What age are swim lessons actually useful for?

omurray

I'm wondering when to do swim lessons for DS.  He is 2 yrs 8  months.  I guess my issue is that it seems like many of the class descriptions for his age group focus on getting them used to the water.  He is already used to the water and I can continue to support that since we got to the pool pretty often.  If I'm gonna pay for lessons, I want him to actually learn some swimming/safety skills, not just play in the water, which I can do with him for free.  Make sense?  Thoughts/input on what age they actually teach something useful during the class?

minnasmommy

we started S's last summer. the mainly focus on safety. how to get to the side and get out of the pool and get them used to going under and just being in the pool. ?I think its great!

ellemoney:)

We took Layla this Spring. ?She had been in the water the previous Summer, but it's not like she would remember.?

They did get her used to the water, taught her to float, and how to climb out incase she would happen to fall in, etc.

It was very beneficial for her and she liked it.

If you're wanting actual skills though, I would think age 3. ?

KellyMichelle

DS took lessons this year and I feel like they still did alot of getting used to the water activities.  I had expected more actual swimming skills.  Also, make sure you know the ration of students to teachers.  There were 8 kids in DS's class to one teacher and he spent alot of his time sitting and waiting his turn.  Maybe even find someone who could do private lessons?

Chrisy-Wyobride

3yrs old I think.  My DD started at 3 & she can swim across a pool now at 4.5...she's still working on learning strokes, etc but she's gotten a lot out of the lessons, especially this last 1/2 yr (when she had a really good teacher).

mbg8r

We have a pool so DD started last year, but forgot everything she learned over the winter. This year has been a huge battle, but the class I found is great for 2-3yo. DD is also very used to the water but doesn't know how to do anything without holding on to something, so the first couple of days were not useful but after that it's great...they progressively work on harder skills and go with the pace of the child so each child in the class may be doing slightly different things. Before 3  there needs to be a parent in the class with them, and the class size is 3-5. I would not do a class bigger than that. My advice is to call and talk to the director and find out exactly what they do and explain your concerns.

ilovemygirls

In our area, it seems that 3 is the youngest that they can be in class w/o a parent.  We had taken our oldest DD to parent/tot since she was 8mos old, so she has always been comfortable in the water.  However, around 2yo she totally fought it (typical) so with DD#2 coming we decided to stop for awhile & put her in lessons when she was 3.  Putting her in actual lessons at that age was perfect.  You could literally see her skills improving every single week.  She's 4.5 now & is in a skill level w/6-8yo!  So I think that having them comfortable in the water is important when they're younger, but we saw a definite benefit to putting her in an actual class when she was 3. 

Ginger123

My girls take lessons at the YMCA. I started oldest DD at 6 mo in parent child and continued w/ that until she was 3 then she moved on to her own class. I also started DD #2 in parent child class at 6 mo and decided it was a waste of money because I can do the same things with her on my own for free. I just started DD #2 in her own class (she just turned 3). I use to teach lessons at the Y when I was in high school. They begin teaching water safety already in the parent child classes (how to enter/exit the water safety) and it continues through to the upper levels. DD #1 has been in a canoe in the pool before and they tip it and they kids practice swimming to safey. In DD #2 class she is learning to kick her legs w/ a kickboard, bob her head in the water and float. Hope that helps.