Swimming lessons - is this normal for swimming instructor to do?

[MelodyBlue]

My DD has started swimming lessons recently at school. They go to a local swimming pool once a week. My daughter is in the beginners group. She cannot swim and does not water on her face. She said that today the instructor had something like a giant spoon and kept splashing water on their faces (2 girls, beginner group) they said they did not like it and kept running away. Both got upset and the other girl cried in the end. It does sound intimidating to me. Rather than encouraging. The instructor does not get into the water. Just asks them to do things.
I wanted to find out from people who did swimming lessons with their kids if this is normal as I think it is not the right way to get kids to get used to water.

How old is she? Why can she not swim?

Totally normal to have active which are designed to splash. It’s gets them used to having water on their faces so they are less bothered when they need to put their faces in the water. Usually fine as part of a game so it depends on how it was done.

Well getting their faces wet is an important part of swimming and safety so they don't panic if they fall in. I've only seen it done with little watering cans or whilst playing games not a spoon though.

Yes it is normal to splash them with water. Although as both mine did swimming from a much younger age the instructor and me where in the pool and we where encouraged to splash them. DD hated it but as she was very little got used to it eventually. In fact they actually use little play watering cans to poor water over there heads to.

They can't swim properly without being water confident. It maybe better for the teacher to encourage the kids to splash each other rather then the teacher doing it with older ones.

In a beginners group I’d expect the instructor in the water. I understand they need to get used to water splashing in their faces but there would be more effective ways to do this, singing songs that involve splashing etc (assuming your DD is quite young)

Thank you for your replies. She is in Y3 now. Apparently the instructor is just splashing it, not making it fun in any way. My DD thinks he is just being mean.

You should explain to her why he is doing it as she is unlikely to make that connection herself and she should practise getting her face wet and blowing bubbles in the bath or when you take her swimming.

Op the problem is they are school swimming, which can often start as late as 9 or 10 years old. The instructors don't normally get in with them at this sort of age as they are old enough to follow instructions and can most likely stand up in the pool and touch the bottom without any help.

DD said most of those who where this non confident in swimming at school didn't actually manage to learn to swim as they don't have enough lessons with school. Our primary was very lucky and at the time DD did swimming they did it in 3 year groups and the non swimmers did a 4th year. But it's only 1 term per year with big breaks in between.

Immersing your face in cold water triggers the 'diving response' which will make her safer in water - and better able to swim. Counter-intuitively, it also stimulates the vagus nerve system which slows your breathing and heart rate. This makes it a good treatment for anxiety!

It's also great for your skin, not that DD will care. Try it with her at home 😎

ideally the instructors need to be in the pool for young beginners

Agree with PP. Splashing is to get them used to the water. A spoon is just what this instructor used, others use watering cans or squirting animals.

If you want her to be water confident get down to your local swimming pool with her this weekend and play splashy games together.

Hi, OP.
I see from PPs that there is a logic to the splashing thing but my initial reaction was wtf? I'm not surprised your daughter hates it, she doesn't know why he's doing it. Speaking as someone who didn't learn to swim until I was nearly 30, couldn't wash my hair in the shower or let water run over my face, I would have hated having water splashed in my face without a proper explanation, or warning , or making it a game. It would have put me off returning to the class.
So I have no helpful opinion, just lots of sympathy with your daughter.