Here's the situation:
We signed up once this summer and she didn't want to go. It turned out to be a super rainy week and I cancelled. I figured it would be more difficult to get her motivated.

So, we just signed up again and she is saying "NO!! I don't want to go!!" This so unlike her. She loves the beach, but is scared of the big pool. She loves the baby pool and does ok if DH takes her in the big pool.

My DH thinks I shouldn't have signed her up again. Do I just cancel again and wait until she wants to or force her to go and hope she likes it?

My other option is to sign her up this Fall for a Saturday or evening lesson and have her Dad take her. A private school nearby offers once a week lessons that I think might be nice.

What are your thoughts?

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 02:49 pm:

It's hard to tell. Every child is different and you know her best. It might be a good idea to initially sign her up for Saturday lessons with Dad to get over the hump and then try again next summer. FWIW, Tyler has never wanted to sign up for anything, but I sign both kids up for swimming lessons every summer and they both enjoy it. LOL! I don't force them to sign up for sports if they don't want to, but I do think learning how to swim is important.

Do you think it would help Syd if she came swimming with Ty & B? They start swim lessons tomorrow morning. Not every day, but we often go to public swim in the afternoon. There is a nice wading pool, where B spends a lot of time, but she does venture into the big pool with me. Maybe that would help Syd get over her fear.

By Kate on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 02:57 pm:

Hmmm, if it were me I'd probably skip it as you really won't have that much swimming weather left after a month, anyway. I'd see how rigid the instructors plan to be and how much they will 'force' her to do things. Be sure you're comfortable with how they run things before you commit. Don't discount Sydney's feelings though...

I responded to you on the Trina/Airbag thread, too!

By Luvn29 on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 08:29 pm:

My son is turning seven on 7/30. Last year he had NO interest in learning to swim. He didn't feel secure with it yet. We didn't pressure him. We let him use water wings and he also played with us without them at times.

This summer, in June, when we went to the beach, he decided he wanted to learn to swim. So he did. LOL! He swims underwater all the way across a large pool, taking breaths when he needs to, swims above water, and swims backwards on his back. He's good enough that Thursday when we went to the pool, I sat on the edge of the five foot pool and let him swim towards the middle and back without me in the water. Of course, I had my swim suit on, and would have jumped right in if I needed to (I had been swimming, too), but it gave him great confidence, doing it on his own. My dd has been swimming since before she was five, but she was NEVER afraid of the water.

Neither of my children have had professional lessons. I have taught both of them when they were ready. I feel that is key. One summer a child may be cautious and afraid, the next summer they take off like a fish. I never felt prof. lessons were necessary.

I'd lay off this summer, and just let her have fun in the water however she is comfortable. No pressure. Who knows? Next year, she may dive right in, ready to swim. If you pressure her when she is totally not ready, she may have fear of the water for many more years...

By Reds9298 on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 09:22 pm:

Ditto Adena. I haven't been through this before, but if she's not ready I don't think it's a big deal. Just wait until next summer!

By Trina~moderator on Sunday, July 23, 2006 - 10:02 pm:

The instructors at our pool are very laid back. They don't force kids to do anything they're not comfortable with. Although initially nervous, both my kids have enjoyed swimming lessons. They especially like the social aspect of being with other kids. I took swimming lessons as a child and have fond memories. It's a summer tradition I want my kids to experience. That said, I have seen kids who are obviously not ready and it is disappointing to see parents pushing the issue. If it wasn't fun for my kids I wouldn't make them do it.

By Janet on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 12:00 pm:

Private lessons are wonderful, and that might be a good option for your dd. I'd wait until next year, too, then see about a private instructor. Both of my dds went that route, but we initially tried the group lessons with oldest dd and she got nothing out of it. With one on one, the instructor can help build a trusting relationship and work with your dd's individual personality. It really can make a big difference.

By Yjja123 on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 12:17 pm:

I do not know where you live. Here (Florida), I never gave my kids the option. They started swimming lessons very young and now swim like fish. I think knowing how to swim is very important. Particulary if you are in an area where there are many pools.

