Swim lessons

[Anonymous]

I’m interested in enrolling my two year-old and possibly infant in swim lessons prior to summertime. Wondering if anyone has recommendations for swim schools and also the frequency for lessons?

[Anonymous]

To what end? At those ages you will be expected to get in the pool with them and you’ll need two adults, one to stay with each child. Kids don’t really learn to swim swim until they are like 4 at the earliest. I wish I hadn’t wasted my time with swim lessons for two toddlers.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with PP who said it isn't worth your time. Yes, your toddler and infant aren't going to learn how to swim at these ages, but there is still value in swim lessons depending on what your goals are. These are great ages to introduce your children to the water so they aren't afraid of it when they are older and phsyically ready to actually learn how to swim for real. If you are comfortable doing this on your own, then sure you don't need the lessons. Most parents don't actually know how to introduce very young kids to water in a way that is safe, fun, and developmentally appropriate.

I spent 8 years teaching swim lessons (babies throgugh tweens) when I was in HS and college and trust me when I say it is a huge headahce for parents when their kids start lessons too late. You will waste a lot of money and feel a lot of frustration trying to coax a 4 or 5 year old into the water. Depending on your lifestyle, it is also really annoying to have a kid who is old enough to do some swimming but can't/won't do it. It limits your vacation and summer activities options.

PP is correct that you'll definitely need to be in the water with the infant though. My recollection is that most parents really enjoyed that special 1:1 time, but everyone is different.

[Anonymous]

Agree with poster who said that infants and toddlers aren't going to learn to swim at this young of an age, but there are other benefits including being comfortable with water and some basic water safety skills that could help in the pool at a young age.

We started our daughter in swim around five months and now she is 2.5. While she doesn't know how to swim, she understands things like turning over onto her back if she falls into the water and knowing how to climb out of the pool.

We go to Goldfish Swim School which is a chain with multiple locations in the area. Big Blue is also one that people seem to like. They all follow the same-ish routines, so pick one where the class availability works for your schedule with naps and what not. We go once a week and have fit in a second lesson now and again. I once tried to push it with three lessons a week to use up some extra credits, and by the third lesson of the week, my kid was over it and didn't want to do the lesson. At 2, you probably don't need to go into the water with your child anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with poster who said that infants and toddlers aren't going to learn to swim at this young of an age, but there are other benefits including being comfortable with water and some basic water safety skills that could help in the pool at a young age.

We started our daughter in swim around five months and now she is 2.5. While she doesn't know how to swim, she understands things like turning over onto her back if she falls into the water and knowing how to climb out of the pool.

We go to Goldfish Swim School which is a chain with multiple locations in the area. Big Blue is also one that people seem to like. They all follow the same-ish routines, so pick one where the class availability works for your schedule with naps and what not. We go once a week and have fit in a second lesson now and again. I once tried to push it with three lessons a week to use up some extra credits, and by the third lesson of the week, my kid was over it and didn't want to do the lesson. At 2, you probably don't need to go into the water with your child anymore.

My daughter was swimming from one end of our pool to the other at 2 1/2. It was pretty unique though, she was like a circus animal every time we went to the public pool. We did ISR, definitely recommend.

[Anonymous]

Unless you are doing ISR you cannot do swim lessons with those ages unless you want mommy and me and are getting in.
If you are doing that, go with another adult and swim at the rec center closest to you for 30 mins once a week, way cheaper and you can sechedule a day/time but not stress if running late or whatever.