Swim lessons advice please! Asap!(update)

[Janeway]

4 and 6 yr old are taking private swim lessons through this amazing person. There are no public swim lessons at an outdoor pool here. There is a public place that gives swim lessons for less cost, but they are truly low quality. We used them before and it was such a huge waste of money. We have used a variety of places and no one is as amazing as the person we use now.

 

She charges $135 per 4 day week for one child. I can say she is worth it. Her being worth it does not mean we can be non-frugal. But, we can pay it. Everyone loves her so much that she is booked up until the last 2 weeks of summer. As the lessons end, the public pool will be closing and public school will start the very following Monday. Because she was so booked, my children have each only gotten 4 lessons each. I know, I know..next year, I need to be quicker to register the moment registration opens. 

 

BUT..the question is..would you find lessons in the last week of summer to be worth it? Do you think children would retain what they learn until the next summer? Or do you think it would be a waste? To put them both in, it would be $270 for 2 days a week for the last two weeks, IF I register soon..before even those slots go. Or would you just wait until the next summer?

 

I could possibly get cheaper lessons if I drove further away to a different town. 

 

Edited to add: today at class, the 4 yr old swam on her own a few feet! I was so shocked! We have never really taken her swimming prior to this summer. We have barely gone this summer. This was her 4th lesson. I was really surprised to see that. I almost jumped to sign her up for another class, but I think it would be futile as the summer is ending right after those lessons. I will jump on it really fast next summer and get her in for Tuesday/Thursday lessons right off.

Edited July 21, 2016 by Janeway

[zoobie]

Will you have anywhere to practice on the off season? I would ask to be put on her first week next season if you won't be swimming again until then.

[magnificent_baby]

I wouldn't unless you were planning on swimming at an indoor pool in order to practice their skills and keep them fresh in their minds. If it were middle or just towards the end, my answer would be different. 

[Nart]

Are your kids going to be swimming in the fall or winter? Do you have a pool at home or is their a pool, lake, or other body of water close to where you live or where you visit? If not I would wait until next summer especially for the 4 year old. The group swim classes for kids 5 and under were a waste of time for my kids. I spent hundreds of dollars on private swim lessons for my oldest to keep him swimming from 2 to 6. Every time we stopped for a while he regressed. My second child didn't want lessons and just liked splashing in the pool. I put him in a couple of preschool lessons just to make sure he wasn't afraid of the water. When he was 6 I enrolled him in group swim lessons for kids 6 to 12. The group lessons for older kids were so much better than the preschool ones. He quickly learned to swim a lap.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Nart

[SKL]

Unless we were planning to swim during the school year, I would wait until next year to do lessons.

 

I would also consider whether it might make sense to do multiple sessions of the "not so great" lessons next summer, with lots of practice in between.  From what I've seen and read, a few lessons rarely cut it regardless of how great they are.

 

Personally I had my kids in lessons off and on year-round.  (Indoor pool.)  It was not expensive and I felt it was worth it on several levels.

[luuknam]

If they're not going to be practicing for 9 months, then I think it'd be a waste of your money, especially if they can't swim the width of the pool without help yet (I'm assuming that to be the case).

 

I'd really try to take them to an indoor pool once a month (or more) though (especially the 6yo). In which case doing the lessons might be worth it. But, I don't know if you have an indoor pool within a reasonable distance from you (I wouldn't drive an hour or more for that).

 

ETA: I've had my kids in lessons year round for the past couple of years (group or private, depending on kid and swimming ability etc). This is the first summer they're not in lessons, and I'm considering doing a private lesson or two in the nearby future just to work on skills a bit (especially since I hurt my neck at the beginning of the summer and my doctor told me to not swim or w/e - doing better now, and probably could take them now, but I want to be careful... I have a habit of thinking things are better and then making them worse again by doing stuff too soon). Though, come to think of it, they did both swim at summer camp, so they've swam more recently than I remember them swimming. :)

Edited July 20, 2016 by luuknam

[luuknam]

Oh, and one more thing - the group lessons at out local YMCA sucked for a while, but it depended on who the instructor was too, so if you asked around you could figure out which instructor was better, and then ask the instructor which time slots she'd be teaching the next session. And then they got a new aquatics director (after not having had one for a while), which brought the program back in shape.

[SparklyUnicorn]

If they're not going to be practicing for 9 months, then I think it'd be a waste of your money, especially if they can't swim the width of the pool without help yet (I'm assuming that to be the case).

