3 Yr Old Swimming Lessons

Where are the swimming lessons? Public or Private? A 3 yr old should be in class w/ other 3 yr olds. There is a huge developmental difference between 3 and 5. If they're charging you the same price for 1 on 1, be happy. If they want you to pay more, find another swim school that has class for 3 yr olds. Don't take it too personally -- same thing happened to me, but my daughter is 7 (ADHD). I was upset at first, but it worked out better because she got more attention for the same price, despite technically being moved down a level.

It's unrealistic for the other parents to expect him to behave like 5 year olds. But, he'll probably get much better instruction, and be a better swimmer, with 1-on-1 instruction. Don't sweat it.

He's probably not ready to be in a class with 4 and 5 year olds, really. He deserves to be in a class that is more geared towards his own age level. It would be WAYYYY more fun for him to be in a class where his needs are catered to, and not where he is a "distraction" to the other kids. He is just acting his age, so he needs an instructor and a class that can handle his three-year-old needs. Don't feel bad - a three year old is not ready for kindergarten either, and he should not be expected to act like he is five. Let him be a three year old!

Honestly, there really is a big difference between a 3 year old and a 5 year old, so I'm surprised that your son was put into a class with kids that much older. Given that lessons are only 30 minutes long, I can understand parents not wanting to spend money waiting for a 3 year old to get repeat instructions. I'm not saying that your son is doing anything wrong or inappropriate. I'm just saying that teaching a 3 year old is different from teaching a 4 or 5 year old.
Personally, if they are willing to put your son into a private class for the same price, then I say go for it. Again, I'm sure there's nothing wrong with what your son is doing. I'm sure he's just being 3. Try not to take it personally. Be glad that he can get out of that class and take some pressure off!

Don't be mad at the other moms for complaining... I've seen one or two kids holding up the whole class, and it's frustrating, especially when you pay good money for these classes. Find a class with only 3 year olds. There are plenty of them through the YMCA and other places. If you can get your money back, do it and find another class. It's important that kids his age get lessons so they are safe around water.

D.,
I say pull him from that particular class. If they cant put him in a class for his age then he should not be in it. I to have a 3 year old who just turned 3 in June and I have been looking around for swimming lessons. At 3 they just dont quite have the listening for instructions down yet. He should be in an age group for 3 year olds. I had a simular situation recently when I put him in a pagent for 3-5 year olds. Most kids were 4.5 and 5 years and they were totally different from my son. I realized right then that I would never do that again and in any situation make sure that it is age appropriate for your child. Never let anyone make you feel bad about your childs "lack of water experience". Good luck!

Take her out but ask for your money back first!
Then bring her on over to my house, she'll swim
when she's ready until then well just work with her
in the pool! If you like a little more formal instruction
my cousin is great and it would be 1 on 1!

I would find another class with his own age, when learning to swim, it important that they get a lot of attention. For safety reasons too. in my opinion) Maybe the instructor has to many children to deal with......just maybe, he's not doing his job properly.
Find a new one.
Good luck!

Hey D.
My son turns 3 in November and is in a preschool swimming class. Normally you have to be 3 to be in the class but they said he could take the class as long as I think he can follow instructions b/c the kids in the class will be 3 and 4. I am surprised that there isn't a class one step below the one your son is in that is more age appropriate.

I wonder if the instructor is having to take time out to address your son and it's taking away from the other kids swim time. And understandably so, your son is only 3. I wouldn't be offended or anything but would either take him up on the one on one lessons or find one that's just for kids in his age group.

Oh and yes I'd ask for your money back. If he doesn't complete the class and the instructor asked you to take him out you should be able to get your money back.

D.,
As long as there are no extra costs for the one on one lessons, I'd encourage you to go for it. At this age, swimming is best taught one on one. Consider it a safety issue. Safer for YOUR child, safer for all.

As far as listening and following instructions, three is three. Consider the surroundings and all the energy bouncing around pulling his attention here and there, not to mention the techniques used by the instructor! It is THEIR job after all, to control the pool as much as possible.

It would have been far more professional and kind to leave out the comments of other parents. The swim school should have evaluated the situation on their own and made the appropriate changes for EVERYONE'S safety, learning experience and FUN. While it is an absolute must to learn, swimming should be fun!!!

Good luck!

this same thing happened to me, although my child was 13 months and the other kids were 2 or 2 1/2. the instructor sent my son to a different class because he couldn't keep up with the other kids. he actually ended up liking his new class better and it worked out.

honestly, i think your instructor is right to move your son. it's nothing personal and it sounds like he is looking out for your child's best interest and putting him at the level he belongs at. it's totally normal that a 3 year old is not at the same level as 4 and 5 year olds, so i wouldn't look at it as he is getting "kicked out", i would look at it as he's being put in the right place for him!
hope this helps.
S.

I would think it is time to find another swim class/instructor! He is 3 and just learning, that would be expected, and the instructor should be more sensitive to working with all ages. It almost sounds as if they are trying to force you to pay for the private lessons.

Have the other kids in the class taken other swim lessons prior? If they are all beginners then everyone needs to work together.

I think you shouldn't feel bad, I think you should look for another swim class/school. It is all about confidence in children when they are learning to swim and it does not sound like that would be happening in this environment.

Good luck and hug your little one:-)

Hi D.

It is normal. it's not fair to the other children that he can't follow the rules. That being said the instructor may not have the patience either. do you have the option of giving him private one on one until he can follow basic rules or has more water experience? I took my children to a private swim teacher! she was amazing and very patient...taught for over 20 years! she is in the rancho cucamonga area and you go to her house. Let me know I would be glad to give you her name. send me a private message.

I have to say, as a parent of a four year old, there is a big difference between how much a new three year old and a four or five year old pay attention in classes. And, it is frustrating when you are there just for your kid to learn and another one disrupts and takes away time from your kid. So, it is probably in the best interest of the other kids.

However, if you don't like how it was handled, you could always change swim instructors. We take my son to Waterworks in Irvine. They are open year round and classes are either private or semi-private (2 kids) and matched to be with someone their level. It's a little more pricey than some places, but not that much and you can pretty much name your day and time and they'll find a class for you which as a working parent I LOVE! That might be a good fit for you...

-M

Are they charging extra for the 1-1 (or a lot extra). Don't think of it as getting kicked out. Think of it as focused training. My neice was going to swim lessons and there were 10 kids with 2 instructors in 1/2 hour. One person waited with the kids and the other took them for a min of instruction. Terrible. As a 3 year old, nah even as an adult, I would be out of my mind bored and distracted. My sis in law ended up paying my cousin who is 16, $10 per "class" for 45 mins. of 1-1 at my Aunts pool. I thought she was nutz as my cousin only swims for recreation in her own pool, not on a swim team and she is not a lie guard. But my neice has learn so much in 5 lessons and she can totally swim confidently around the pool! My neice is 5 so it may be somewhat different results for you, however your son will be working with actual swim instructor so you have that advantage.

If you don't need to pay extra for the one on one, I'd leave him in that situation because he'll get more attention and will come out better for it. Three is not too young to learn water safety. If he fell in a pool and can get to the side safely, then all the better! How many kids were in the class before they pulled your son? Normally, it's only 2 or 3 to one at that age. Otherwise it's a safety issue. Have you observed his behavior in the class? You might talk to your son saying he has to wait his turn and sit on the step or whatever while he's waiting and not explore (otherwise it could be a safety issue). Good luck!

Ok, you probably don't want to hear this, but yes, if he isn't listening in the class and causing a disruption, especially swimming, then maybe it is better to not have him in them just yet. Now, let me preface that a bit. My daughter has been in 8 weeks of swimming lessons (every day). She will be 3 in October and is generally a well behaved child. She has had 4 different instructors in those 8 weeks and 3 of the 4 handled the kids (ages ranged from 2 1/2 to 5) very well and were assertive. However, there was one instructor that was way too timid and didn't "manage" them so there was a lot more playing and disruption which can lead to safety issues (falling off the stairs into the water, etc.). Maybe she doesn't feel comfortable managing him and heck one-on-one is ALWAYS better! I wouldn't be too upset over it - certainly not gutted. He is 3. They have the attention span of a gnat :).

Hi D.,
If they are not charging you more money take the one on one class. Your son will benefit much more from it. My son did 2 years of group lessons and he learned a little but once he did one on one he learned to really swim.

Also at 3 years old, kids don't really learn to swim as much as they learn to "save themselves" if they fall in the pool. 4 and 5 year old kids are much more coordinated and focused than 3 year olds and are really ready to learn the correct way to swim. They probably should not have put your son in that class in the first place. Because of your son's age, the instructor may be giving him more attention and taking away time with the other kids. If the class is only 30 minutes that doesn't leave much time for the other kids.

I do think the school was at fault for the way they handled the situation but if you like the place go with the one on one lessons.

Hope this helps.

Your taking it personal. The instructor took him out for the safety of others, not just because he wasn't follwoing instrutions. I have been on both sides. If my daughter wasn't being a 'good listner' and causing others to not be safe she was pulled out. How else is she supposed to learn and if other students were causing unsafe conditions for your son wouln't you want action to be taken. This is about Chilren drowning, not about an instructor being unfair to your child. He will learn be patient and have short conversations with him about listening. Good Luck!

It is very unprofessional for the school to mention the other moms, which made you feel as though your son was a problem. Will the one on one class cost you more? If so, ask for your money back. There are plenty of places that offer swim classes, which are usually done by evaluation, not age.

It isn't safe for kids to not listen when water is involved. Sounds like the older kids are just more mature. It isn't your sons fault, he is 3. i had b oth my boys in private lessons at 3 and 4. It worked out so so much better.

Ok I don't want to be mean but I paid for my grandson to take lessons and it was 5 on 1 (bummer to begin with) so there was this one kid who was crying all the time and the teacher had to spend more time with him which took away from the others and with only a half hour it can really kinda get to you when it is the same kid crying and taking up more time EVERY WEEK! If my grandson would of got a one on one I would have been very happy!!

I started our son when he was 3 1/2 and was in private lessons that summer and the summer when he was 4 1/2. He wasn't swimming by then (not unusual). By this summer, some my friends talked me into the YMCA which was crazy amounts of money cheaper and they section the kids off by ability. You son will definitely not be the youngest one, or the only one who "acts out". I was completely sketical at first about the Y, but I have come to LOVE it!! My son who is now 5 1/2 is completely swimming in the deep end and is learning strokes!! Try the Y, I think you'll be much happier!

Feel lucky that they moved him to one on one. He'll progress SO much faster with private lessons, and they usually cost a bundle!

Hi D.,

You lucked out! Really! One-on-one swim lessons are so much more effective than class settings...and usually more expensive, too. If you're getting one-on-one time for a group rate, I'd just smile and go with it. The safety concern is valid and the solution is a win-win for your child.

A three year old not-water-safe swimmer is not well placed in a 4-5 year old, more water experienced class. And, really, how many three year olds follow directions in a new environment? Your son wasn't kicked out so much as placed in a safer environment. This is why one-on-one is great. Keep your eyes on the prize...a water safe child.

Good luck!

D. M

Children should all learn how to swim as young as six months. If it takes one-on-one then let him. You can always work with him yourself. When my three grown children were young they were taught how to swim by us. We made this a rule since we also had a pool in the back yard. They did learn how to swim, but there were days where they didn't want to swim. Keep him out for a while if he still acts up, then try again later. You can always teach him in the bathtub too. If you have had him in the whole term of the class, then you should just ask for the amount back that was not used. I hope that helps.

D.,
We put our daughter, age 4, through two swim sessions this summer. The first was a group session, with a total of 4 children. My daughter was the one that was more "advanced" than the other kids and she was so bored.

The second session, we did the more expensive one-on-one and I would never do anything other than that again. The individual attention paid off and she is now completely swimming. I mean, doing the crawl, the breast stroke, diving to the bottom of the pool for rings, you name it. Swimming across the entire high school pool. Soooo worth the extra money!!!

Ummmm....actually....I'd look for a different place for lessons. But YES it IS totally appropriate that children of certain ability levels get grouped together. If the rest of the group is at one level it's reeeeaally common for a child at the bottom to get moved down a level or at the top to get moved up a level. Even if by the "level guide" the higher or lower level swimmer fits, where the group is at overall can & should be a big determining factor. This is a common thing especially for the beginning and end of summer. If someone has been the the begining class for two months they're going to be at a differnt place than a child who just started last week.

Why I say a different place for lessons is this: It sounds like this place is missing at least one level if not two.

