forcing kids to take swim lessons

[Deleted]

When do you let kids quit swim lessons? How do you decide they are a strong enough swimmer? When they can tread water? What level?
DD1 hates swim lessons. She's done Red Cross 3 (have to swim 15 meters). I'm planning on making her do one more level, Red Cross 4 (swim 25 meters, which is the length of the pool I believe). Not sure if it's really necessary though.

i expect if you live near an ocean your threshold would be a lot higher than someone who's land locked.

[circa1978]

If my child truly hated swimming, I'd only ask that they be competent. In my mind, that is knowing when/how to float, how to tread water, being able to swim a lap or two and knowing water safety. I hope he will choose to swim for health and a lifelong hobby but I see this as a running, walking thing. Once he knows HOW I won't dictate form or love of it beyond that.

[bittybomb]

I took lessons my entire childhood and then became a junior lifeguard and eventually a lifeguard, and swam competitively.

The ocean is 10 minutes away from us, we have a boat, and our kids are always around pools (including our own).  They are taking swimming lessons for life.  Lol.  They are all water bugs though, so it helps that they love their lessons.

[Deleted]

Jul 23, 2014 9:56:20 GMT -5 bittybomb said:

I took lessons my entire childhood and then became a junior lifeguard and eventually a lifeguard, and swam competitively.

The ocean is 10 minutes away from us, we have a boat, and our kids are always around pools (including our own).  They are taking swimming lessons for life.  Lol.  They are all water bugs though, so it helps that they love their lessons.

Lifeguarding is a fantastic summer job for a teen!

[Deleted]

I'll definitely insist on being able to tread water plus do a few laps and float. That would make me comfortable.

[sewpinkgal]

The boys need to be water safe and able to swim the length of the pool, tread water, etc. So far, it's been fine because J is a fish, but if they just hate swim lessons one day, they can stop once they're at an appropriate level of competency in the water.

[adhdfashion]

I want them to be able to swim the length of the pool and back. That's the bare minimum requirement to pass swimming for summer camp. Before we will stop swim lessons.
We are surrounded by water. So it's pretty important to swim well.

[game blouses]

DH is a competitive swimmer, so it's likely that our kids will take their share of lessons. At the very least they will know how to swim for survival skills, and probably how to do a good freestyle stroke. In his wildest dreams they will be Olympians, lol.

[schitzengiggles]

We will keep doing them until we feel they are truly comfortable & proficient in the water. We aren't far from that point right now - a little further from it with DD2 than DD1. However, they both love going to swimming lessons, so in that case we will stick with them for as long as possible!

We are on or by the water constantly in the summer. We have dozens of lakes within our immediate area and one is across the street from us, with a swimming beach about a 10 minute walk away. My SIL (who lives 2 miles away) has a large in ground pool. My parents live near a huge, popular tourist-trap of a lake and when we visit, we frequently go out on the boat. My in laws have a cabin on a lake.
I feel like we would be dumb to not at least make sure they have some level of comfort around water.

[karmasabiotch]

My son had tubes in his ears until last year so we are just starting them now. I live in the Great Lake State and we have lakes around every corner practically where I live. He doesn't want lessons but won't have a choice.

[eb777888]

Haha, that's where I am now. He never wanted to quit but I wouldn't let him until he knew how to swim, which took A LOT of lessons for him, 8 sessions. He just learned last week. We'll finish the summer and if he wants to take them next summer, he can but I won't make him unless he's regressed.

[aprilsails]

I don't have kids but they will have to learn to swim, and swim strongly at that. We have a small pool in the backyard, but DH and I enjoy spending our vacations on small sailing boats in large oceans and lakes which isn't necessarily swimming friendly.

My Dad also owns a boat, my Mom has a waterfront cottage, and DH's parents rent a cottage on the East Coast which has a huge beach and a wicked undertow. Swimming lessons will be mandatory to say the least. DH and I both love the water and are hoping to get our children into the water and used to it early and often.

[EmilieMadison]

Swimming is a life skill, not an "activity" IMO. Therefor, not an option.

And I'm in MN, so obviously landlocked. But we have more shoreline than CA, FL and HI combined. Swimming/water activities are a major part of life here. 

My kids will continue to take swimming lessons until they are completely proficient and strong swimmers. They can both swim (after 2 years of lessons) but are not *strong* swimmers. Maybe another year or so and then maintenance lessons every few years.