Parenting Forums

Posted: 17 July 2007 at 5:30pm | IP Logged

I took Joshua swimming after school today, we havent been in a long time. He was really excited, but once we were there all his old confidence just went and he wouldnt let go of me, was a struggle to get him in the water. Eventually little by little he loosened his grip until he was letting me just hold his belly so he could swim. Then after about 45 minutes he told me to let go and off he went, with armbands, swimming and he swam 10 metres, turned round and swam back. He them wanted the toilet, and going back to the pool he said he didn't want his armbands back on, I told him it was safer if he did but he insisted. At first he just held onto the side playing with them, then one of them bobbed away I went to get it but he just let go and swam after it. He swam maybe 3-5 metres without armbands then got tired and and asked me to carry him back to the side lol He doesnt get his legs straight and he kicks under the water, but at least his confidence is there so he'll get the hang of that in time.

I have no excuse but to take him regulary now, the leisure centre is doing 2 free swim sessions every day, and all day at weekends. It cost £6 for us today so I couldn't afford to take him loads at normal times, but over the summer Im going to try take him at least a couple of times a week!

Posted: 17 July 2007 at 7:05pm | IP Logged

LOL I was a fish, constantly in the pool..how I still dont smell of chlorine I dont know.  Its the one thing I miss as im not allowed anywhere near the pool, which is driving me nuts cos I love it.  Both the girls love swimming and hate armbands, theyve never used them as I dont like them (personal choice).  The way my mum taught us and she was a qualified instructor, was she taught us how to survive in the water before we learnt to swim.  So we knew how to tread water and to float long before doing any sort of swimming...and Ive been doing the same with the girls.  Joe erm sinks well, so hes not confident enough to take the girls swimming by himself, however hes happy enough to go as long as im there bless him.

Tasja is turning into a mini fish, which is good, and I cant wait to take her swimming properly once im allowed within sniffing distance of the pool.

Well done Joshua though with his swimming.  As long as he keeps his confidence with the water hell be fine.  Try teaching him to float etc, so armbands can be relegated to the bottom of the cupboard.

Posted: 17 July 2007 at 11:08pm | IP Logged

That's brilliant... well done Joshua.

I'm qualified swimming teacher, and I loved it when I taught but there isn't anywhere where we are at the moment. I love taking Cerys swimming (although we haven't been for a while due to C-section and she's had a nasty cold as well and am looking forward to taking Seren as soon as I can. I don't use armbands either, like Steph I don't like them but as she said that's not to say there is anything wrong with them just my own decision.

I too think it is a really important skill to learn and once the confidence is there that is half the battle to the actually swimming.