When to Stop Swimming Lessons

[Elfin]

Just wondering at what age/stage should you stop with swimming lessons. My son swims quite well, not brilliant but competent IYKWIM. He is swimming at Level 3 it goes up to Level 4 I think. By the way he is 8.

The lessons pretty much consist of swimming laps up and down the pool and he can do all the different strokes. Some better than others.

I am kind of wondering if he is getting much from this or should we skip lessons and do swimming club instead in summer:confused:

Interested in what you think as the lessons are costing a small fortune.:rolleyes:

[korahblue]

My son is 7 and has been going to swimming lessons for about a year and a half. He is just mastering freestyle and backstroke with breathing and no board. I think we will be keeping him in lessons for a few more years until he knows all the strokes. Our swimming school has its own club/competition swimming so we can move onto that if he wants to.

Maybe speak to your son about it and see what he wants to do and ask his swimming teacher if you think he is ready for the change.

I know what you mean about the cost, we pay $14/lesson. Its been worth it though because the first time we went he wouldnt touch the bottom of the pool or let go of the teacher and now he asks to do a double lesson because he loves it so much

[TwoBoysOnly]

I stopped as soon as I felt that DS1 was a competent swimmer (ie he could save himself if one day we were on a boat and he fell overboard or something like that). DS2 hates the water so I will try again this summer. I figure if they like swimming they can always take it up as swimming club later on we just can't afford for them to do lots of sports - time and money wise iykwim

[Rhoxie]

My little boy has just turned 9 and has been doing swimming lessons for 7 years now and I'm wondering the same thing. lol I've got all three in swimming lessons so it's costing me a pretty penny.

I'm going to wait until the end of this year and see where he is at. Currently he can swim but it's a bit dodgy and if I watch carefully he's still rather unco and he definately can't swim the length of the 25m pool without stopping.

I'm sort of hoping he'll fill out a bit and get a bit stronger over the next 6 months so next year we can just do the vacation swimming lessons and the school ones (ie much cheaper lol).

I don't think he's yet confident or strong enough to swim out of his depth in the ocean or in unexpected circumstances which is one of my main concerns.

[Elfin]

Thank you to each and one of you for replying:)

My ds had a swimming lesson today and really i think if he got into trouble at the beach or fell out of boat, I doubt if he could save himself. Just not a strong enough of a swimmer. I really think what you said about that kind of situation is an important yardstick.

So I guess we will keep going for awhile yet!

[gremily]

My dad was a swimming instructor for years, doing the whole lifesaving part of it etc, at the pool. I'm not sure if it's the same everywhere in Australia, but in SA there are levels going up to Level 7 and then you go through bronze, silver and gold. The last 3 include alot of survival skills, etc and not just swimming laps, treading water, etc.

I remember having to tread water for something like 10 minutes with clothes/shoes on!!


I think swimming lessons are vital and I personally wouldn't stop if there was an option to learn more skills.

[gremily]

http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/

HTH:)

I think I was kind of wrong with the levels bronze, silver, gold though, in my above post, as on the site it only goes up to bronze. It's been a loooong time since I did it all!!

[Elfin]

Thanks Gremily great link:) That is an interesting point, are the levels all the same across Australia? Anyone know?