Community› The Bump Message Boards› Parenting
Parenting
New Discussion

Would you continue swimming lessons?

SaraSmileSaraSmile
in Parenting
My son will be 4 in July.  I put him in a mini-swim session (4 classes) at the Y.  It's his first ever lessons so they suggested a parent/child class that is 18-36 months.  He is totally freaking out and doesn't want to do anything.  He just holds on to me for dear life the entire time.  The class is kind of silly - they sing songs and move around the pool a bit.  That's about it.  There's really no real swim lesson (learning how to swim).  He is normally great in the pool (last summer) but hates this class setting.  I am torn as to whether to sign him up again ... it's not cheap and we don't even own our own pool or have access to one very often.  I am wondering if I should wait until next year when he's a bit older. 
Report Reply to Post

Re: Would you continue swimming lessons?

  • emiliemadisonemiliemadison member
    The longer you wait, the scarier it will be for him. The classes you're describing are perfect for younger kids and kids who have never had lessons. The classes are not meant to teach your child to swim, they're meant to get your child comfortable in the water, which he's clearly in need of. A real swimming lesson will only terrify him, and he wouldnt be ready for it anyway. If you want to cut costs, could you just take him to open swim time and have him play in the water until he's more comfortable?
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • Chrisy-WyobrideChrisy-Wyobride member
    No, i'd wait until he's ready.  I would take him lots this summer & try to get him to be independent in the water.  If he's 4 in a couple months, he could do class w/out the parent soon (our Y does that at 3 so that's when DD started)...so to me it's more important that he gets more independence from you than actually be in a class setting.  He isn't getting anything out of it anyway from the way it sounds.
    AKA Carol*Brady! IHO my upcoming 10yr Nestiversary--Back to old screenname. My own Marsha, Jan & Cindy... imageDesigning a Life Blog
    Report Reply
  • elm1032004elm1032004
    I would ask if you can try him in a class without you and see if he does better.  Sometimes they put on a show for their parents.  If he still hates it I would prob. wait a year and try to do a lot of swimming activities over the summer.
    Report Reply
  • mbg8rmbg8r
    Hmm. Well, my situation is a little different as we have a pool and I needed DD to have lessons and she was much younger, but here's what we did if it helps. DD loved being in the pool whenever we were around one and when we had one built she was almost 2 and needed more formal lessons. So when lessons started she was absolutely terrified, screamed, clung to me, didn't want to do anything...I was shocked. BUT I took her every lesson for 8 lessons. Finally, she surprised me on lesson #9 and had a good lesson, and #10 was great. We signed up for another 10 and she did great. So my advice is if you really want him to have lessons, don't give up on it. In your case, it's not so urgent, but don't think you are ruining him by making him go to lessons.
    Report Reply
  • ilovemygirlsilovemygirls member
    I think that the "lessons" are probably a waste of $$ if he absolutely refuses to do anything.  My suggestion would be to take him to the Y or other public pool regularly with you & just play & get used to the water.  If you do that routinely, then once he is more comfortable he would likely do better in a class setting or even a private lesson where he can get some one on one time.  He's really a bit old to be in the parent/tot class but yet they can't put him into a class where all of the instructors energy is focused on one child who is terrified.  Good luck.  I think water safety/learning to swim is very important so keep at it!
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"