Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

8 seems very late, unless those kids are never going to any pool, beach, etc for fun. If they are, it’s a safety issue. We never did swim lessons, but we taught both of our kids to swim at age 2.5-3 yo. Of course we still closely supervised them for at least a couple more years, but the earlier kids learn, the easier it is, the less likely they are to get afraid of putting their face in the water, etc.

My siblings & I, who weren’t on any swim teams and grew up nowhere near DC, also all learned to swim around age 3 (again, taught by our parents). So it’s not just about a competitive swim culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

8 seems very late, unless those kids are never going to any pool, beach, etc for fun. If they are, it’s a safety issue. We never did swim lessons, but we taught both of our kids to swim at age 2.5-3 yo. Of course we still closely supervised them for at least a couple more years, but the earlier kids learn, the easier it is, the less likely they are to get afraid of putting their face in the water, etc.

My siblings & I, who weren’t on any swim teams and grew up nowhere near DC, also all learned to swim around age 3 (again, taught by our parents). So it’s not just about a competitive swim culture.

But if your parents taught you how to swim, they must have still had a pool reasonably accessible to them, right? I think you have to keep in mind that this is NOT common everywhere. The town I grew up in had no public or community pools, it just wasn't a thing. Many people built above ground pools in their backyards. There was a YMCA, but we weren't members. My mom found out about an apartment complex pool that opened up lessons to non-residents, and would then let you stay for free swim afterwards. So we spent several summers going there and my siblings and I were all decent swimmers.

The high school I attended had a pool and we had a session of swimming phys ed. There were many fellow students who had never swam beyond their backyard above ground pool and once they couldn't touch the bottom, could not swim very well at all. I was not an athlete but that was the one time I was better than the athletes, lol.

I'm always surprised be people that can't imagine anything beyond their own experience. Shrug.

You had access to a pool, the Y. Public and community pools aren't free either. But they are reasonably accessible. This is common despite your made up idea that this is not which your own anecdote negates. Learning to swim is a life skill that all parents should make a priority at an early age.

DP. I'm confused by your assumption. There are a lot of places that don't even have a Y, and not all families can afford the membership anyway. Have some of y'all have never been anywhere outside your DMV bubble?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small group or 1 on 1 lessons will get her swimming independently pretty quickly at that age. The kids swim schools are better for that. My DS goes to Big Blue and his group lessons have only 3-4 kids in them max and the more advanced lessons for stroke instruction usually have more like 2-3. The rec center classes were free for alls with many more kids per instructor and my kids didn’t learn as much at all.

Can you give a time line for “pretty quickly?” We did Goldfish for months and DS never progressed beyond getting over fear. We switched to rec center lessons and he is in his second 8-10 week stretch and they are still working with float belts. Only 3-4 kids in all his classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

8 seems very late, unless those kids are never going to any pool, beach, etc for fun. If they are, it’s a safety issue. We never did swim lessons, but we taught both of our kids to swim at age 2.5-3 yo. Of course we still closely supervised them for at least a couple more years, but the earlier kids learn, the easier it is, the less likely they are to get afraid of putting their face in the water, etc.

My siblings & I, who weren’t on any swim teams and grew up nowhere near DC, also all learned to swim around age 3 (again, taught by our parents). So it’s not just about a competitive swim culture.

But if your parents taught you how to swim, they must have still had a pool reasonably accessible to them, right? I think you have to keep in mind that this is NOT common everywhere. The town I grew up in had no public or community pools, it just wasn't a thing. Many people built above ground pools in their backyards. There was a YMCA, but we weren't members. My mom found out about an apartment complex pool that opened up lessons to non-residents, and would then let you stay for free swim afterwards. So we spent several summers going there and my siblings and I were all decent swimmers.

The high school I attended had a pool and we had a session of swimming phys ed. There were many fellow students who had never swam beyond their backyard above ground pool and once they couldn't touch the bottom, could not swim very well at all. I was not an athlete but that was the one time I was better than the athletes, lol.

I'm always surprised be people that can't imagine anything beyond their own experience. Shrug.

You had access to a pool, the Y. Public and community pools aren't free either. But they are reasonably accessible. This is common despite your made up idea that this is not which your own anecdote negates. Learning to swim is a life skill that all parents should make a priority at an early age.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - feel awful I've given my daughter a fear of water, definitely not the aim of a dad. I've wanted her to be comfortable and have fun, but realise this has become coddling. I've just booked some 1-1 lessons in our spare evenings (twice a week) .

I said this to he last night and she was already a little teary with fear (probably as we binned the water wings in the house). I know she will be fine and will ace it, how can I persuade her. It's not a fear of water it's the trust in herself to be able to do it. I don't understand why it's only with swimming as well as she's so confident and brave in other areas.

I will get her there one way or another!

Good for you for booking those lessons! My suggestion, if the swim instructor allows, it is for you to not be there watching. It’s much better if she cannot see you.

