major drama with swimming lessons...!

[Kristy&Alex]

I need some serious help here please!

I started my son in swimming lessons when he was 6mths old & he loved it.....then we moved & i didnt enroll him again (because I was slack).....:no: he is now 4 & I want him to be a good swimmer for obvious reasons & feel so much guilt that I have left it this long!

I took him to another swim lesson about 8mths ago & he screamed so much the instructor said he'd have to start back at the beginning again because he is so scared of the water.

when I first started him when he was 6mths old I was allowed to get into the water but now Im not allowed to because of his age.

I live at Mudgeeraba & would really appreciate any good referals to swimming places around mudgeeraba, worongary, merrimac, robina etc.

Im really feeling like I have really failed him in this area because I have left it so long & he has missed out on 4 summers now of not being able to swim without fear :crying: please please help me!

[wocket]

it's a common problem. i used to be a swimming teacher for awhile. The main thing you can do for him is get him used to the water again, with you if you can. You don't have to do this formally with an instructor for a few months. Take him to the pool yourself with some favorite bath toys. get him used to the pool environment again. play in the shallows and occasionally do things like pour a small cup of water on his head and laugh/giggle/smile all of the time. the moment you look anxious he will be.

Most swimming lessons are aimed at kids who have been in the system since forever and are already trained to do specific things.

[Bunnyhugs]

I started my son when he was 2 and he screamed too. Luckily though, he was just young enough for me to be in the pool with him to start with.

Could you perhaps enrol him for next term but go once or twice a week, just you and him, and get him used to the water? He might do better without the pressure of a lesson?

[NonnyMouse]

Speaking from a purely selfish perspective, I'd say leave the lessons until he's over the fear.

We had a "Screamer" at DD's lessons and it ruined the lesson for all, as well as making a lot of the littlies very nervous (as obviously this other child was teaching them there was something to be afraid of!).

Take him down to your local pool or even the bathtub and just chill out in the water with gentle play until he desensitises a little.

[Hollywood]

If I were you I'd just take him to the pool and just play in the water with him yourself. Seeing as you're not allowed to be in the water with him for lessons you might not have any other choice until he gets more confident in the water. You could go a couple of times a week and just get him familiar with the water without freaking him out.

I enrolled DS in swimming lessons last term, so he's now had about 7 or 8 lessons, and he's almost 2.5y old. I felt really guilty about not taking him to lessons prior to that (and I only took him to the pool a handful of times from 6m to 2y).

The first day I took him to the pool when I enrolled him (a week b4 actual lessons started), he was like a monkey, clinging to me for his life. He was so timid and affraid. However, after only 7 or 8 lessons and extra visits thrown in during the school holidays, he is a totally different kid in the water. He now goes under water when he jumps in, has just started to let me push him through the water with his face under (blowing bubbles), and he loves his swimming lessons (I get to be in with him until he turns 3).

Kids do catch up very quickly, but in your case you might be best to take him to the pool yourself for a while until he is confident enough to go in alone.

Good luck :)

[~BEXTER~]

I agree with all the other posts.

Take him yourself, you can teach him the basic steps for swimming without forcing him.

then when he likes water again I would enroll him.

[battlecrumpet]

My little one is 2.5 and started hating the water when he went up one level in lessons, to the first level where he was meant to go in the pool by himself.
I've talked to the swim school and they're happy to allow me to go in the pool with him till he gets used to the water again...then I'll withdraw from the lesson. This is despite the fact that, generally, parents stay on the side of the pool for his swimming level.

I'm taking him today and he's looking forward to it now that he knows I'll be in the pool with him.
Maybe your swim school could arrange something like this?? Or if they're not flexible enough, try to find another swim school that is.

Cheers

[wocket]

oh, just a note, try and keep swimming regualry over winter if you have access to a properly heated pool. if all else fails encourage play in a nice deep bath. :)

[mum_I'm_hungry]

Most swimming lessons are aimed at kids who have been in the system since forever and are already trained to do specific things.
:iagree:

I was sooooo angry when I tried to get swimming lessons for my five year old daughter :banghead: She has had multiple sets of grommets and ear problems and swimming lessons weren't an option until five. I rang around all the swim schools in the area, who all boast of their success rate and about teaching kids about water safety :ecomcity: and was told every single time that, basically, they could not teach my daughter to swim because of her age. They wouldn't let me in the pool (she's quite timid when it comes to water, of course, because she doesn't know how to swim!). It's all about fitting in the system.

What we did in the end was wait until summer and then use the hell out of my parents pool. We would go every second day or so and when she was used to the water, we got one private lesson per week until we felt she'd get in the swimming lesson pool okay by herself. She came along remarkably fast and after only about five 45 minute one-on-one lessons was on par with the kids in the appropriate age class.

