Registered User
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)
Registered User
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?
Registered User
Sorry , it is not currenlty subsidised . It is proposal being floated.
Registered User
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.
Registered User
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.
Registered User
My kids love swimming (now) but they didn't when they were babies. We took them anyway, as we live on the Coast and are surrounded by pools, creeks, ocean etc etc. Good on you Tan, I hope it works out really well for you.
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
Wow - what a good idea!
We go to swimming lessons because I'm not disciplined enough to do it myself. If I have an appointment, and have paid money - I know we'll attend! hehe.
I agree that the water familiarisation lessons feel wasted, but I've just changed swim centres, and they're much better than the old one. At least with this one there's a bit more variety in what we do, and they learn to climb in and out of the pool, learn to crab along the wall etc.
Trish - at what age did they do the swim survival? Is that from 2yrs?
I started DS at about 8 months I think.. and while he didn't mind the water.. he hated the lesson LOL (anyone who knows Tallon knows he's not a ppl person, and was 100 times worse back then!)/ We had a few months off whilst I was pg, and we're well and truly back into it now, and he just LOVES it! He's the most confident in his class atm! It's just amazing seeing the change in him. He even lets the instructor take him now, so we'll probably look at moving up a class shortly now that he's 2. Just gotta get him happy to not have me in there, coz there's no way he'll listen to instructions in a class if he's screaming for me. But the repitition really does help I think, he loves it, and he's definitely learning
Mako, yes once you get to know all the kids (I have 24) it's a hoot, especially with the ones who struggle initially then just take off. I haven't been doing it long though and the way things are going at my swim school I won't be staying there unfortunately. But, those issues aside, it's great fun.
Registered User
Tan,
You go girl! I teach my girls at home in the pool as i am another parent who was disappointed in the lessons for the price. $15.00 for 30 mins and no one on one and it was always hurried and just not really for me or the kids. My kids are 100% more relaxed and happy in our pool at home.
Shayla who is just under 9 mths was more advanced than the other kids in the class who had been going for some time and the instructor asked has she been to swimming lessons somewhere else. I said no but we have a pool at home which i teach them in too. This made me think wow i can teach my kids at home and save $15.00 per lesson as the instructed basically complemted (sp?)me in a way. I took in all the actions and what the instructor did on her first day of lessons and never went back as i do it all at home.
If you can also let me no if that dvd is any good so i can purchase one as well. Also i go to the library and get books out and read up on swimming etc etc.
thats my story
jen
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