can you force swim lessons?

[Anonymous]

You can bribe. What does the kid want? Candy? A small toy? You got it, get in the pool and you can have a candy, etc...? Swimming is one of those important skills a child really needs.

[Anonymous]

In short, yes I would force swim lesson. While I wouldn’t physically force him to it, I would bring him to the pool, but not allow floaties, other than what the instructor. Bring him to open swim with a friend that can swim. Again, don’t force him in, but don’t allow use of the floatie beyond a pool noodle.

There is an age at which if kids can’t swim, they become really scared of the water and it is very prohibitive to learning to swim.

If he happily gets in the water now, roll with
It but keep firm on the conditions of what he can use in the water

[Anonymous]

No kid older than 2 should be in floaties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No kid older than 2 should be in floaties.

My kids were in floatiess past 2 and are now on the swim team. Floaties are fine; it all works to in the end.

[Anonymous]

Id keep going swimming as you are and try lessons again in 9-12mo.

[Anonymous]

Floaties until the kid is 2 or 3 absolute oldest.

No more pool until he learns to swim properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Goldfish worked for us too. This was after another group lesson situation and then trying a private lesson. Also we went to a hotel pool that did not allow floaties and many strides were made, so the floaties were “lost by the aiport”.

Same. Goldfish worked for my two kids (6 and 4) to get them comfortable in the water and started on basic strokes. I think the warm temperature of the water has a lot to do with it honestly. Goldfish's pool temp feels like swimming in a bathtub. I remember dreading swim lessons as a kid because the pool was cold! I got over it eventually and ended up being a competitive swimmer in HS and briefly in college, but I used to drive my mom crazy kicking up a fuss before those early morning swim lessons during the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS4 loves the water - he will swim (with floaties and an adult very close) all day, jumping in / going under etc. He is adamant though that he doesn't ever want to swim without floaties and that he will not participate in a swim lesson (even with his older brother). If I try to get him to learn with me, he will just sit on the side and refuse to get back in saying he'd rather not swim than swim without his floaties. he is a very very stubborn kid when he wants to dig in

I want him to learn to swim for water safety. I've seen kids scared of the water forced in and am not sure of the usefulness of that, but he's not scared of the water he just does not want to do a swim class or learn to actually swim. He does hate symbols of growing up (had to be forced off bottles, out of crib, off pacis, out of diapers etc). Anyone been in this situation or have any tips.

Take him swimming for fun where there are no expectations and he can walk out to shallow water, he'll switch to no floaties with in few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No kid older than 2 should be in floaties.

Floaties are not good at any age.

[Anonymous]

Have you talked to him about why he wants the floaties? The answer may surprise you.

It also will give you ideas on how to approach the situation.

Getting into a battle of wills is likely not going to end well.

Sign up for swim lessons and let them know about his anxiety. They may have some great ideas.

And yes I said anxiety your son is anxious he's not just stubborn his anxiety manifest as resistance. Maybe talk to his pediatrician about a few sessions with a therapist