Natalie just turned 4 and is taking her first swimming lessons, a group of 5 private lessons. She has always been like a little fish, very UN afraid of the water. She's been going under, jumping in, and practicing dog paddling for a year, just with us on her own. She definitely didn't need the lessons to get acclimated/comfortable in the water.

She has 2 classes left, and I'm feeling like if I was told what to teach when, we could have done this ourselves. She is working on floating on her back and belly, blowing bubbles under water while she swims, and 'swimming' a very short distance from the side of the pool to the instructor. Although she knows what her body should be doing to float, on her back especially, I still don't think she can do that independently. She is so into learning how to swim - she wants to practice all the time when we're at the pool.

Before the classes started, I asked if she would be able to swim by the end and they told me it all depends on her, but that she would gain swimming skills nonetheless. I never had swim lessons myself and had no clue what to expect them to teach her. I didn't expect her to be able to swim independently really, I just didn't know what to expect.

What did your kids learn at/around this age during swim lessons? How quickly were they able to swim independently? We're sort-of feeling like it was a waste of $ in some ways, just because we could have done this ourselves. She absolutely loves it though - she's giddy about swim lessons.

By Texannie on Monday, June 30, 2008 - 10:39 pm:

What is she not doing that you want her to? When you asked if she would be able to swim at the end of her lessons, what were your expectations? that she would be able to swim across the pool? to a certain shorter point?
learning to float isn't as easy as one thinks, and it is up to the child and their ability to do it.
the great thing is she is excited and wants to practice. the more she practices the right skills and form the better she will get.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 09:32 am:

Well, I can't really help much because I didn't get either of my children swimming lessons. They both loved the water, so I taught them to swim myself. As for floating, I have always been able to swim, but could never float till I was almost an adult! I couldn't relax enough to do it. I would tense up and sink every time! LOL!

By Debbie on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 10:06 am:

In my opinion, it takes a lot more then 5 lessons for a child to really learn to swim. When we were in Texas, we had a great swim school that both my dks went to. They had very small class sizes, 3-4 kids, and the instructors were great. My oldest ds went once a week for about a year when he was 5, and he is an excellant swimmer. He knows several different swim strokes, and does them all very well. My youngest started at age 3, but we moved a few months later, and he has never gone to lessons since. He can swim, is independant, but is not as good with his form/stroking. It took a lot more then 5 lessons for them to get there. Was it stuff I could teach myself, probably. But, they loved going, they loved being with the other kids, and it was a nice break for me to be able to sit back, relax, and watch them. I also thought it was good for them to learn to follow directions, etc.

So, I guess you need to decide if it is worth it or not. If she loves it, then it might be. If you are not satisfied, and feel it is a waste of money, then maybe not.

By Vicki on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 10:08 am:

It sounds to me like they are giving her the basics. Getting the kids comfortable with the water and teaching the basic survival skills of floating in case she would ever fall into water and need to save herself. I would say that is pretty much the average of what is taught around here too in group lessons. If you want more of "swimming" lessons, I would look for a private one on one teacher. A lot of times, the high school kids that lifeguard at the public pools will also teach one on one lessons. That might be more of what you are looking for. Anytime you have a group, it isn't too personalized as to what they are taught.

By Vicki on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 10:12 am:

I might have read that wrong, I read it as a group of 5 kids.... If it is just 5 totally private lessons, I would talk to the instructor and let them know that you believe she has the basics and would like her be taught a few more advanced things.

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 04:31 pm:

When mine were four, they took lessons at the YMCA. If I remember correctly, they just learned to kick, to blow bubbles, and just got acclimated to the water.

I'm not sure what you expect them to teacher, she's only 4. They will probably not be teaching her the American Crawl and stuff like that till she is older.

I think that as long as she loves it and is learning the basics, then it's not a waste of money at all.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 09:04 pm:

Texannie - Not sure how to take your post because it seems like attitude when I'm asking a question simply because I'm completely ignorant about to expect. My original post states that I didn't know what to expect, which is why I was asking in the first place.

