Swim lessons

ArcticFox

Has your LO had swimming lessons?

I took DD to the YMCA when she was 1 and she doesn't remember it.  I would have taken her within the past year but I had a baby last October, and then DH is in an MBA program so he doesn't have much free time.

But at this age, I think it is REALLY important that she learn how to swim.  We kind of assumed we would be going to a family member's pool this summer, but it hasn't happened.

I want to do a parent/child program.  Anyone do this?  How long did it take for your LO to be able to swim on their own?  (Anything from float to doggy paddle..)

ilovemygirls

I thought parent/tot was only for younger babies/toddlers.  In our area, once they hit 3 they can go to 'big kid' swim lessons.  We did parent/tot w/our oldest from age 9mos until about 2.5- then put her in regular lessons when she was about 3.5.  With DD#2, we never did P/T but just went swimming a lot as a family so she got used to the water. 

As for how long it takes- it really varies.  My oldest is a fish.  She started in pre-beginner & jumped up several levels right away.  She could swim pretty independently around age 4 (obviously, not without adults around).  She is almost 6 now & just passed into level 4 with kids who are as old as 10.  She amazes me.  My 3yo has been in lessons for 4-5 mos.  She is starting to understand some of the concepts (gliding, etc) to try herself.  She's going to take longer than my older one though, I can just tell. 

kada626

around here they have parent/child classes for 8mo-4yrs old. I think we are going to start taking classes this fall. By reading the brochure it seems like they get into floating/doggy paddle in the 4/5 yr old class. I'm sure it's a big range though. 

Spin313

In our area, they do Parent/Infant for 6 months to 2 1/2 years and then Parent/Tot from 2 1/2 to 4 years.  At four years, they can start the kiddie swim lessons unless they are evaluated for placement.

I am starting the Parent/Tot program with DS in a few weeks.

Mrs.Hizzo

My three year old has takes private lessons. He loves them. We tried the group lessons, but they were a big fail. He's been doing two-three lessons a week for about two months. He isn't swimming independently yet, but he can do assisted front and back floats, arm strokes while blowing bubbles, jump off the side into deep water (to the instructor), etc. We plan to continue through the winter and I'm hoping he'll be able to float unassisted by Christmas. No way to tell, though, they all learn at their own pace and it's not something you can push.

jlw2505

With my older DD, who is now 4 and a few months, I did a mom and baby class with her when she was 9 months (about 6 sessions) and she loved it.  The summer she was 2, we tried a Y swim class and it was horrible so we dropped it after 2 classes.  She started child only lessons at an amazing swim school in my area last summer, right after she turned 3 and she is still taking lessons there.  It is once a week for 30 mins and she loves it and can do some basic swimming right now, can float on her back, swims under water.

My LO is not a big water person so far.  We started her last summer, at 1 1/'2 in a parent/child class at the same swim school as her sister and we stuck it out for 2 sessions before stopping.  She cried the whole time almost every time.  It was horrible but we really wanted her in the water.  Now at 2 1/2, and a lot more water exposure this summer - she loves the water.  Will put her face in and blow bubbles and is just more comfy.  We did this with her, not lessons.  We are going to sign her up for swim lessons again in the spring when she is 3 and it will be child only.

Andrewsgal

Both my kids have been in swim lessons year round, once a week since they were 10 months old.

DD is 4 and can swim freestyle with side breathing and backstroke the length of the pool (25 yards), she is working on breaststroke.

DS can swim the width of the pool with rolling over breaths, he is 21 months.

Ciarrai

We started DD#1 last summer when she turned 3 at a swim school.  It was $$$ but they were great!!!  They do 4 kids to 1 teacher (max) starting at 3 without parents in the pool.  Parents do get in for the under 3 kids unless you do private lessons (which we did with DD#2 this summer a bit to get her ready for us getting a pool). DD#2 took 4 private lessons (one per week) and is now able to jump off the side, surface and swim maybe 3-5 feet to DH or me.  Another few weeks and she'd probably be turning around and swimming back to the side.  She can also climb out from the edge anywhere.  DD#1 took two weeks of every night right after she turned 3 last year.  By the end of it, she was swimming 3-5 feet, could somewhat get back to the edge after jumping in and getting better.  She then took a 16 week "semester" (one per week) and was swimming all over the place - taking breaths, swimming 10-20 feet, etc. etc. by the end of it (no idea when she was swimming, swimming).   She started back up in January and took the spring and summer semesters to refresh what she could do and keep going.  She can now pretty much handle herself in the pool (with careful supervision, of course) anytime anywhere.  She can swim 30+ feet, is working on strokes, floats on her back, trying to dive, etc. etc. etc.  If DD#2 has swimmies on, I can sit on the edge of our pool with my legs in the water and just watch the two of them without having to get in at all.  I'm debating getting the girls some private lessons from now until it's too cold to swim or if I just want to start both back up in January to get them ready for opening the pool in April.