So, yep, I reckon immersion is the way to go. When summer comes, get swimming and then start lessons again once he's okay with the water...

[Ollibot]

Sorry to butt in, but I've been wondering about this,does it matter that either parent can't swim when starting off baby in swimming lessons?
How much hands on tuition do they get?
The thoughts of standing beside the pool , and not being equipped to help if he got into trouble kinda puts me off bringing him.

[onabreak]

Hi. I am a qualified swimming teacher and my suggestion is like other posters have said take him to the pool yourself and let him get used to the water again especially getting his face wet and blowing bubbles. Forcing him into lessons will make him worse and he will not learn a thing, you will just be wasting your money.

Just be patient with him and show him lots of encouragement and eventually he will love the water. Take along toys that you can hold under the water so he can get used to putting his head under the water etc. This is the main thing I find with kids who are afraid of the water is getting their face in.

I took my DD to swimming lessons when she was 2 and it was the biggest waste of time, she is now 4.5 years and has only been back at swimming lessons in the last 6 mths and is enjoying it.

You can PM if you need more advice. I love teaching kids how to swim.

[BabelFish]

Sorry to butt in, but I've been wondering about this,does it matter that either parent can't swim when starting off baby in swimming lessons?
How much hands on tuition do they get?
The thoughts of standing beside the pool , and not being equipped to help if he got into trouble kinda puts me off bringing him.
If you have a baby you have to be in the water with them - you don't need to be able to swim because you can stand up in the water - but it's pretty important for your own sake that you both learn to swim and quickly.

If you live in Australia, swimming is something that you really need to be able to know how to do. With the culture that we have, the hot summers and the time spent at the pool or the beach, swimming is essential. Even if you don't spend time at these places, it's still a skill that everybody should know - simply because of the fact that if you know how to swim it could save your life or someone else's life one day.

If, as you say, you are concerned about not being able to help your child, and therefore as a result your child won't learn how to swim either, it's time to get lessons and learn how - and quickly!

[Kristy&Alex]

First of all I want to say a big thanks to all that have taken the time out to reply.....I never thought of taking him myself but to be honest......im cringing at getting into a pair of swimmers in public (that sounds so selfish i know) but I am a little overweight & I guess I have used that as an excuse......at the end of the day its not about my body issues but teaching my son a vital skill for life. Thanks to all for giving me the confidence & little bit of a push to pull my finger out & do something about it......everyone here is so supportive:wave: thanks again......:shakehands: no matter what my issue or concern I know I can post on here & I always get some advice....:yelclap: I have been a member since my son was born over 4 yrs ago & have found it an invaluable website.

[NonnyMouse]

Sorry to butt in, but I've been wondering about this,does it matter that either parent can't swim when starting off baby in swimming lessons?
How much hands on tuition do they get?
The thoughts of standing beside the pool , and not being equipped to help if he got into trouble kinda puts me off bringing him.

I had (actually still do) a huge dislike of water and hate even getting my face wet in the shower, so when DD was little I forced myself to take adult swimming lessons at our local indoor pool. The water was barely up to my waist, and the lessons were done in such a way as not to make me feel like a total idiot for not being able to swim.

Now I can do all the basic strokes well enough to get myself to the edge of the pool if I'm out of my depth although I still stay where I can touch the bottom and don't let DD go deeper than *I* am comfortable with in case I need to get to her.

I still don't like the water, but I can at least accompany DP to the pool and lounge around in the water without feeling constantly threatened.

[Ollibot]

Thanks for the advice Chesby05,
I really do want him to learn, My Mam was thrown in at the deep end at a young age to "teach her to swim" and as a result she never brought us. I don't want my fear of the water to have an impact on DS, and I will do something about it



I had (actually still do) a huge dislike of water and hate even getting my face wet in the shower, so when DD was little I forced myself to take adult swimming lessons at our local indoor pool. The water was barely up to my waist, and the lessons were done in such a way as not to make me feel like a total idiot for not being able to swim.

Now I can do all the basic strokes well enough to get myself to the edge of the pool if I'm out of my depth although I still stay where I can touch the bottom and don't let DD go deeper than *I* am comfortable with in case I need to get to her.

I still don't like the water, but I can at least accompany DP to the pool and lounge around in the water without feeling constantly threatened.

Everything you said could be me, I have gone to swimming lessons a few times to get it over with, I managed the same as you, but NEVER went in the deep end, scares the bejaysis outta me. I would always get the hang of it,then the Irish winter would kick in and the thoughts of getting wet n cold..nah....
I will do it though ,here, definitely.
I wonder can you go watch a class before enrolling, to see if both of us would be comfortable with it? Anyhoo, I'll take the good advice here first and get him used to some pool time :D

[Kristy&Alex]

can anyone suggest any good public swimming pools heated of course in the Robina/Mudgeeraba burleigh/miami area ??

Thanks :wave: