OT -Swim Lessons- Every Year?

[JamesMom]

I am debating whether to sign up my DS7 for swim lessons this year. He does well in the water, can float, tread water and I am not concerned with him being in the water with no floaties or even me in the water (but close by within eye sight, of course).
He took a preschool class between before Kinder (age 5) and did well.
Last year (summer before 1st grade age 6) we signed him up for reg lessons with Red Cross Level 1. He and the other student completed and passed Level 2 within the 2 week program.
Should I sign him up for lessons at level 2 or wait until he is ready for level 3? Can we just go over water safety & strokes on our own?
He will attend summer day camp but the program does not have a swim lesson component (like when I went to camp back in the day).
Curious as to what others do.

 

[scarlet_ibis]

We do swim lessons year round. My 7 year old has made significant progress in the past two years especially and can stroke the length of the pool with rotary breathing now. I am not confident in my 4 year old's skills, so we'll continue.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I think it depends on what your swimming goals are. If you are wanting them to know different strokes and correct technique, then I would continue with lessons. If your main concern is water safety in a pool, then I don't necessarily think they need to continually take lessons.

 

[mjkacmom]

My children got swimming lessons throughout the year starting at age 3, up until they knew their strokes, usually around 5 or 6. It's cute seeing a 4 year old doing the doggy paddle, a adolescent or teen, not so much. My gf's ds didn't take lessons, and he hated to go swimming with ds11 and his friends, starting around the age of 8, because they were on the swim team, and he could only doggy paddle. I'd definitely sign him up if he doesn't know strokes and diving.

 

[Dannielle_1]

My son is 4 and he has had swimming lessons pretty much continually (as sessions/schedules allowed) since he was 18 months old. And, I plan on him continuing lessons continually until he is an "expert." Probably till he is 10 or so. For our family, it is very important that one be a strong swimmer not just have basic knowledge in swimming/water safety. I want to put DS in the position that if he would like to become a competive swimmer or lifegaurd that is a possibility.

Also, our family spends a lot of time at the beach each year and I want him to be a strong swimmer in the ocean (when that time comes).

Last, during the fall, winter & spring, we don't have a pool we can go to, so it gives him year round exposure to the water.

 

[BLAZEY]

We did lessons years round when I was a kid. The kids that got into trouble swimming were the ones that "forgot" what they learned if they only took a set before summer began, and were over-confident in their swimming ablility. For safety reasons I would give children a "refresher coarse" before the summer if they haven't been taking them all year.

 

[Erin1700]

I dont think you can go wrong with doing swim lessons. My neighbor has to take swimming as a gym class in high school and she really only ever took enough lessons to get by as a kid. She is so embarrassed that she does not know the strokes now as a teenager!

 

[kpgriswold]

If you continue with the Red Cross series, they teach kids water safety as well as proper strokes. I'd highly recommend sending your child to the next level!

 

[patchchild]

Keep the lessons going!! Can it hurt? The better the swimming skills, the better I'd feel.

 

[NotUrsula]

I say keep going, especially if you have a child that isn't especially athletic; this isn't so much a sport as it is a survival skill. Remember that open-water swimming isn't the same as in a pool, and endurance really counts there.

Also, one other thing: Rx goggles. If you have a child who wears glasses, spend the money to get corrective goggles as soon as they start swim lessons. They don't necessarily have to be fully prescription, but you can get goggles in corrective powers much the same as older adults buy reading glasses OTC. This is a huge issue for kids who have vision problems; they tend to hate swimming if they have to do it blind. I buy ours from www.sporteyes.com. The Hilco kids models are about $35/pr.

 

[chrisn]

My son is 12 and has taken swim lessons every year and at every level since he was 3 or 4. Here the lessons start at Pre-school then they have to pass 1-6. He passed the final course a couple years ago and I am so glad we did it. He is a very strong and confident swimmer. Much, much better than myself. He will now go on and take the lifeguard training as soon as he is old enough. I think he must be 15 if I remember right. Anyway, swim lessons are a very good and positive thing. Keep em going!

 

[emma'smom]

Our girls have been in swimming lessons since they were 18 months old. Now I'm pretty confident in letting dd5 swim with her sister and go in water over her head if I am nearby. Dd7 is on the swim team and a very strong swimmer. She is free to just swim with her friends in the pool as long as a lifeguard is on duty and I know where she is.

She ended up on the swim team because, in first grade, we signed her up for the top level of elementary swimming lessons after she worked through the levels and she was the only one signed up. The YMCA director said that usually parents pull their kids by the time they are ready for this level if they are only interested in having them learn basic water safety. If they are interested in skill development, they usually switch over to swim team at that level.

We decided to give it a try and she joined the team mid-year. She had a blast and returned for a second season! She seems to enjoy it and I know she is getting good exercise.

Dd5 takes lessons while she is at practice. When dd5 is ready, she can try team if she is interested. If not, she can skip the pool all together---or just free swim. She really enjoys free swim when lessons are over.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Why can't you sign him up for Level 3?

 

[JamesMom]

OP, here.
Thanks for the responses. I am surprised that some take lessons year round. That would be very expensive at our community center ($105 per session - each session is 4 weeks, 2x a week). My mom had me take lessons 1x a year for a few years and then summer camp took over until I was 13. I will send him this again this year and let the instructor determine his level (2 again or 3). Thanks again for the responses.

 

[quentina]

Our kids go year round...it is $$$$$ however; it is money well spent. My oldest just graduated and is now doing life guard training (12). He is excited at the prospect. In addition, he will start doing competitive swimming.

 

[djp0630]

DD3 has now been in swimming for a year now (since she turned 3). I would definitely sign him up for lessons now.

 

[MrsPooh]

My older girls began lessons about age 3 or 4 and took them for a couple of years. By the time they were 6 we signed them up for the local swim team. It was a team that competed but also had fun. They loved it, they swam daily and learn water safety as well was proper strokes. The cost was reasonable and they learned far more than they would have at lessons.

Truthfully they both took Red Cross series classes and never learned much in the lessons anyway.

I hope to be able to follow the same with my youngest but swim team practices are during my work hours now so I'm not sure how that will play out.