Swimming lessons for 4yr olds

[tigwig]

My daughter has just started swimming lessons at a cost of �4.50 for 30 mins. It is in a small (deep) pool and there is around 8 other kids which are all at different stages. Today was her 2nd lesson (she is a complete beginner) and it was exactly the same as the 1st. All they had to do was lay on their backs and kick legs across the pool. I realise this is necessary but is it right to do nothing else? I mean 30 mins of laying on your back is pretty boring isn't it?! I'm not expecting her to dive in and do all the strokes immediately but I did think she would be gaining confidence in a variety of ways not doing the same thing! Would anyone else like to share what their kids do in a beginners class? I am thinking that paying for private lessons may be more beneficial in the future where the teacher can have smaller numbers and be in the pool with them (at the moment I am in the water) and she would get more attention. What do you think?

[~max~]

Hi! As long as you are with her in the water anyway, can you not just teach her yourself? You can make it more fun too!
There is no reason why a lesson would be more beneficial to her at this stage than you teaching her. Apart from the "group" factor of course, and socializing. But then maybe once she has the basics, she can get into a more "advanced" class and get more from it? It's my opinion anyway!

[tigwig]

Well I have attempted to teach her a few things but she doesn't listen to me and is far better with a teacher telling her what to do! My problem is the pool is deep and frightens her, the kids are different ages and some can swim and some can't yet they are all together and the teacher is not in the water with them and cannot possibly give them the attention they need. I just don't know if private lessons would be better then council run ones.

[~max~]

Maybe you could find a pool that has a shallow end, or a special "kids" pool? that way she can gain confidence, and then when she's ready, go into a deeper pool?
TBH, private lessons won't be that different I think. In my opinion, the teacher should ALWAYS be in the water, but I understand it might not be practical with a large class. If you really want lessons, can you maybe ask at nursery where other mums go? You might find a similarly priced one that isn't so crowded, and better suited to your needs.

[mumof3angels]

Hi
My 3 kids go swimming with a fantastic instructor where all of the teachers are in the water. They're not private lessons and I pay �3.80 per lesson. They take kids as young as 3 and get them on their fronts and backs and they get moved upto the next group when they're ready. Mine have done brilliantly. My sister pays �10 for private lessons and her kids aren't doing as well as mine.

[Bettyboo22]

I Used To Have Swimming Lessons And I Hated My Instrutor She Shouted At Me Because I Din't Grasp It As Quickly As The Other Kids.If You Look In Shops Like Mother Care There Are Swimming Lesson Kits Where You Can Teach Her Yourself If She Dosen't Listen To You. Tell Her That If She Can Do 1 Width Of The Pool Doing Butterfly ect. She Will Get A Sticker ( If She Still Likes Them) Sweets ??, A New Swimming Costume ?