OP, don't feel ashamed ... just keep plugging. She's old enough to understand that this is for safety. But at 9, you're at the point where if she goes to the town pool or gets invited to a friend's house and can't swim, she'll feel ashamed. This will be really good for her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

8 seems very late, unless those kids are never going to any pool, beach, etc for fun. If they are, it’s a safety issue. We never did swim lessons, but we taught both of our kids to swim at age 2.5-3 yo. Of course we still closely supervised them for at least a couple more years, but the earlier kids learn, the easier it is, the less likely they are to get afraid of putting their face in the water, etc.

My siblings & I, who weren’t on any swim teams and grew up nowhere near DC, also all learned to swim around age 3 (again, taught by our parents). So it’s not just about a competitive swim culture.

But if your parents taught you how to swim, they must have still had a pool reasonably accessible to them, right? I think you have to keep in mind that this is NOT common everywhere. The town I grew up in had no public or community pools, it just wasn't a thing. Many people built above ground pools in their backyards. There was a YMCA, but we weren't members. My mom found out about an apartment complex pool that opened up lessons to non-residents, and would then let you stay for free swim afterwards. So we spent several summers going there and my siblings and I were all decent swimmers.

The high school I attended had a pool and we had a session of swimming phys ed. There were many fellow students who had never swam beyond their backyard above ground pool and once they couldn't touch the bottom, could not swim very well at all. I was not an athlete but that was the one time I was better than the athletes, lol.

I'm always surprised be people that can't imagine anything beyond their own experience. Shrug.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

8 seems very late, unless those kids are never going to any pool, beach, etc for fun. If they are, it’s a safety issue. We never did swim lessons, but we taught both of our kids to swim at age 2.5-3 yo. Of course we still closely supervised them for at least a couple more years, but the earlier kids learn, the easier it is, the less likely they are to get afraid of putting their face in the water, etc.

My siblings & I, who weren’t on any swim teams and grew up nowhere near DC, also all learned to swim around age 3 (again, taught by our parents). So it’s not just about a competitive swim culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8

8 seems very late, unless those kids are never going to any pool, beach, etc for fun. If they are, it’s a safety issue. We never did swim lessons, but we taught both of our kids to swim at age 2.5-3 yo. Of course we still closely supervised them for at least a couple more years, but the earlier kids learn, the easier it is, the less likely they are to get afraid of putting their face in the water, etc.

My siblings & I, who weren’t on any swim teams and grew up nowhere near DC, also all learned to swim around age 3 (again, taught by our parents). So it’s not just about a competitive swim culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Small group or 1 on 1 lessons will get her swimming independently pretty quickly at that age. The kids swim schools are better for that. My DS goes to Big Blue and his group lessons have only 3-4 kids in them max and the more advanced lessons for stroke instruction usually have more like 2-3. The rec center classes were free for alls with many more kids per instructor and my kids didn’t learn as much at all.

Can you give a time line for “pretty quickly?” We did Goldfish for months and DS never progressed beyond getting over fear. We switched to rec center lessons and he is in his second 8-10 week stretch and they are still working with float belts. Only 3-4 kids in all his classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - feel awful I've given my daughter a fear of water, definitely not the aim of a dad. I've wanted her to be comfortable and have fun, but realise this has become coddling. I've just booked some 1-1 lessons in our spare evenings (twice a week) .

I said this to he last night and she was already a little teary with fear (probably as we binned the water wings in the house). I know she will be fine and will ace it, how can I persuade her. It's not a fear of water it's the trust in herself to be able to do it. I don't understand why it's only with swimming as well as she's so confident and brave in other areas.

I will get her there one way or another!

Good for you for booking those lessons! My suggestion, if the swim instructor allows, it is for you to not be there watching. It’s much better if she cannot see you.

Anonymous wrote:Small group or 1 on 1 lessons will get her swimming independently pretty quickly at that age. The kids swim schools are better for that. My DS goes to Big Blue and his group lessons have only 3-4 kids in them max and the more advanced lessons for stroke instruction usually have more like 2-3. The rec center classes were free for alls with many more kids per instructor and my kids didn’t learn as much at all.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

If you have you child in the pool regularly as a toddler, and don’t use wings, or other floats as a crutch, but actively participate with them them in the pool and swimming, age 4 seems to be the natural time frame they can swim independently. But unfortunately, lots of parents throw on the floaties so they can be hands free. Teaching swimming is super easy, and you don’t need to be a great swimmer yourself. But it has to be done before they afraid of water or heavily reliant on floaties.

There are a number of posts now purporting teaching swimming to be easy. Can you guys share some resources of HOW to teach a child to swim? Not just being comfortable in the water, but actual swimming skills and how to progress/build on skills. TIA!

Not snarky: google or YouTube it. There are some excellent videos out there.

Not being snarky back but why not just share the "excellent" ones? There are literally hundreds of videos and multiple approaches to teaching swimming. (kind of like reading- and we know now that some of those approaches are bad)

FWIW I was one of the lazy parents who enrolled my kids in swim lessons instead but I'm sure it would be helpful for others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:By what age do kids know how to swim around here?

4-6 yo

Wow that seems young to me. I'm my area it's by age 8