By Luvn29 on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 02:00 pm:

I just want to make my post clearer...when I said I never felt professional lessons were necessary, I meant with my children. Not that they are never necessary...

Also Trina, I have a question. Are your children both swimming now? If so, what do they do at the lessons each summer with them? I've never heard of taking kids to swimming lessons every summer. I thought you took them till they knew how to swim and that was it. But I have no experience with them, and so I was just curious...

By Andi on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 04:32 pm:

I think swimming is just too important and at her age she NEEDS to know how to swim. She may go to a friends house who has a pool and she needs to know what to do if she falls in.

Dylan has been in privates all summer and he swims like a fish now. Taylor is also in lessons. The first couple she cried but I just handed her to the teacher and walked away. She would cry for a little bit then stop. Now she loves it and has NO FEAR of the water. She is also in privates and we are going to keep her in them for a few more months.

I think you should have a talk with the teacher she would have, let her know that Syd is not excited about lessons and she may fight it at first and see what the teacher says. I think it's too important and worth a few tears until she is more comfortable in the water.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 05:56 pm:

Adena, my kids know the very basics but are not strong swimmers. There are six levels and my kids take one session of swim lessons each summer. They have had to repeat a few levels because they were unable to pass all the requirements. To me, it's not a black and white issue of nonswimmer vs. swimmer. There are different levels and strengths of swimmers. My siblings and I took swim lessons for several years during childhood. I went on to Jr. Life Saving. My brother became the captain of the swim team and later became a lifeguard. Although I certainly don't expect my kids to go that far, I would like them to become fairly strong swimmers. That's not something that happens within a short period of time. Also, I've tried to teach my kids how to swim but they wouldn't cooperate and claimed they already knew how. Umm, I don't think so. LOL! They are much more receptive when they take formal lessons.

Here is a very basic overview of the Red Cross Swim Lessons:

Parent & Child
Helps young children (6 months - 5 years) become comfortable in and around the water so they are ready to learn how to swim.

Level One
Introduction to Water Skills - for those little tykes who are just starting off in the water. Children are in the water without their parent or guardian.

Level Two
Fundamental Aquatic Skills - for those who can fully submerge face, blow bubbles, and do assisted floats.

Level Three
Stroke Development - for those who can fully submerge head, flutter kick on back and front with arm action, and float on own.

Level Four
Stroke Improvement - for those who have coordinated front and back crawls with rotary breathing, butterfly kick and butterfly body motion.

Level Five
Stroke Refinement - for those who have coordinated front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, and elementary back stroke.

Level Six
Personal water safety/ lifeguard readiness/ fitness swimmer - a combination of the activities that you can do in the water after you have become a proficient swimmer.

By Luvn29 on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 06:42 pm:

Thanks Trina, that makes sense!

And I completely understand about the unwillingness of some kids to have their parents teach them anything! LOL!

Glad they are doing well.

By Trina~moderator on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 06:42 pm:

More details here:

http://www.fargoparks.com/yprograms_swimming.html

By Trina~moderator on Monday, July 24, 2006 - 06:43 pm:

LOL, we were posting at the same time.

By Eve on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 08:23 am:

Just a quick update: We didn't go to her lessons. We went to the pool with her cousins and she had fun. She would't go in the big pool at all, so I just don't think she's ready. I'll try some private lessons this Fall.

Thanks for everyone advice. I don't think there is anything wrong with lessons at all. I did learn the Summer I was 5 by going to the pool every day. My sister and brother did as well. So, I understand where you are coming from, Luvn29. We never thought about lessons either. It sounds like they benefit those kids who take them though. Now, if I can just get my DD more comfortable.

By Luvn29 on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 - 10:28 am:

I completely think you are doing the right thing with Syd. The more she is in the water, the more comfortable she will be. And then the lessons will be fun for her, not a chore, and I'm sure she'll get more out of them.

Good luck!