4.5yo doesn’t want to take swim lessons

[Anonymous]

She took weekly swim lessons last summer and fall. We stopped for the winter as her baby sister was born in Jan and we wanted to reduce exposure. Now she’s saying she doesn’t want to restart in the spring/summer. Should I make her go, or hold off until she wants to? We do have access to a community pool about 15 min away that we could take her to a couple times a week.

[Anonymous]

What else is she doing?

I would give a different answer for a kid in full day childcare and one who is at home all day.

[Anonymous]

If she’s a reliable swimmer I’d stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she’s a reliable swimmer I’d stop.

+1 if she can save herself from drowning, just take her to the pool a lot

[Anonymous]

It would depend on whether she has another physical activity and enrichment that she does and how good a swimmer she is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she’s a reliable swimmer I’d stop.

Ha, she is nowhere close to a reliable swimmer. Learned a few skills last summer but mostly play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would depend on whether she has another physical activity and enrichment that she does and how good a swimmer she is.

Can’t swim at all. She has gymnastics and dance.

[Anonymous]

My son refused until he was 12! He was really scared of the water even though he had had lessons around 3 and 4. Just refused to go near water after that.

At 12, he became a competitive swimmer!

[Anonymous]

Push her into it. I

I know someone who lost a 5 year old child to a backyard pool drowning.

It happens.

[Anonymous]

I generally let my kids dictate their interest, or lack thereof, in their extracurriculars. Swimming being an exception - it was a must until they were competent enough swimmers that water safety was no longer a concern. My oldest didn’t love it so we stopped then, the youngest is enjoying it so we keep going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son refused until he was 12! He was really scared of the water even though he had had lessons around 3 and 4. Just refused to go near water after that.

At 12, he became a competitive swimmer!

Thanks! I can see this being my daughter, minus the competitive swimmer part 😀 So between 4-12, he had no swimming lessons? Did you take him in the pool regularly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally let my kids dictate their interest, or lack thereof, in their extracurriculars. Swimming being an exception - it was a must until they were competent enough swimmers that water safety was no longer a concern. My oldest didn’t love it so we stopped then, the youngest is enjoying it so we keep going.

I agree, but I wonder if I should waste my money on once a week lessons since she’s not into it? Should I just take her to the community pool regularly myself?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally let my kids dictate their interest, or lack thereof, in their extracurriculars. Swimming being an exception - it was a must until they were competent enough swimmers that water safety was no longer a concern. My oldest didn’t love it so we stopped then, the youngest is enjoying it so we keep going.

100% this. I am all for my kids picking their own activities, but swimming lessons are non-negotiable. We belong to a swim club during the summers and travel to the beach a lot, so they need to be safe in the water. My youngest is generally stubborn so said he wouldn't do swim lessons. Too bad. I signed him up for MoCo lessons where parents have to leave the pool deck and guess what? He loved it. Loved his teacher, made friends in class, and now swims very well. Just push her into it, but find lessons where you are not involved. If you are there hovering, she is going to look to you and whine. Be out of sight, out of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It would depend on whether she has another physical activity and enrichment that she does and how good a swimmer she is.

Can’t swim at all. She has gymnastics and dance.

Then I would force her back into swimming. It’s a survival skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I generally let my kids dictate their interest, or lack thereof, in their extracurriculars. Swimming being an exception - it was a must until they were competent enough swimmers that water safety was no longer a concern. My oldest didn’t love it so we stopped then, the youngest is enjoying it so we keep going.

I agree, but I wonder if I should waste my money on once a week lessons since she’s not into it? Should I just take her to the community pool regularly myself?

She's 4, and you're probably bringing up way too early. You're talking about spring/summer lessons in February - that's eons away for a 4yo.

I'd sign her up for spring lessons (April? May?) and the day before just tell her whats happening. If she hates it, maybe take a break for another year. However, swimming is a non-negotiable skill in my family, so she would have to learn at some point if she lived with me.