Swimming lessons for a 2.5 year old?

[Inkmaiden]

I'm a bit confused by all the options out there. Water Babies? Aqua Tots? Little Dippers? They all seem prohibitively expensive. Are the lessons at the local leisure centres run by various franchises or by the leisure centres themselves, and therefore cheaper? Will I have to queue up for four hours to sign up for a place on a course? Any recommendations? Help!

[Fuschia]

Try superkids swim school

Swim at various locations

Queuing in

Person never needed

Lady is called margaret

[dulwichgirl2]

Try dropping in and asking for Janet at ED? She runs swimming lessons for the little ones and I think actually takes some. Once you get in for classes, you progress to the next class I think so maybe it is worth one queue?! Good luck.

[Inkmaiden]

Very helpful, thank you both.

[reneet]

I did waterbabies with my very young (3months at the time), he is now a year and we are still doing it. He loves it. I am neither recommending or not recommending waterbabies. Its about more than twice the price swim school (Janet and her group at ED charge) and honestly after watching some of their sessions I dont really see much difference other than the whole underwater thing. Initially it was very helpful as it helped me really bond with him it was something fun and personal between the two of us, something singing groups and other groups cannot really achieve (I am trying to explain something and not sure how to put it).

Anyway after much babbling and talking alot of nonsense I would say go for the local pools, he is big enough not to need a hydro pool and if worried get him a wet suit and save the extra money.

[Ruth_Baldock]

Sigh. I've told you; chuck her in the pool, chuck some Peppa Pig toys in the deep end as incentive and bob's your uncle!

Seriously though, quite a few friends have had group private lessons which we held in a private pool. Not too expensive iirc and her now almost 3y/o can swim independently. I'll get the name of the company when I speak (tweet, lets be honest...) to her later.

[fuzzyboots]

I echo the Superkids recommendation - my youngest did their lessons at a primary school in Beckhenham (it's not too deep) - so it's quite a commitment - but the classes are small and the teachers brilliant.

[Inkmaiden]

Ruth- your private pool or mine? *bitter, hollow laughter*

Anyway, I had a brainwave and checked out Brixton Rec- they have loads of baby and swimming courses, most of which were fully booked, but managed to get a place on one. ?60 for 12 lessons and it only took five minutes to register, book and pay online. So we'll see how we get on with that. I appreciate the opinions and recommendations, thanks.

[kapaxiana]

I take my daughter to swimming classes at Crystal Palace Sports centre, it's great and not expensive, I pay ?15 a month. Very hard to get a place though but worth insisting.

[EDmummy]

2.5yrs and swimming lessons?! Take your toddler to a floats session at Peckham Pulse (they may also do it at Dulwich Baths), have fun, relax. Use the arm floats they use in lessons and give your child support in helping them float and lots of encouragement in making little movements towards you whilst doggy paddling. Don't throw money at this early stage. Get her water confident on your own and she will be more than ready to join an organised swim session when she's 3-4yrs. The number of young children I've seen attending organised sessions without water confidence breaks my heart. Save your money and gave fun.

[Inkmaiden]

Edmummy, we do go to the floats sessions at Pulse. Inkspawn doesn't wear armbands, happily goes under water, jumps off the side, paddle-kicks on a noodle float thing and insists on walking as far as she can into the deeper water without any assistance and then dunks herself. Is that water confident enough? I want to take her to lessons because I don't really know how to take it any further than that.

Also, the session at Pulse costs ?4.40 and the swimming lesson costs ?5 so not a great deal of difference. The only issue we're having is that the water at Brixton rec is too cold for her!

[EDmummy]

What a totally unnecessary tone in your response to my post! You didn't mention that your child was so confident so was I supposed to know this?! Plain rude.

Inkmaiden Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Edmummy, we do go to the floats sessions at Pulse.

