I believe that swimming is a hugely important skill; a life skill; and swimming lessons have always been a priority for the kids.
The boys both started taking lessons when they were at nursery school in the UK, as soon as they turned three. We had taken them swimming on and off before then, but hadn’t enrolled them in formal lessons until then.
I had always wanted to do baby swim classes with them, but working full time and then trying to fit everything in at the weekends, we had never managed it.
But, when we moved to the US, I was no longer working, so I had the opportunity to do swim classes during the week…
As soon as we were settled and the next session of classes started at our local YMCA, we signed all three up. We put the boys into classes at the level that seemed most appropriate (!) and I started a parent and infant class with the wee girl.
Two years later and all three of the children can swim very well for their ages :)
We are coming to the end of the first Fall Session at the Y and both boys passed their classes and will be moving up a class for the second Fall Session. The 5yo had only just moved up a class at the beginning of this session… Being at a level for only one block of classes is somewhat unusual :) He is now in the last class he can do before he turns six and moves out of ‘preschool’ classes.
The 8yo has sorted his rhythmic breathing (yup!) sufficiently to move into the top class, the last option now, before swim team :) He is also taking extra classes as well, in a new programme for kids that are interested in trying out for the swim team. He’s doing really well, but it will be up to him whether he tries out for the team next year or not.
The wee girl, well, she is quite the character in the pool, and certainly doesn’t lack confidence! She is now one of the oldest in her class (parent and toddler) and will move to classes on her own (yay!) when she turns three. They have recently introduced a transition class though, for ‘confident’ swimmers once they hit 2y9mo, where they work on getting the children confident in the water without their parents. So, come January she will move into this class, and hopefully my days of having to get in to the pool with her will be numbered :)
Not that I haven’t loved watching her learn to swim, but really, anyone who has done baby swim classes will understand the hell that is trying to get yourself and a small child dry and dressed; with no accidents, slips, falls, escapes, wet clothes, soggy socks or snacks all over the changing room floor… I feel like I’ve had a work out by the time I leave!
I am so incredibly proud of them all. They will all be strong swimmers, and if any of them choose to take it further, we will fully support them.
For the moment though, I just love how much they all enjoy being in the water. Going to the pool is one of their favourite activities; and very soon they will all be able to swim better than their parents!
That’s brilliant, very well done to them! No wonder you’re proud. My daughter made it to the last level before the equivalent of swim team at the start of the summer, but we’d already made up our minds we were done with swimming! She enjoyed it and still nags me to take her for fun (although it hasn’t quite happened yet), but we had too much other stuff on our plates.
Swimming is our main thing at the moment, so happy to see where it takes them :)
Fantastic Sara! I’m sure they will thank you for all your efforts. And it does pay off – when we go to see my in-laws in Spain, we stay in a place with a pool and that’s all we need for the kids – they just play and swim in the pool which makes the holiday enjoyable for all. Great post!
Absolutely, it’s a vital skill, but also great fun :)
How I longed for the day when I no longer had to get into the pool with my three! I agree with you that swimming is a very important skill for children to learn. I know too many adults who can’t swim and at that stage, probably never will. Well done to all 3 of yours, sounds like they are doing brilliantly! x
They really are, and I’m so pleased to see them all swim well x
I could not agree more: swimming is a life skill! Even though I am not a fan of exercise or getting into a freezing swimming pool, I have been taking all my little ones since they were a few months old. There are tedious sessions but when I see their confidence in the water, it is all worth it!
Yeah, the baby classes are not my favourite way to spend a morning, but when I look at how confident my little girl is in the water, it’s so worthwhile x
That’s fabulous – such a good skill for children to learn young if possible. I never got round to swimming lessons with Jessica – trying to find somewhere with a pool warm enough was a challenge (even with a wetsuit she tends to go blue quite quickly) and can’t manage it on my own with Sophie too. Maybe when they’re both a little older, we’ll be able to do some swimming lessons. Your three sound like they are doing brilliantly with theirs :-)
I think as long as they start as kids, that’s the main thing, the boys were both 3/4 before they really started taking proper lessons x
Sounds like they’re all doing brilliantly. I’m looking forward to N going in the pool on his own. He’ll start at 4, from February half term when he finishes Water Babies. I’m not sure how he’ll take that, but he’s got no choice!
Ha, I’m hitting the same point with the wee girl; come January, that’s it!
It is such an important skill to learn and it sounds like they are doing a great job. Grace loves swimming and is currently learning at school. I need to take her more myself! Thank you for linking to PoCoLo :) x