To others who responded: Thank you! I didn't have any expectations coming in because I didn't have a clue what the end result would be. I don't think I expected her to swim, I think I was just expecting that they would do something more than I could do maybe.

I agree with you all that as long as she is excited about it and enjoying the practice, it's great regardless. I was just wondering what others experiences were at this age level so I would know if these lessons were on point or not. Sounds like they are, so thank you! She *has* been working on kicking, blowing bubbles, floating, jumping in, and dog paddling. Now that I read all of that it seems like it's just right, but I knew that you all would have experiences to share. Thanks!

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 09:58 pm:

Here are the objectives to the 6 levels of the American Red Cross Learn to Swim program

http://www.redcross.org/SERVICES/HSS/aquatics/lts.html

My kids have been taking group swim lessons every summer since they were 3 or 4. They only take one level class each summer, and sometimes it takes them 2 summers to complete one level. Last summer DD caught up with DS, and they will both be in Level 4 together this year. I don't expect too much, but they do improve each year and it's also a social event for them because they often have friends from school in their class. It's a summer tradition for us.

By Texannie on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 10:20 pm:

i think i should just quit posting here, all my posts seem to be taken completely different than i intended.
i *thought* by asking questions it would help you figure out what you were hoping for.
guess i was wrong.

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - 10:25 pm:

Thanks for the link Trina - I'm going to check it out!

Texannie- Don't quit posting here by any means. I just read it as if it was a badgering of questions like 'you should've known- how could you expect anything more' attitude. I apparently misread your post. I feel like if you had even added, "Maybe you should ask yourself a few questions to see what your expectations might have been, such...." it would have come off in a more friendly 'tone'.

By Texannie on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 09:31 am:

it just feels like i am constantly defending myself. i seem to always be perceived with a negative tone or phrasing and not given the benefit of the doubt.

By Kaye on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 10:30 am:

Annie...i think us texans talk a bit differently. I absolutely got what you were saying. I didn't take your post with attitude, just how you intended. I know sometimes I come off negatively also. It is never my intention, I am just pretty direct and have questions I need answers to before I can give more answers

By Tarable on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 12:53 pm:

Annie.. I have to agree with Kaye.. I totally got what you were saying.. I am told I speak negatively sometimes also. Don't feel bad.

By Dramamamma on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 02:07 pm:

another Texan to back you up! lol....I think it's HOW we word things that can be taken differently.

By Trina~moderator on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 02:33 pm:

I'm not a Texan, and I took Texannie's post as she intended. That said, sometimes it's difficult to convey feelings via text. Different people will read the same thing and interpret it differently. Also if someone is very close to an issue he/she is sensitive and naturally defensive. I know I've felt that way at times. I've also found that if I'm in a bad mood I'll take things the wrong way. LOL! I've learned not to react quickly but to take a break and come back later to read again. Bottom line, don't take things too personally, and FWIW, MV is very tame and friendly compared to some message boards.

By Annie2 on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 02:38 pm:

I don't think this should be turned into a debate but the way a person reads the written words can change the undertones of the response/questions.
Texannie's post was a great one.
Deanna you should have had a plan with the instructor on what you wanted him/her to accomplish by the end of the session. Now that your dd is almost done with her lessons you could ask the instructor for further lessons to work on strokes, etc. You seem that she is capable of more than trying to float and that she is already used to going under water.
Be direct with the instructor.
All of my kids could hold their breath under water and crawl, doggy paddle or frog stroke (breast stroke) to the edge of the pool by age four. This was always a concern of mine since we live very close to the beach and swim almost everyday.
Two of my kids can not float either but all of them can tread water.

By Reds9298 on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 04:53 pm:

Quite frankly, I'm not happy or unhappy with the lessons. I simply wanted to know what lessons were typically like at this age to compare hers. It sounds as if they were right on. I just wanted experiences, not what I should or should not be doing. It was a simple question with a simple answer. Some of you answered it, so thank you. I feel better now with what the lessons should "look like".

