How many days a week for an eight year old?

[Anonymous]

Is it overkill to have an eight year old swimming club 3 days a week?

[Anonymous]

Depends how much they love it. If they aren't enjoying it, then its too much.

But in general, no, there are many 8 yr olds in the doing 3 days a week in clubs around the country.

[Anonymous]

I think 3 days (especially at an hour each) is fine. But my kids have all loved summer swim, but did not love more than 2x a week for winter. It can be a bit of a drudge for some kids (some kids love it too!)

I also think some clubs will push more and more and more hours, and it’s not great for their bodies. It also leads to burnout.

We try to get our kids to do lots of different activities until they are at least 10-11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends how much they love it. If they aren't enjoying it, then its too much.

But in general, no, there are many 8 yr olds in the doing 3 days a week in clubs around the country.

This. If your kid enjoys swim, then going 3x a week for an hour each is fine. If you are having to drag your kid to practice more than 1x a week then it is too much for them.

[Anonymous]

Why is it too much for their bodies? My kid does swimming and dance — and dance is not yet aerobic. I don’t get this comment I hear a lot that it’s too hard on their bodies. Also do you forget summer swim is 5 times a week plus meets. Why is that ok if 3 days a week winter swim is too much?

Also my kid has ADHD and anxiety so complains about everything. If I didn’t make her do anything she complained about she would literally sit at home all day. So for me what’s important is does she feel good after swimming — the answer is always yes. So we have her swim 3x a week because it makes her feel good.

[Anonymous]

Mine swims daily for summer swim. And then twice a day for B meet days. She is all muscle on her tiny body. It's pretty cool and builds endurance. We wouldn't do it if she didn't love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is it too much for their bodies? My kid does swimming and dance — and dance is not yet aerobic. I don’t get this comment I hear a lot that it’s too hard on their bodies. Also do you forget summer swim is 5 times a week plus meets. Why is that ok if 3 days a week winter swim is too much?

Also my kid has ADHD and anxiety so complains about everything. If I didn’t make her do anything she complained about she would literally sit at home all day. So for me what’s important is does she feel good after swimming — the answer is always yes. So we have her swim 3x a week because it makes her feel good.

Look into overuse injuries of young swimmers. I personally know two kids who were swimming 4X/week who ended up with overuse injuries before age 12 (and had to take a lot of time off). Swimming is a more repetitive motion than any other sport (other than running). It isn't going to cause issues for everyone, but it's worth being informed.

We are also close with two kids who were so burnt out on swim that they quit around middle school only to rejoin later after taking a break and loving it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine swims daily for summer swim. And then twice a day for B meet days. She is all muscle on her tiny body. It's pretty cool and builds endurance. We wouldn't do it if she didn't love it.

At least for my kids, the number of laps they are doing in summer is nothing compared to winter swim. It is also a very short season that is all about sprinting versus the distance swimming club swimmers do. That kind of swimming isn't going to lead to overuse.

[Anonymous]

We added a 3rd day in the year my daughter went from 8 to 9. My younger daughter was offered a 3rd day in the year she went from 7 to 8, and we felt that was too young. Once you add in a 3rd day, it becomes harder to diversify their schedule without overloading them. I was not worried about the impact on my 7 year's body but the impact on the rest of her life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mine swims daily for summer swim. And then twice a day for B meet days. She is all muscle on her tiny body. It's pretty cool and builds endurance. We wouldn't do it if she didn't love it.

At least for my kids, the number of laps they are doing in summer is nothing compared to winter swim. It is also a very short season that is all about sprinting versus the distance swimming club swimmers do. That kind of swimming isn't going to lead to overuse.

This! For more teams summer swim practices are not at all comparable to year round club swimming. Might be different for D1 teams. I also think that while kids swim 4-5 days a week in summer keeping that up year round at 8 is not the same especially if they have other interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it too much for their bodies? My kid does swimming and dance — and dance is not yet aerobic. I don’t get this comment I hear a lot that it’s too hard on their bodies. Also do you forget summer swim is 5 times a week plus meets. Why is that ok if 3 days a week winter swim is too much?

Also my kid has ADHD and anxiety so complains about everything. If I didn’t make her do anything she complained about she would literally sit at home all day. So for me what’s important is does she feel good after swimming — the answer is always yes. So we have her swim 3x a week because it makes her feel good.

Look into overuse injuries of young swimmers. I personally know two kids who were swimming 4X/week who ended up with overuse injuries before age 12 (and had to take a lot of time off). Swimming is a more repetitive motion than any other sport (other than running). It isn't going to cause issues for everyone, but it's worth being informed.

We are also close with two kids who were so burnt out on swim that they quit around middle school only to rejoin later after taking a break and loving it again.

I’m previous poster you responded to and this is helpful. I’ll look into this.

[Anonymous]

It is tough to keep motivated in swim over the long term if you are already doing 3 days a week at age 8. 10+ years of doing something most days of the week can absolutely cause wear and tear on the body, as well as mental burnout.

[Anonymous]

DC10 swims a lot more than the quantity being discussed here (club continues during summer swim), but we don't push. If DC wants to miss a few summer team practices or B meets we would absolutely allow it - but DC wouldn't want it that way.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks for all the thoughts. She loves it and I think would improve from doing it, but she still likes to do other things (Girl Scouts, soccer) and DH and I both work in the office a lot of the time. We are thinking we will stick with 2 days and increase to 3 next year if she is asking for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC10 swims a lot more than the quantity being discussed here (club continues during summer swim), but we don't push. If DC wants to miss a few summer team practices or B meets we would absolutely allow it - but DC wouldn't want it that way.

But part of being a parent is providing perspective and oversight that kids don't have. What kids want isn't the only consideration. PPs are right to express concern about overtraining in swimming, a sport that's notorious for overtraining young swimmers. It's something I do think parents should be aware of, the same way they might for gymnastics.

OP, I think sticking to twice a week is very reasonable for an 8 year old, especially one who wants to do different sports. Three times a week is the most I would do at that age and it would only be for 60 minute practices.