Do you take your kids to swimming lessons?

[cja]

DS went to his first 2 week block of daily swimming lessons last January. He had just turned 2. I choose a swim school that doesn't have parents in the water once kids turn 2. I did this for 2 reasons, because I have a younger DD to look after and because I really wanted it to be about DS learning to swim and be safe in the water.

I used to teach swimming and the lessons we used to do for under 2s with parents in the water were all about water familiarisation and fun in the water....we sang lots of songs....sprinkled water etc... I did all this stuff with both my kids myself when they were babies...perhaps I would have gone to lessons if some were available at a pool near me....but really you can do all this stuff yourself for kids under 2.

Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 DS screamed almost the whole time, but we persisted and we had a great instructor and by the fourth day he was fine. At the end of the 2 wks he was kicking, blowing bubbles, responding to the commands 'reach for the side' and 'pull yourself up', I was really happy with it all. Recently did another 2 week block in the April school holidays, it was at our local country pool though....and unfortunately the lessons were not nearly the same standard as the city swim school we went to....but I was happy for DS just to practice all his skills again.

Good Luck

[gymmummy]

i took DS when he was 8months- more for me to get out and do an activity with him as well- only did a term didnt really get much from it.

we took him again start of this year and its his 2nd term in- his now 2.5- there has been an improvement in his swimming and his in the baby pool without us so his leanring about floating as well and getting better.

i'd say great for as above for geting them used to the water- at the start of both terms there was some children crying and carrying on at the age of 8+ as they feared getting in and we didnt want that for our boy. problem is he has no fear and loves jumping in the deep end- the other girls in his class take a while to jump while he cant wait lol

[Chunkydunks]

We can't afford to take him to swimming lessons. They're offered free (as an elective) in the school here. If he doesn't end up going to school here I'll look into teaching him myself.

[pixiemum2]

We started DS at 2.5. He hates it. We have been going for half a year now and there hasn't been much of an improvement. He whinges, cries etc etc. He has a morbid fear of going under and clings to me like a monkey. Some days he isn't too bad and relaxes enough to enjoy himself a little. Because we started him so late he is the eldest/biggest in his class and it doesn't look like he will be graduating any time soon.
DD we have just started in the same class at 16 months. So far she loves it .

[A Party of Five]

I take all five kidlets in summer time as this is the only time of the year that our swimming poll offer them