Swimming Lessons?? - Wyoming,MI

We started our daughter in actual swim classes in Howell at the Aquatic center at the age of 5... And are planning on starting our next one at 5 also...

We do spend alot of time at the beach (local swim hole) during the summer and they are already comfortable with the water (putting their faces in etc.) But until 5 I really don't think the actual coordination is ready for the stroke development... But there are exceptions out there...

I just take my kids swimming alot during the summer and play in the water with them and help hold them up by there tummies. My son learned to swim at age 5.

Hi K.,
I was on a swim team from the time I was 4 1/2 until 17. I also taught swim lessons to children through the YMCA's of Charlotte, NC. The earlier the better because it can be difficult to introduce an older child who has had little experience in the pool. If you are a good swimmer yourself then you can save money by just taking them to the pool with you. I had both of mine going under water around 6-7 months. My oldest is an average swimmer and I did pay for him to do swim lessons. Some kids do good for the simple fact that they are with peers and want to do good. I decided that I could do everything they were doing, with my experience, but we did one session through Lifetime fitness. They did a good job but it was expensive, and most of the time they started about 5 minutes late (only 30 minute lessons).

Hi K.,
My kids are 5,4,& 2-1/2. We have had them in swim lessons since they were about 9 months old. At that age it's more getting them used to the water than actual lessons. My two oldest attended a preschool that included a swim lesson, plus we keep them in a weekly lesson throughout the year. They are currently working on swimming without a noodle, but they can swim very well in a life jacket. My son is too young for formal lessons, but we take him in the pool every week and he can swim on his own with a life jacket and us right next to him.

The younger they are when you start, the better. I have found that kids at this age can move from being comfortable in the water, to having fear, then comfortable again. This is normal, but the older they are went they first start, the harder it is to break the fear.

We go to a YMCA for our lessons (this is also where the preschool is). The instructors are very good with the kids and do not make the child do anything they are not comfortable with, and I have yet to see any student remain fearful for more than a couple of weeks.

Hope this helps!
S.

I started with a parent/tot class when my daughter was a little over 1 (i could have started at 6mths but I did not know about it) they basically get the kids comfortable in the water, have water poured over their heads, all kinds of different and I felt great skills. Starting at 3 she now can go to a class by herself - her and three other students and the teacher. I go through clinton twp parks and rec and the instructors are red cross certified and they are wonderful. We go up north a lot and I want her to be comfortable around water and have all the skills. I don't think they can actually learn to swim till 5 but before then they can be comfortable with the water and learn some great skills if they were to fall into the water (they actually teach them how to reach for the wall and how to get out) - good luck it is really what you want.

My brothers and I actually grew up with lake St. Clair as our backyard. My parents had us taken lessons at the YMCA at 6 months old. I continued the tradition with my two boys. They both started at 6 months old. I took clases at both the north oakland Y and also the Troy community center. Both were wonderful. Check out your local YMCA. The classes are generally much easier to get into and they are scheduled at all times. The classes are all tought by fabulous instructors. Actually, registration is right now for starting next week. It's really good excercise for you too. We used swim diapers under bathing suits. I took evening classes and changed the boys into pj's and they went right too bed when we got home.

We started taking our kids when they were about 3-4 years old and we took them to the YMCA.

We took my son when he was 1 1/2 years old, and we went to the Wayne Rec Center. However, if Megan is the instructor, don't take it. We actually learned more from the substitutes when she wasn't there for 3 of the classes. I would do the lessons there again, if she were not the instructor.

Hi, We took our son to an indoor pool for swimming lessons at 14 months. They were 30 minutes, once a week, for 3 weeks. He didn't really learn all that much, but he loved it and we just wanted to get him use to the water. At that age, I believe that's all they need.

Hello! My daughter is going to be 9 months old next week and she actually just started swim lessons this morning at the YMCA! She had a blast. The whole point of the class is just to get them used to the water and the sang some songs and jumped around! I wanted to get her used to it before summer when we are at our cabin all the time! Good luck!

I took my daughter to swimming classes through Birmingham Community Education program. You do not have to be in the Birmingham Public School district, and my daughter was between 3 ~ 4 when we started. They have some great toddler/preschool beginner classes for a pretty reasonable price.

K.; Go to this site and I won't have to say any thing else about how old your child should be to start swimming lessons. Please let me know what you think after watching. This is amazing!! Best to you, J. http://www.childdrowningprevention.com/index.html

My sound was about 1.5. I was planning to start my daughter this summer at 1.5, but she may need tubes in her ears.

My son took every summer through last year...and will probably start real swim lessons this year. Until now, it has been more of a playing/get comfortable with the water experience.

I had mine from a year except this last one we went swimming with her at 6months. but the pediatrician recommend one year and than I believe if they start from than and every year swims they will learn and love the water. I never took mine to a lesson. I had mine at home in a pool. Why spend the money when you can teach them right from wrong and how to swim.

