmer with ? (and why)

How do you deal with injuries and know when you are ready to get back into the pool?

Is a weekly 30 minute lesson without any additional swim sessions with family for fun/practise enough to learn to swim well?

Hi Adam, I hope you are feeling ok given your announcement today. Do you think swim clubs need to focus more on the non swimming aspects or competitive swimming such as nutrition and mental health? My sons swim club is literally hours and hours of swimming with no focus on any of the other elements which you incorporate in your race clinic days.

After learning about Adams update we reached out to Speedo who have reassured us that learn to swim for children is a long-term issue Adam is committed to and ready to answer questions on, with the support of Mumsnet, Speedo and his team.

Hi Adam, lots of love to you.

Do you think we need to refresh the structure of how we teach our kids to swim? My daughter is 8 and is not a natural swimmer, her lessons are so focused on getting strokes right and breathing etc... that her progress is very slow and she dreads her lessons. What can we do to encourage and engage the kids who just want to splash about safely swimming a few lengths but don't have ambition to swim competitively?

Do you think lottery funding is a blessing or a curse?

while it enables some athletes to train full time do you think it also gives the ngb too much power- withholding funding, threats to remove funding if certain targets aren’t met etc? Plus the inconsistencies eg one injury and some are put on notice, where others are given support and reassurance?

do you think juniors should be funded? 13/14/15 year olds given an effective wage based on someone’s idea of potential? Or do you think funding would be more effectively used at junior levels by smaller amounts for more athletes paying for training and competition costs only, with “living costs” for over 18’s?

do you agree with many funded and/or elite athletes being expected to give up school or uni to train full time? Should British swimming be supporting rounded athletes and not solely focussing on medals?

Sorry you feel low Adam - many will understand - and good luck for the 2024 games. Well done for doing this chat even while you redress balance. My kids love swimming. I do see diversity in our pool. Do you know of any funding for lower income families to access pools?
Second questions: was there any dance you didn't get to do on Strictly, what songs did you suggest to producers and how hard was the training compared with swimming training?

Hello Adam, Firstly, well done on prioritising your mental health and I wish you all the best for a better, more contented future.
My question is, how do you encourage a child to learn technique so that they are a more competent swimmer and safer in the water with more stamina? My middle child adores swimming, but he is content to splash around not improving his ability. I worry should he ever be in a dangerous situation in the water that he has not the ability to help himself.

was there any dance you didn't get to do on Strictly - that you wanted to do, I mean and what would your couples' choice have been?

How can you keep a child motivated if they are in a swimming club and good but not yet winning any races?

Hello,

Any diving tips you could share would be much appreciated. DD is doing really well in her club stage but despite trying and trying she can't dive. She goes in arms / head first but her legs flop behind her and her knees and shins smack the water.

She has improved but still can't do it properly. Did you take to diving naturally (DD complains that her brother could dive with no effort or teaching) or did you have to practice?

Thank you.

My son is 8. He couldn't swim this time last year but took to it 'like a duck to water'!

Within 6 months he'd worked through all the stages and been asked to train with the swim club. After 2 sessions he moved to the higher group. The coach says he is a natural born swimmer.

He didn't like the swim club (very intense).

I've asked to move him back to his 30 min sessions, once a week in the top stage rather than swim club. People (hubby, the coach etc) think I should be pushing his natural talent and he'll regret it when he is older but I think it's more important to keep the enjoyment - I don't think you can truly excel in something you don't want to do.

What are your thoughts? Do we push him?

Hello, my son likes swimming and is now in the deep end in his lessons. I'm wondering what are good ways of developing stamina for swimming. Is it just a matter going more (he only has 1 lesson a week, and if we go as a family its more messing about currently) or just generally more exercise all round?

What are your thoughts on open water swimming, I love this and would like my son (7) to eventually become a member of my club.
Not many children are interested I think. He has been swimming since 4 - taught my my and my OH

My message isn't about swimming but sporty prowess in general. My DD is very good at a particular sport, she enjoys it and is at national level. However, she is probably about 20th in the country at her age (17). They are thinking of going all out for it which would impact their social life. Not so much their academic stuff as they are muddling along ok.
If you hadn't been a success would it have felt like it was worth giving up all the parties/freedoms that only happen when you are a ln older teen/young adult?

Just wanted to say a huge thank you to Adam for all that he does to promote swimming and young people. Having had the privilege of meeting him at one of his Race Clinics, he was extraordinary in his commitment and encouragement in what was a very difficult time for him personally. He continually supports coaches as well as swimmers and I know my child treasures the memories and photographs of the day that they spent with him. Adam, I wish you all the best with your future; you truly are an inspiration - also eagerly awaiting details of your next clinics 😉

When is enough lessons enough for a swim hating child? To be safe in the water?

In your opinion should trans women be allowed to compete against women who will inevitably be biologically disadvantaged in a race?

What was the best bit about Strictly?

Best goggle recommendations please?

at what age do you start to train for competitive swimming? Would someone pick up talent at group swimming lessons or would it be down to personal interest?

Why do they not do warmer pools for babies. I really want to take my 2 year old but he is so cold in the pool and the only option is to pay private which is so much more expensive. Affordable lessons would be great

What’s the best way to get my four year old enthusiastic about swimming? Can you remember what you first loved about it?

What do you think about boys/ men getting awards for competing in competitions for women?