I need some advice please

[Dannielle]

I was wondering if someone could give me some advice. My DD1 is 7 and has been going to swimming lessons every week since she was 3 and a half. Plus also some intensive lessons during the holidays. It has been a long struggle as she was very scared of the water. She has been going quite well this year but is still a bit scared of the deep water. But she will do what her teacher asks her to do without any problems.

My problem is that she has started going to lessons with her school this week. The first day she was assessed and put in a class and then yesterday they changed her to the lowest class. I didn't have a problem with that as I felt that as long as she was enjoying herself then it might improve her confidence a bit. But today I found out she had to wear floaties and a backfloat!! I have a real problem with that as it took her over 2 years to get rid of them. She has really progressed during the last week and I feel that putting her in floaties and a backfloat will undo all the progress that has been made.

I want to go to the school in the morning to talk to them about it. I want to tell them that I want her in a class without a backfloat and floaties. I just don't know what to do if they refuse. Should I pull her out of the lessons? They have tomorrow plus every day next week left.

Any advice will be very much appreciated.

[Rhys'Mum]

I think you should go with your instinct and talk to them. Depending on how they react and what their point of view is you can then decide how you'll respond. good luck.

[Mojogal]

I guess they wouldn't have made her use them if they didn't think she needed them? It would be a fairly major safety issue for the school i would think. But if you're sure she's fine without them and feel this may be having an adverse effect on her confidence or skill in the water, then I would definitely see the school about it and if they don't agree to let her swim without the floaties etc, it won't hurt her to miss the school lessons, as she's already having her own.

Is she happy to keep going though? As long as she's getting plenty of practise without them, maybe it won't make much difference?

[ETsMum]

Dont' pull her out of lessons. I would talk to the teacher first. I'm sure they would be happy for you to talk to them rather than just take her out. Maybe your daughter has told them that she can't swim or maybe she is refusing to swim at school.

Can you go to the lesson too?

[Elfin]

Floaties :eek: for a 7 yo:eek: I really wonder how that is going to make those kids feel because floaties are for infants.

I would definitely be speaking to the teacher to see what is going on, your first priority is how your daughter feels about this . I would also speak to her swim school to see how they feel about her wearing floaties at school and whether they think it is necessary. I understand swim schools don't encourage the use of floaties as it give a child a false sense of security.

Surely the school could accommodate the poorer swimmers by sticking in the shallow end of the pool. I would be really concerned about the use of floaties and would have no hesitation pulling her out if your are not happy with the response.

[Dannielle]

Thanks,

It's mainly the fact that it took her over 2 years of lessons to swim without them. I don't want to undo all the progress she has made this year. She has really done so well.

She said she felt really silly.

I can understand there was safety issues because they were in deep water but yesterday she was in the shallow end. The other thing is her twin sisters just started lessons this term and they don't have floaties, just the backfloats and they are 3 years old in a few weeks.

I'm definately going to the school in the morning. I just hope they change her class.

[jessgray]

i would talk to them. i had the same problem when i was the same age. i was scared of deep water and the school swimming teacher refused to let me go up to the next swimming group :mad:

do all schools use floaties now? i was only given a kick board when i did school lessons :laughing:

[Dannielle]

Thankyou for the advice. I just didn't know if I was over-reacting.

I spoke to a teacher at school this morning and told her about her past swimming struggles and my wish to have her swimming without the floaties and backfloat. Apparently they all had to wear them because they were in deep water. She said she would speak to the swim teacher and if they had to be in the deep water again then she would put her in a different class. She swam in the shallow water today.:) As long as they don't put the floaties etc on her it doesn't bother me if she doesn't actually learn anything much. She had fun, thats all that matters.:smiliedance:

She is actually in a higher class for her usual swimming lessons and it's in deep water but this one is through the education department. But that also might be because she has absolute confidence in her swim teacher. The swim school I take all my girls to is really good and her teacher has really done wonders for her confidence in the water. They only use backfloats, kickboards and noodles there. I haven't seen any older children wearing the backfloats though.

[sksty]

sorry to but in on this thread and i don't know if i'm in the right spot but i was wondering if anyone could help me my daughter has just turn 1 and i'm starting her on cow's milk but i don't know when i can stop sterilizing her bottles can you help me.

[sksty]

thanks sorry i went under general advice