Hi K.,

I have three children I attended Mommy and me classes with.
My 10 year old likes to swim, I have a 7 year old that likes to swim but hates going under.She's also very nervous in class : ( She also attended mommy and me but never liked any of the swim programs until this summer. We went to Warren Community Center and the teachers are wonderful. Also went to Livonia Recreation Center and loved it. I have a 5 year old that loves water, he will jump and go under. Then come up laughing : ) He's been in the water since he was 1 as well. We didn't like the swimming program at the costick center in Farmington for many reasons. But Warren, Livonia or Schoolcraft college have wonderful programs. I have a 6 month old and I will start her in classes next summer.
Good luck

K.,

As a former swim instructor, most children start at the age of three with a Mommy & Me class, but some moms bring them a bit earlier - even as young as 18 months - and repeat the class until their children are old enough for independent swim lessons.

The Mommy & Me classes gives the children an introduction to the water with someone they trust where they play games and learn valuable skills. Such as jumping into an adult's arms in the water, how to hang onto the wall and wait for help, and how to climb out of the pool using a ladder. We also played games like motor boat to introduce them to putting their mouths in the water and blowing bubbles, the first step to put their faces in. The sooner you can introduce your child to water safety the better.

Have a wonderful day!

-C..

I advocate swimming lessons as early as 6 months. The most negative effect are ear infections. Make sure the ear canal is very dry following the swimming experience; use a hair dryer and/or towel or use wax ear plugs. The earlier you do lessons, the greater the circle of safety and comfort towards water.

How fun! My boy was in when he was 3-4-5 at Waterford Oaks thru the Parks and Rec program. It was wonderful and gave me peace of mind while he was swimming after that!

S.

There are many different answers for your children depending on their ability and their willingness. Being a pool professional for over 18 years (I am the assistant supervisor for Fraser High School's swim program), I could be here all day asking questions and finding out the best place to put your children and in which class. However, remember that once your child realizes that he is seperate from you (aka terrible twos and others) some children who do not want to swim will put up a fight and yell and scream. Simply because they can. I have seen kids as old as 10 do it. The younger you start them, the better. Even if it is just for water acclimation and not necessarily for "stroke development". My oldest was swimming with a swim trainer (floatation only on the back) when he was 13 months old. He considers it play time. I make it like playtime. I also consider it learning a lifesaving skill, being used to the water and prepping him for regular classes between the ages of 3 and 4. It is similar to what most places call a Mommy and Me class, but it is open to anybody that wants to take a child starting as young as 6 months old to the pool. There is so many different things you can do and so many different routes to take depending on what your child is willing to do, I wouldn't settle for less wherever you go. If the staff makes you feel as if they should be in that one class and there is no bending the rules, then find another place. If you want your child to be a successful swimmer, swim lessons are simply GUIDELINES that a teacher must follow to involve the student to get him to do what he needs to do with out being horrified. And don't forget, most swim instructors who have been doing this for years (or are moms themselves like I am) can tell the difference between a child who is truly terrified and a child who is just stubborn. I would suggest getting the 2 kids into a program and going to bring the other one in as sonn as he/she is 6 months old. If not just for the sheer 1/2 hour of having fun with your child in the water. I hope the best for you in your quest to find a good program.

I started one at about one and the other at about 2. The we had to stop because one of my children kept getting ear infections. The other was so slim she kept sinking and had a hard time w/ bouancy (sp?). She hated it because she just could not float she would sink. We did find this wonderful family class YMCA which included both kids and both parents at the same time. There was a lot of play and games and stuff and it was so much fun and a good time for my husband and I too. I think swimming is important. Just be ready if they hate it to improvise.

K.,
I don't think there's any 'written in stone' correct age to start swim lessons. '
Personally, some time in grade school seems right. Because they are learning things, they're with other kids, there's an instructor. Too young and they have no comprehension.

I'm 55 and when I got to Jr. High, it was part of the Phys. Ed. program. Learn the basics before you can move on to the deep end, for instance. Sadly schools have dropped it. Or middle schools don't have pools for it. The 2 in my hometown downriver Michigan both had pools and we learned. And I wish schools today had it as 'must do', because too many people just don't learn how to swim, stay afloat, etc. and pay the ultimate price. My youngest just passed his test in the Air Force. His swimming was what left a lot to be desired. And he needs good swimming abilities for the type of program he's aiming for.

Do it!!! I was a lifeguard for 4 years and taught swimming lessons. My daughter is 15 months and we have already started and she LOVES the water. Swimming is such an important skill and getting them familiar and comfortable with water the earlier the better. The Troy Rec center has a great website for water classes for all ages and has resident and non resident rates. My daughter is in a Parent infant swim class where I hold her the whole time and get her used to it.

K. -

Check out www.goldfishswimschool.com. They are the premier swim school in my area and I haven't met a parent yet who hasn't been thrilled with their approach. They start with infant/parent classes and go from there. They've just begun franchising and I'm sure there will be many Goldfish schools throughout metro-Detroit in a few years.

I know the Birmingham location wouldn't be convenient for you, but there is some good info on their site about what they teach at each age and why.

We have a backyard pool and, in my experience, they're never too young to begin to learn to swim.

Regards, L.