Swimming lessons

[tamborine]

My g'kids 6, 8 & 10 have had lessons as toddlers in local pool but can only doggie paddle with youngest needing rubber ring - am not impressed !

How important is it for your children to be able to swim?

[craft1948]

I learnt to swim when I was 4 or 5, it was considered important as York has 2 rivers running through, although why it was thought we may fall into them I do not know.

[ummmm]

If they go near water...very important.

[sara3]

it depends on whether they have much in their area they'd enjoy, or potentially get into trouble with. they'll miss out on holiday pool fun, which is a shame.

[jackthehat]

Can't you teach them...........in your 'trout pond' ? :o)

[AB Editor]

"How important is it for your children to be able to swim?"

Depends if they're a fish or not?

[grasscarp]

AB Editor - that is not a good or kind answer. Tamborine - perhaps they need some more lessons. I think it is easier to go to lessons as a child than as an adult.

[annie0000]

For me it's one of life's key skills and I have spent a lot of cash ensuring that my kids can swim really well. I can swim ok, but other than a few lessons at school never really learned properly, I feel that it spoils my enjoyment as I can't swim underwater, jump in or go down water slides as I don't feel confident enough. Swimming is still a reasonably inexpensive activity to do with your kids as well and you can swim in all weathers, useful exercise on rainy days.

[ummmm]

Maybe they should just go to the swimming pool outside of lessons.

[Arksided]

I don't have any off-spring of my own, but as a kid I used to be terrified of water until I learned to swim so I think it is very advisable that they do learn how to. Their is no guarantee that someone will be around to supervise or help (heaven forbid ) should they get into trouble.

[delphfolk]

very important were we live plenty of rivers, canals, and lots of reservoir's all around Saddleworth

[jd_here]

If they've had lessons since they were toddlers, doesn't say much for the teacher, go to your local swimming club, they always have learn to swim classes. Mine did, and 2 of the 3 of them ended swimming for the county.

[Ric.ror]

I cannot swim a stroke so I spent a fortune on my boys having lessons and will do again for baby evilo (her user name I hope) when the time comes

[tinkerbell23]

I think its a good skill to have tambo x

[redcrx]

its a nice skill to have if you can. But some people just dont seem to grasp it, like me, i cant even doggie paddle.

ive got to my age knowing to stay in shallow end of pool, to avoid deep water and to wear safety equipment when out on a boat (which is rare unless its the ferry and then i sit near the lifejackets lol)

more important is teaching kids to understand the risks that water poses, swimming comes second in my mind.

[Ankou]

there are two parts to that red.

kids having an awareness of the dangers, but also not being petrified of being near or in water, by knowing how to handle themselves.

if they can go in the water and swim themselves to safety, what does it matter which stroke they use ?

[carmalee]

both my children were born in Rhodesia and could swm almost before they could walk - with so many swimming pools about to be able to swim was rather more important than being able to walk!

[Khandro]

It's important that they enjoy the learning experience, maybe they don't feel comfortable when you are not with them in the water, surrounded by strangers, have you asked them? It would be better if you could teach them, maybe with the help of a friend.

[AB Editor]

Afternoon Grasscarp, please see Tambo's previous thread: http://www.theanswerb.../Question1042771.html

In light of this you may find it to be a good and kind answer.

[Ankou]

reported ^^^


:o]

[AB Editor]

Also, in seriousness, I think I was swimming before I could walk - but this is only because of having the access most of the time.

Have they been outside of lessons? To a pool with slides and things? They may find they want to learn more once they realise the good slides go into deeper water!

All the best,

Ed