> Inkspawn doesn't wear armbands, happily goes under

> water, jumps off the side, paddle-kicks on a

> noodle float thing and insists on walking as far

> as she can into the deeper water without any

> assistance and then dunks herself. Is that water

> confident enough? I want to take her to lessons

> because I don't really know how to take it any

> further than that.

>

> Also, the session at Pulse costs ?4.40 and the

> swimming lesson costs ?5 so not a great deal of

> difference. The only issue we're having is that

> the water at Brixton rec is too cold for her!

[susyp]

ED Mummy I don't think Ink Maiden's tone was rude - I think you've taken it the wrong way. Easy to do when it's not in person.

susypx

[Saffron]

Inkmaiden Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Edmummy, we do go to the floats sessions at Pulse.

> Inkspawn doesn't wear armbands, happily goes under

> water, jumps off the side, paddle-kicks on a

> noodle float thing and insists on walking as far

> as she can into the deeper water without any

> assistance and then dunks herself. Is that water

> confident enough? I want to take her to lessons

> because I don't really know how to take it any

> further than that.

We're in a similar situation. Little Saff (2yrs 9 mo) and I did Water Babies together from around 4 months old till she was nearly two years. Structured swim lessons really suit her (funny b/c we don't do much else with structure!). She doesn't get the same stimulation from just spalshing with armbands as she does to having a lesson without the armbands. I'm happy for her to have armbands when we're just having a playdate at the pool, but I don't want her to learn to swim with them b/c they interfere with her learning her own sense of bouyancy in the water.

Eventually we gave up Water Babies b/c I found that the lessons just weren't long enough for her. It was a huge effort on my part getting ready pre-lesson, then dry and packed up afterwards - and we were only in the water 1/2hour!

Otherwise, I loved WB and would definitely recommend it for babies and young toddlers. :-)

The new pool in Forest Hill has opened recently. We're a short bus ride from it, and I'm looking forward to seeing what they offer for older toddlers. Has anyone been there yet?

xx

[Pickle]

Just to add another perspective, my kids didn't start structured swimming lessons until they were old enough to go in by themselves (we go to Crystal Palace for lessons, so 3.5), and went from being reluctant to get their faces wet to swimming confidently in less than 6 months.

There are a couple of kids in their class who have been to swimming "lessons" since they were infants and there is absolutely no difference in their ability.

We are off there now, it's usually Daddy's job but he is away this weekend. I really dislike all the faff surrounding swimming!

[Inkmaiden]

Thanks susyp. EDmummy, it's a shame you misconstrued my tone, I was asking your opinion.

Saffron, we haven't swum there yet but went to check out Forest Hill pools and they look great. There are loads of general swim sessions in the learner pool on the timetable. Cheaper than Southwark too and the receptionist said they have some other cost-saving initiatives if you are a Lewisham resident and have a Lewisham library card.

And kapaxiana and Pickle, I'd completely forgotten about Crystal Palace, thanks for reminding me.

[EDmummy]

Bad day, apologies. Tried organised swimming lessons with both at that age and it all seemed a bit too much for them so we went back to swimming together and I taught them how to float on their backs and doggy paddling without arm bands so by time they were 3-4 years they were happy and keen to be separated from me for lessons. Both now strong confident swimmers. Just my experience and probably not for you. Good luck.

Inkmaiden Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks susyp. EDmummy, it's a shame you

> misconstrued my tone, I was asking your opinion.

>

> Saffron, we haven't swum there yet but went to

> check out Forest Hill pools and they look great.

> There are loads of general swim sessions in the

> learner pool on the timetable. Cheaper than

> Southwark too and the receptionist said they have

> some other cost-saving initiatives if you are a

> Lewisham resident and have a Lewisham library

> card.

>

> And kapaxiana and Pickle, I'd completely forgotten

> about Crystal Palace, thanks for reminding me.

[Inkmaiden]

No worries, it's interesting to hear others' experiences. I'm in the pool with Inkspawn during the lessons, she's definitely not ready to be separated from me!