 

I'd really try to take them to an indoor pool once a month (or more) though (especially the 6yo). In which case doing the lessons might be worth it. But, I don't know if you have an indoor pool within a reasonable distance from you (I wouldn't drive an hour or more for that).

 

ETA: I've had my kids in lessons year round for the past couple of years (group or private, depending on kid and swimming ability etc). This is the first summer they're not in lessons, and I'm considering doing a private lesson or two in the nearby future just to work on skills a bit (especially since I hurt my neck at the beginning of the summer and my doctor told me to not swim or w/e - doing better now, and probably could take them now, but I want to be careful... I have a habit of thinking things are better and then making them worse again by doing stuff too soon). Though, come to think of it, they did both swim at summer camp, so they've swam more recently than I remember them swimming. :)

 

I totally agree and this has been the challenge for us.  Lack of opportunity.  In CT we lived near a good Y with a pool and went often.  Once we moved the only reasonably close pool is outdoors and open for 6 weeks a year.  So it does not really surprise me that they haven't learned. 

 

The high school has a pool, but the hours are incredibly limited.  During the school year they are open one night per week, but sometimes less if the swim team needs it.  The local Y has no pool!

[MEmama]

I totally agree and this has been the challenge for us. Lack of opportunity. In CT we lived near a good Y with a pool and went often. Once we moved the only reasonably close pool is outdoors and open for 6 weeks a year. So it does not really surprise me that they haven't learned.

 

The high school has a pool, but the hours are incredibly limited. During the school year they are open one night per week, but sometimes less if the swim team needs it. The local Y has no pool!

Our pool is limited too (lessons only in July, never public swim), and ponds and ocean swimming are naturally limited by the short summers (usually 6-8 weeks of warm enough water). I know several people who have used hotel pools--they only charge something like $5. Weird, but if someone is desperate for pool time, I guess it works!

 

OP, at your kids ages and at the cost (gasp!), I wouldn't bother. I'm not sure a handful of instruction hours would ever really be worth it, though. Like other skills, swimming takes lots and lots of practice time to become proficient. Of course, if they are getting that time it's another matter. But if they won't swim again for another year, I don't think it would be worth it.

[vonfirmath]

 

Personally I had my kids in lessons off and on year-round.  (Indoor pool.)  It was not expensive and I felt it was worth it on several levels.

 

This is what I am planning for my 5 year old this year. I NEED her to be able to swim competently by next summer so I'm comfortable sending her to summer daycare camps.  So I hope it works out as well even at age 5!  She loves the water. That is not going to be an issue.

[Arcadia]

It would be a waste to start now unless you have somewhere to practice swimming until next summer. My kids did a crash course beginners because hubby was going to teach but didn't find time. We have a pool at our condo complex so kids could swim when hubby and I are there, no lifeguards.

[luuknam]

This is what I am planning for my 5 year old this year. I NEED her to be able to swim competently by next summer so I'm comfortable sending her to summer daycare camps.  So I hope it works out as well even at age 5!  She loves the water. That is not going to be an issue.

 

Depends on the kid and the instructor. Doing swim lessons twice a week (preferably with a gap, for example, Monday and Thursday) will increase the odds your kid will swim competently after one year.

 

Here's a link with Dutch (you know, the country that's half under sea level and has canals and other water to drown in everywhere) swimming diploma requirements (in English):

 

http://www.allesoverzwemles.nl/files/Eisen%20Zwem-ABC%20in%20Engels%20versie%20juni%202015.pdf

 

They say that it takes about 42 hours of instruction to get diploma A, and an additional 12 for B, and an additional 12 for C (results vary per kid etc, of course, and they are assuming kids to be at least 5yo, probably 6+yo). Most swim lessons I've seen in the US are 30 min per lesson, so you'd need at least 2 lessons per week to add up to 42 hours in one year.

 

Btw, the link says 'dressed' for some parts of the exams, but doesn't define 'dressed', so I took that from another part of the site and translated:

 

Clothing Requirements Swimming Diploma A Exam

 

     Swimwear.

     T-shirt, shirt or blouse with short sleeves, shorts (ie pants with legs, pants that fit tightly are not allowed). It is permitted for your child to wear a dress or skirt / blouse

instead of a trouser / blouse. The dress / skirts must reach the knee.

