Pretty excited about DIY swimming lessons...

[slyder]

Good on you Tan.

Having her familiar and comfortable in water over the coming years will greatly assist her in learning to swim. I'm a swimming teacher (as a side job) and the difference in kids who have grown up with water, and those that haven't is very big.

[mbear]

If you have the patience, time and pool to do it in, then go for it - i commend you. I have been taking my girls to swimming lessons since each of them was 6 months old....so nearly 4 years now . Every Monday morning, off we trot to swimming - and yes, like you i worry about the cost. But for me swimming is an integral part of any aussie kid growing up....

More babies in Australia should be taught how to swim given the rate of drowning accidents.

- it should be affordable too.........

[mib]

I am so sorry to hijack your thread !

We are very lucky that we are able to afford to send our child to swimming lessons. But it is quite expensive !
One suggestion is that swimming lessons are govt. subsidised (much like childcare).

I think Water familarisation is so vital. and good on you for taking that 1st step.

(i will get off my soap box now)

[Beach Mama]

Not hijacking at all, they are expensive but I will be happy to pay for them when she is older like I said and will actually learn to swim but I didn't know they were subsidised????? Im in Victoria and have never heard of that - especially as I am a school teacher and when our kids at school can't afford the lessons there isn't alot we can do. Could you forward me any info you can find about it please?

[mib]

Sorry , it is not currenlty subsidised . It is proposal being floated.

[LuluHB]

Good on you Tan. I've been taking Izzy to classes for the last couple of months now and its amazing the difference in her - she's gone from just flopping in the water to actually kicking her little legs and will now swim underwater back to the surface without being held, reach for the pool edge etc. I don't for a second think she could save herself at this point but its such a great headstart. If I had my own pool, I'd probably have done a few classes to see what they teach, and then just continue with it at home until she gets to the next stage because its all repetitive now until she's 18 months old. I think our lifestyle is such that water familiarisation and competent swimming skills are something all parents must give to their kids, so tragedies like Mib's story are never heard of again.

[mako]

Good on you Tan for doing this for your dd.
I have to say that it is very important for all children to be taught to swim as you know.

I'm a swimming teacher and have to say that the lessons we do are repetitive because that is how we as humans learn.

Slyder Its such a rewarding job don't you think? I just love seeing the kiddies progressing and the smiles on their little faces are just priceless.

Spring We start babies at 6 months. Our baby class cater for bubs aged 6 months to 2 years and then go up from there based on ability.