[cb2]

I have a 2 yr old
Just wondering what your thoughts are on attending swimming lessons/water familarisation classes?

For those who have done/do it do you find it worthwhile? Or for those that have done so in the past do you think it is a waste of time and money?

Would you rather suggest just take them to a pool for a play?
Or do you think the regular weekly commitment is good to get them used to water, build confidence etc so when they turn 3 they can have lessons and go in the pool without parent participation??

I don't really know what is best and would like some feedback from both sides.

Also can anyone recommend good pools on the eastern suburbs of Victoria??

Thanks in advance

[WinterDancesHere]

I did it with DS when he was 2 and he enjoyed it, but he didn't learn anything useful from it.

I took him out over winter and haven't gone back this summer. We will probably do some more intensive lessons next year.

[Alpha_Chook]

I have been taking Eamon to swimming lessons for about 9 months now....he has always been in the water without me and it is a small group of 4....all 2-3 year olds. iI'm not sure it would really help if he were to fall into the water but I figured that living close to 5 beaches and a lake it was better for him to learn...they do say that kids who learn to swim early end up being better swimmers than their peers etc. later on. Most swimming classes now discourage the use of floaties as it gives the kids a false sense of security and also changes the way they hold their bodies in the water....the only aide Eamon has in his classes is a kick board

[crazyone2989]

I have been a swimming instructor for over 6 years and I am often the first person to say that baby classes for babies 6 months till about 18months - 2 years are more about getting used to the water, and are not necessary if the parent feels comfortable to take the child (and have some idea of what kind of activities can be helpful) and will actually commit to taking them regularly.

Once they get to about 2 - 2.5 baby lessons become a lot more useful in teaching them the basics of moving through the water, breath control and even floating. I also find that for a lot of children it is a good way to get used to a class type environment with Mum or Dad present. With that said it is not unusual for kids to go a bit backwards once they turn 3 and are on their own but these kids probably would have struggled going straight into a class without Mum or Dad anyway.

At this age it is good to get them in and a get a good start on the basics or just simply getting used to being in a class environment and playing around in the pool.

[Manicmum]

My just 3yo can swim about 10m across the pool.

[crazyone2989]

I did it with DS when he was 2 and he enjoyed it, but he didn't learn anything useful from it.

I took him out over winter and haven't gone back this summer. We will probably do some more intensive lessons next year.

I am curious as to what you were hoping he would learn? Perhaps the classes were not focused enough.

A lot of swim schools have terrible baby and parent classes as the instructors are not qualified to teach this age group

I did it with DS when he was 2 and he enjoyed it, but he didn't learn anything useful from it.

I took him out over winter and haven't gone back this summer. We will probably do some more intensive lessons next year.

I am curious as to what you were hoping he would learn? Perhaps the classes were not focused enough.

A lot of swim schools have terrible baby and parent classes as the instructors are not qualified to teach this age group

[Escapin]

My 20mo DD has been doing lessons for a few months. It's all just clicked for her and she's got the hands and legs going like crazy. She'd still sink like a stone if I let go, but she's getting the hang of forward propulsion through the water. Plus I think it's quite good to teach skills like listening to the teacher, following instruction etc.

It does depend on the teacher tho. We had a lovely girl to start with but didn't learn much. Then she was replaced for 3 weeks by another girl who wasn't so nice, but she was a much better teacher and was instructing both the parents and kids. If you get someone like her, then I think it's really worthwhile. Not surprisingly, it's been since we had teacher number 2 that DD has suddenly got it together.

[whale-woman]

I don't think baby classes are worthwhile, but have found them useful for my 2-3 yo. She's much more confident in the water, is happy to put her head under, to jump into the water, can kick and she LOVES floating which she's pretty good at. She's starting to get the hang of paddling and kicking. If she's got floaties, a noodle or the like she'll happily motor around the pool with it independently. I reckon she'll be in a pretty good position to move onto proper swimming in her 3yo class next year.

She's learnt stuff she wouldn't have just with me swimming with her so for me it's been worth the time/$.

This post has been edited by whale-woman: 16/12/2012, 05:50 PM

[HollyOllyOxenfre...]

I think it really depends on what you want to get out of it.

DS just finished his first term of lessons, so he was around 11 months when we started. He has had a vast improvement in how comfortable he is in the water, both at the pools and in the bath at home. He'll happily have water on his head where he hated it before, is starting to blow bubbles in the water, and can do a little frog kick to move himself through the water. He can also start to pull himself out of the water when he reaches the wall.

I don't believe for a second that if he fell into some water that any of this would help him at the moment, so supervision is still an absolute must for us. But given that my FIL has a pool he's going to be around it, and for us we prefer he's used to being in the water early. I figure now that he's comfortable in there with me, it will be easier down the track when he's old enough to follow instruction a bit better and learn some skills.

For us it's worth the money. It costs me about twice as much for the lessons as it would cost just for pool entry for DS and I. Having already handed over the money makes me far more likely to go out and do it each week, and having someone there to talk to and ask how he's going and what we can work on has been great. I'm not super confident in the water, so I wanted that guidance from someone who is trained. We'll be doing one more term at this stage, then re-evaluate in winter and probably wait until he's a bit older.

[jobo77]

We did some baby lessons with DD when she was a bub and then put her in again when she was about 2.5 to get her used to it before having to start lessons without mum or dad in the water. She has improved unbelievably this year once she began lessons without us in with her so for us it was worth it and we will continue. DD will be 4 in April.
DS will be 2 in March and we have had him in lessons now for the last 2 terms - he can now kick his legs and can climb out of the pool by himself but other than that I am on the fence as to whether we are wasting money at this age. I mainly do it because we have his class at the same time as DD and our health fund pays 1 term a year