     Shoes (plastic, leather and sports shoes are allowed; shoes have to have hard soles).

 

Clothing Requirements Swimming Diploma B Exam

 

     Swimwear.

     T-shirt, blouse or shirt with long sleeves.

     Long pants (trousers that fit tightly on the skin are not allowed). It is permitted for your child to wear a long-sleeved dress or skirt / blouse with long sleeves instead of a trouser / blouse. The dress / skirts must reach below the knee.

     Shoes (plastic, leather and sports shoes are allowed; shoes have to have hard soles).

 

Clothing Requirements Swimming Diploma C Exam

 

     Same as B but with the addition of:

     Rain / wind jacket (a jacket with long sleeves, which is often made of a type of nylon).

[vonfirmath]

Thank you Luuk. Yes, we are intending on 2 days a week lesson. Everything I am reading here recommends that as well.

[SKL]

This is what I am planning for my 5 year old this year. I NEED her to be able to swim competently by next summer so I'm comfortable sending her to summer daycare camps.  So I hope it works out as well even at age 5!  She loves the water. That is not going to be an issue.

 

My kids did Saturday lessons (one 45-minute lesson per week) in 6-8 week sessions beginning at age 3.5.  It didn't take long at all before they could swim to the side; they were able to swim in the ocean / "deep water" (over their heads) before my youngest turned 5.  So given that your daughter loves the water, it's a pretty good likelihood that she'll be able to swim by next summer.

[Arcadia]

. Yes, we are intending on 2 days a week lesson. Everything I am reading here recommends that as well.

The UK exams are similar to the Dutch ones Luuk posted. Swimming pools are easier than open waters but it does help. Summer camp would usually have a safety boat following if things like canoeing, kayaking is included.

 

"Swim 200 metres wearing T-shirt, long sleeved jumper or sweat shirt and long trousers or tracksuit bottoms, tread water for 2 minutes waving one arm to attract attention and 2 minutes normally, collect a buoyant aid show the HELP position for 1 minute and the Huddle for 2 minutes then swim 200 metres with the aid and climb out unassisted.

Perform a feet first surface dive and swim 5 metres underwater wearing T-shirt, long sleeved jumper or sweatshirt and long trousers or tracksuit bottoms.

Perform a head first surface dive and swim 5 metres underwater wearing T-shirt, long sleeved jumper or sweatshirt and long trousers or tracksuit bottoms.

Remove the long sleeved jumper or sweat shirt and the long trousers or tracksuit bottoms while in deep water.

Swim 25 metres lifesaving backstroke.

Swim 25 metres sidestroke leading with the right arm and 25 metres sidestroke leading with the left arm.

Simulate a weak swimmer becoming tired and then unresponsive.

Rescue a co-operative weak swimmer, 10 metres away, using a buoyant aid. Keeping a safe distance pass the aid and accompany them back 10 metres to safety, assist them out onto the poolside.

Rescue a tired swimmer becoming unresponsive, 15 metres away, using a buoyant aid. Push the aid towards them and instructing them to grasp it, tow them back 15 metres to safety, assist them out onto the poolside.

Explain 3 methods you could use to help if you discovered somebody in difficulty in the water."

[Katy]

I think most kids aren't going to forget the basic water safety you learn in the first week of classes- stuff like how to float. 

 

I think, for that reason, how to float is an important safety lesson.

 

If it's a matter of stroke improvement, frankly I don't see the point.

[bettyandbob]

If you are going to at least take them to the indoor pool to practice and play regularly fall/winter/spring then do a few lessons.

 

If you only do lessons and swimming in summer, then start lessons in May and stay in lessons into August for a few summers.

[FriedClams]

I am pro ANY swimming for kids. The more comfortable they are the better. I used to work I water rescue so I think ANY time kids can get more practice, especially with a good teacher, I'm ALL for it.

[wintermom]

I'd say that the ages 4 and 6 are prime learn-to-swim ages, and anything you can do to keep swimming all-year would be worth it for a life-time. Frequency in the water is key, so even if you can't bring them to lessons, bring them in the water yourself and play all kinds of games with them (tag, limbo under a noodle, races, floats of different shapes, etc.). Do some looking on-line for games. If they can already float, glide and kick (on their front and back) and blow bubbles underwater, then just do this all winter, and they'll be ready for more arm action (for front and back crawl) next summer.

Edited July 20, 2016 by wintermom