When to stop swim lessons?

[Anonymous]

So the kids love the water and can get around the length of the pool unassisted, but it's not necessarily a nice pretty set of strokes. Is that enough or am I supposed to keep making them go until they can do all the strokes properly? I don't swim so I don't know. They are good and comfortable enough to have fun a ton of fun and not worry me (still watching, of course).

[Anonymous]

How do you watch them if you can't swim? Do you rely on others to jump in the deep end if sth were to happen?

[Anonymous]

You should learn how to swim! That is a critical life skill.

[Anonymous]

This is just my personal feeling but I keep them in swim lessons until they can swim across a regulation pool. For me, that is level 3 or 4 in swim lessons.

[Anonymous]

For us, they needed to swim across the pool consistently (not a fluke and not stopping to rest) in something other than doggie paddle. Doesn't t have to be swim team legal, but close.

Also had to be able to tread water for a couple of minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you watch them if you can't swim? Do you rely on others to jump in the deep end if sth were to happen?

Thank you for your concern. They know how to swim; so I'm watching out for them getting tired or a cramp or something. Once, one got tired and I threw him a pole. Otherwise all has been fine. Yes, I would feel comfortable relying on a lifeguard to jump in the deep end if need be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For us, they needed to swim across the pool consistently (not a fluke and not stopping to rest) in something other than doggie paddle. Doesn't t have to be swim team legal, but close.

Also had to be able to tread water for a couple of minutes.

For you and 11:02 - do they need more than one style of swimming for safety purposes or is one enough?

[Anonymous]

I'd want my kids to be able to swim one length (25 yards) in about 90 seconds, side breathing as appropriate. I'd also want them to be able to tread water for at least a minute and be able to swim front crawl, breaststroke and backstroke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you watch them if you can't swim? Do you rely on others to jump in the deep end if sth were to happen?

Thank you for your concern. They know how to swim; so I'm watching out for them getting tired or a cramp or something. Once, one got tired and I threw him a pole. Otherwise all has been fine. Yes, I would feel comfortable relying on a lifeguard to jump in the deep end if need be.

But how are you going to supervise in the ocean? Unless you never go to the beach.

[Anonymous]

This seems like an uncommon sentiment but I want my kids to be strong swimmers and know how to properly swim strokes. I don't really think doggie paddling is actual swimming. It's just one of those life skills we think is important because if they don't learn now they likely never will.

(My husband and I both took years of lessons, were lifeguards and he is in the Coast Guard - we take water safety seriously. I realize we probably aren't the norm.)

[Anonymous]

I stopped after one could swim across the pool with one stroke and after he knew a little bit of two other strokes. Also treading water.

You should also get your kid to jump in the pool while holding his breath. This seems to be a must for playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you watch them if you can't swim? Do you rely on others to jump in the deep end if sth were to happen?

Thank you for your concern. They know how to swim; so I'm watching out for them getting tired or a cramp or something. Once, one got tired and I threw him a pole. Otherwise all has been fine. Yes, I would feel comfortable relying on a lifeguard to jump in the deep end if need be.

But how are you going to supervise in the ocean? Unless you never go to the beach.

Or at a hotel pool where there isn't a lifeguard? There are lots of times you'll be around water without a lifeguard. Learn to swim. It's not that hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems like an uncommon sentiment but I want my kids to be strong swimmers and know how to properly swim strokes. I don't really think doggie paddling is actual swimming. It's just one of those life skills we think is important because if they don't learn now they likely never will.

(My husband and I both took years of lessons, were lifeguards and he is in the Coast Guard - we take water safety seriously. I realize we probably aren't the norm.)

+1 though no Coast Guard - but lifeguard/Water Safety Instructor. I make them do swim team once they know how to swim so that they can then become competent and strong swimmers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For us, they needed to swim across the pool consistently (not a fluke and not stopping to rest) in something other than doggie paddle. Doesn't t have to be swim team legal, but close.

Also had to be able to tread water for a couple of minutes.

For you and 11:02 - do they need more than one style of swimming for safety purposes or is one enough?

I think free and breast are important. Oh, and floating on their backs.

No one is going to save themselves doing fly and back. But free is important to get places more quickly and breast helps conserve energy if needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you watch them if you can't swim? Do you rely on others to jump in the deep end if sth were to happen?

Thank you for your concern. They know how to swim; so I'm watching out for them getting tired or a cramp or something. Once, one got tired and I threw him a pole. Otherwise all has been fine. Yes, I would feel comfortable relying on a lifeguard to jump in the deep end if need be.

But how are you going to supervise in the ocean? Unless you never go to the beach.

Different poster here. I don't swim. If you threw me in the deep end of a pool I could survive, though it wouldn't be pretty. I will take my DD to the pool because she's okay in the water. I don't go into the ocean. Go to the beach less than once a year.