I'm very direct with everyone I speak to, especially people who are instructing my child. I was told that there were no definites at the end of the lessons, it was dependent on the child. I was expecting something more groundbreaking I suppose, which just simply isn't the case, so lesson learned.

How nice it is to put ourselves in categories because of where we live, in order to explain our negativity. If you're negative, you're negative, regardless of where you live.

The question originally was 'what did your kids learn in swim lessons at 4?' That's quite simply all I wanted to know. Thanks to those that answered it.

By Jackie on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 05:03 pm:

I am glad this post is here. My two girls are starting swim lessons in a couple of weeks. Faith has never had lessons, she will be 4 in August. I am wondering about my other daughter will be 9 soon. She can swim, somewhat. I just hope these lessons push her to do better and not just for total beginners. They will be in two dift classes based on age. I told my concerns to one of the employees there. He said to let my almost 9 yr old come to the first class, and see what the instructor states, they could move her up to the swimming clinic which is more drills for the more advanced swimmer.

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 05:51 pm:

Deanna--I know how you feel exactly. When dd was 4, she was taking a course 1 day a week for 5 weeks. She was already comfortable in the water, we have a pool, but I was concerned about her safety. After the first 3 weeks, I felt like I was wasting my money. So I talked with her instructor, a nice young man about 20. I told him that we had a pool and I wanted to improve her safety around the pool--be able to float and protect herself if she got into water over her head so she wouldn't panic. So the last 2 classes he focused on that with her. That was a small class with 4 total kids in it (1 very outgoing like dd and 2 that were scared to death of the water). The next summer I enrolled her in a private class with a young lady in her early 20's. She focused on doing the superman underwater, floating on her back and stomach and doing a basic backstroke.

So maybe if you have some idea what you want her to be able to do, ask the instructor to make a point of that.

By Kaye on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 05:57 pm:

"How nice it is to put ourselves in categories because of where we live, in order to explain our negativity. If you're negative, you're negative, regardless of where you live. "

Well I guess I don't consider myself negative, although like annie, on this board it seems that is how I am "heard". I guess for me it is the same local dialect. I notice it in type.

As for your question, I didn't answer because it has been so long. I was going to post the red cross guidelines that were posted. Of my 3 kids, the middle was comfy in the water, he was swimming across the pool by his 3rd lesson at age 4. My oldest loved to play in the water, swim lessons were useless and she never seemed to progress. She finally decided that she would swim and she did, at about age 6. My youngest was scared and didn't do the water. He didn't like it in his face or ears. But in kinder he wanted to join the swim team and he did, and he swam. So there is no right and wrong. But I found that lessons did us more good after they could swim across the pool, doggy paddle style, and they worked on form instead of comfort.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - 11:43 pm:

Wow, what in the world is going on? There are at least two threads that I have read tonight that have resulted in at least one person melting down?

I know my input possibly, just might, get on someones bad side, but come on ladies.. Please, can't we all just get a long?

Bantering isn't going to solve anything, and no one needs to go anywhere. Apparently, we are having some life, stress, issues playing out on the board, it is all good, but it really is not serving a purpose.

Here have a good laugh and lets get on to some constructive threads..


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I think a couple of those could apply to this board at this moment... LOL

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 02:23 pm:

Hey Deanna,
Didn't completely read all the above, but Connor's class seemed the same way. Although, he wouldn't even get in the water...we watched for 2 weeks and I asked for my money back. However, I think taking instruction from someone other than me is great. I just wish he would do it! That aside, it's pretty familiar with what his class did and I felt the same way as you! We'll probably get back into lessons when he is ready and I feel that he could actually learn technique.

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 10:08 pm:

Sorry, it should have read "similar".

By Pamt on Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 11:28 pm:

Sounds pretty typical for swimming lessons at that age. Personally, I would recommend group lessons versus individual because Natalie seems to be very social and they tend to play more games and things in the small groups. At this age, it's all about feeling comfortable and water.