Swimming lesson for 4 year old

[andrew kelfo]

I have a 4 year old who enjoys splashing about in the pool and is confident in water. I am considering swimming lessons for him but wondered if I was just as well trying to teach him to swim myself. Has any parents got any advice or tips on choosing a swim school

[daddyg]

My 4 year old has been getting lessons at the local pool for the past 18 months or so and it is some of the best money I have spent. It only costs about 24 quid per block and the difference is unbelievable. I had been taking her since she was a baby and she always loved it but we were really just mucking around and she wasn't learning to swim. Once she started going to proper lessons she came on in leaps and bounds and can now pretty much swim and has no fear in the water. I still take her regularly to the sports club I'm a member of and that's where we play around and I can see how well she is getting on and it keeps her swimming when the lessons are off (generally school holidays etc). For the money it's definitely worth it and they'll be taught properly by a qualified instructor. You can still take him just to enjoy it together.

[little_miss]

as a qualified swimming teacher myself i wouldn't wncourage you to try and teach your child how to swim. sometimes parents can encourage their child to swim in a particular way which may be wrong and it then becomes very difficult for the teacher to get the child to swim effectively. however, take your child swimming at all possible oppourtunities. the first thing an instructor will try and do is get them confident in the water. get them to put their chin on the water and blow bubbles. it sounds so silly but it really will help!!