Started Stroke & Turn and am not impressed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

That’s not intentional obviously I would prefer for him to be with kids around his age, but I donMt want to pay for swim lessons unless he is learning. I was told that in the level before stroke, kids are wearing floaters. My son does not want/need a floater. What should I do in your opinion?

Are you in the DMV? Because this is not consistent with how my kid (who FWIW is now a high level club swimmer) worked their way through lessons. Stroke and turn was not the next level after floaties. Maybe what you are describing as stroke and turn is different than my understanding of stroke and turn.

Yes, DMV. If I understood correctly (and if it hasn’t changed since my older kids did it) there are basically 3 levels for the kids that learn how to swim. The first 2 involve floaties (like the back pack). In the second level the kids start taking it off, but most kids keep it until the end. The third level is called water stamina/ stroke development. Kids need to be able to swim a whole lap in ugly free style (no backstroke requirement). My son does (very) ugly free style and can sort of do back stroke. The kids his age are in level 1 and a few in level 2, but we spend months every summer at the beach/pool so my son learned quickly and swimming sort of comes natural to him. He floats really easily and well.

My elder kids are also very good swimmers and in swim club year round. They compete and are really strong for their ages, but their little brother is definitely ahead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

That’s not intentional obviously I would prefer for him to be with kids around his age, but I donMt want to pay for swim lessons unless he is learning. I was told that in the level before stroke, kids are wearing floaters. My son does not want/need a floater. What should I do in your opinion?

Are you in the DMV? Because this is not consistent with how my kid (who FWIW is now a high level club swimmer) worked their way through lessons. Stroke and turn was not the next level after floaties. Maybe what you are describing as stroke and turn is different than my understanding of stroke and turn.

Yes, DMV. If I understood correctly (and if it hasn’t changed since my older kids did it) there are basically 3 levels for the kids that learn how to swim. The first 2 involve floaties (like the back pack). In the second level the kids start taking it off, but most kids keep it until the end. The third level is called water stamina/ stroke development. Kids need to be able to swim a whole lap in ugly free style (no backstroke requirement). My son does (very) ugly free style and can sort of do back stroke. The kids his age are in level 1 and a few in level 2, but we spend months every summer at the beach/pool so my son learned quickly and swimming sort of comes natural to him. He floats really easily and well.

My elder kids are also very good swimmers and in swim club year round. They compete and are really strong for their ages, but their little brother is definitely ahead.

This is not what I was thinking of. What you’re describing as level 3 is what my kid did in the lead up to doing stroke and turn. We were in MoCo and there were multiple levels that started at what you’re calling level 3 before getting to stroke and turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

Join a different program. Where are you located so we can recommend.

[Anonymous]

I would not put my kid in a swim program that involved floaties. I have been teaching lessons/coaching for decades and that it not a good way to instruct kids.

Is this a county program? You need to join a different program. Even the terminology that they are using for stroke and turn is wrong (as you can see by the descriptions of the other parents).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

Join a different program. Where are you located so we can recommend.

We are in DC Logan Circle. My son has been doing private classes twice a week and I was planning to sign him up for group classes once a week now that he can “swim” and keep the private class once a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I would not put my kid in a swim program that involved floaties. I have been teaching lessons/coaching for decades and that it not a good way to instruct kids.

Is this a county program? You need to join a different program. Even the terminology that they are using for stroke and turn is wrong (as you can see by the descriptions of the other parents).

I am the PP with the 4.5 year old and I agree with you. My older kids did all the swimming levels and the ones with floaties were a waste of time. My kids were comfortable in the water and they just needed to learn to swim. They started swimming in the summer at the beach and THEN the swim classes were useful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I would not put my kid in a swim program that involved floaties. I have been teaching lessons/coaching for decades and that it not a good way to instruct kids.

Is this a county program? You need to join a different program. Even the terminology that they are using for stroke and turn is wrong (as you can see by the descriptions of the other parents).

Agree. Floaties inhibit kids learning to swim. They are a crutch for parents. I am not aware of any swimming program that would use them.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been super happy with the stroke clinic that my daughter is going to. She got a super good coach and has generally only 4-5 kids in any given class. She is only going once a week and has made a lot of progress already in her form.

When I was doing my initial research on which stroke clinic to sign up for, I read that Montgomery county stroke and turn was subpar and overcrowded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It feels way too crowded and there are 7-8 kids in one lane. Also, they take everyone. There are 3 5-6 year-olds who can barely swim 10 meter and they are there and still take up an entire lane. I thought the requirement is to be able to swim 25m?

What are my other options? Kid is 8. FINS?

That's interesting- I specifically didn't sign up my 7yo for stroke and turn because at the end of the summer they were still struggling to make it the full 25m....I ended up enrolling them elsewhere with a shorter distance requirement. I was hoping this would be a good option for nextt year though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been super happy with the stroke clinic that my daughter is going to. She got a super good coach and has generally only 4-5 kids in any given class. She is only going once a week and has made a lot of progress already in her form.

When I was doing my initial research on which stroke clinic to sign up for, I read that Montgomery county stroke and turn was subpar and overcrowded.

Which location is this and what age?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 4.5 year old has been doing private classes and her teacher (and aquatic director) said he is ready for the stroke group class. I was a bit shocked because ny girls did not start stroke class until 6 or so and my son can barely swim the whole lap. However, this is the expert and he told me to sign him up for that class where all the other kids are going to be much older and most likely stronger swimmers. He said my son is too good for the level before… what can a parents do?

I would reach out to the stroke and turn program and get their take, and also go watch a current stroke and turn class to see for yourself what it’s like and whether your 5 year old should be there.

There is no current class to watch and the aquatic director is also the program director. He won’t teach the class, but I would think I should do what he suggests. I know my son is young (4.5), but what can I do? If the more advanced kids will have a problem with him being in the same class maybe they can do private classes instead?
My point is that I don’t get to judge and decide whether my son belongs in the stroke group. He can swim a whole lap without stopping and therefore he belongs to this class and not the one below. He will be 2+ years you get than the other kids and much smaller…

Your kid is 4 and a half, I would absolutely vet a class where he will be the youngest by several years before placing him in it. Come on this is basic parenting, you absolutely are in complete control of deciding whether you feel comfortable placing your kid in a stroke program with kids several years older.

That’s not intentional obviously I would prefer for him to be with kids around his age, but I donMt want to pay for swim lessons unless he is learning. I was told that in the level before stroke, kids are wearing floaters. My son does not want/need a floater. What should I do in your opinion?

Where do swimming lessons involve floaties? I’ve literally never seen this anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been super happy with the stroke clinic that my daughter is going to. She got a super good coach and has generally only 4-5 kids in any given class. She is only going once a week and has made a lot of progress already in her form.

When I was doing my initial research on which stroke clinic to sign up for, I read that Montgomery county stroke and turn was subpar and overcrowded.

I’m doing it thru moco and we’re happy. 3 kids in each lane, although my kid is in the 11-12 age group.