Where I've done lessons, there are usually two "floater" classes (aka JUST beginning). The first floater class are the 2-3 year olds and the 2nd floater class are the 4-5 year olds. Even though what's being taught is the same (blowing bubbles, intro to face in the water, kicking, floating, monkey walking along the wall, holding onto the instructor -motorboat & other games-, holding breath, gliding to the stairs, etc.) the developmental levels are NOT the same. Honestly the youngest kids aren't super capable of listening, and the older kids tend to spend half their time with their ears under the water...so while both groups may not be listening, they're doing it for different reasons. Even for a good instructor, that can be very very difficult. Very difficult in the water translates to not safe. Hence splitting the ages within a beginning or adv beginning group.

What to look for in very beginning lessons

- No more that 3-4 kids in each instructor's group
- Lesson taught 90% on the stairs, so the kids can be in the water but resting/playing in the water (so they're learning comfort in the water as well as resting) between one on one time with the instructor.
- Fun
- Group activities on the stairs (blowing bubbles, songs, etc)
- "Swimming" one on one with the instructor.
- No just beginning swimmer ever more than 6 feet away from instructor.
- Appropriate age/level grouping (aka, don't put a six year old in with the 2 year olds...or have someone who can swim on their own in with kids just learning to not be afraid of getting their face wet)
- Appropriate levels (aka, not having the steps between levels be so big that it's a shock to the kids to move up and down between them...aka if one level expects kids tp be able to swim across the pool on their own, the level before that actually taught them how to do that...not just had them use a kickboard across the pool.)

Kids get moved up and down levels ALL the time, it's nothing to be embarrassed about at ALL. Why I say to look for a different class though, is that it sounds like there's inappropriate age grouping/ level jumps (there *should* be a level in between where your son is and the mommy&me class), and the instructors don't seem to be super qualified...if they're having to rely on PARENTS objecting that the way they've ordered their class isn't safe. They should be good enough at what they do that THEY catch that first...not worried parents.

the same thing happened with my daughter in dance class. Except we were kicked out of the school because they didn't have a class for her age group, even though they advertised they do. We were not able to get our money back either. But, with swimming, we started teaching her ourselves at 2 years old and she is now 4 years old and can swim all alone, under water and doing summer salts (even in the deep end). If I were you, I would save my money and just teach him yourself. My daughter never once took a swimming lesson.

Hello there!
Sure!

Water is a dangerous environment to be in, especially when one is not swimming and if one is not able to follow instructions.

The teacher is constantly worried about your child drowning!!!

He probably will have more fun with a one on one now. I have a 4 year old that wanted to go and have swim class with the other kids last year but she was just not ready. She did very good this year.

I don't know if this will be of much help, but I would suggest waiting until your son is 4-5 years old. In my experience with my son, swimming didn't even click until then where he could grasp much about it. Our pediatrician doesn't recommend swim lessons for children under 4. Just a thought as perhaps he truly isn't ready for the lessons just yet which is what is posing the problems for the other children. It wouldn't mean there is an issue with your son in the least, but that it may be slightly jumping the gun on him swimming.

I agree that if he at a different level, it is not appropriate to be grouped with older more advanced kids.

My daughters have been in swim lessons since they were 18 months old. NOVA swim school in Fountain Valley and they have other locations. My 3 year old nad 5 year old are now EXCELLENT swimmmers. I disagree with the other poster who said to wait til 4-5 years old. If you have the RIGHT instruction, they will teach your child to float FIRST. My 18 month old daughter learned to float on her back within 2-3 lessons (one on one lessons). NOVA has a very good program that teaches safety first. Look up their website: http://www.watersafe.com/ and read some of the stories. It's truly amazing. I feel very confident that both my girls could swim and float in an emergency situation which will save their lives. While wait til your son's older to teach him something that could save his life!

Hi D.,

Although I do not like the way the instructor handled his explanation to you, it is not an unusual occurance. I taught swim lessons years ago. Switching kids to better match skills is normal and necessary. He should not have told you others had complained that was not very tactful.

Personally if my child got moved to a one on one class and I did not have to pay an arm and a leg more for a private lesson, I would be thrilled. I know you feel bad because this was handled in a negative way but a one on one class will be super for your son.

If your son is upset by the move gently explain to him it is to better help him learn to swim and he is so lucky not to have to share his teacher.

I think in the end you will be happy that he had his alone time with an instructor. Chalk it up to bad communication.

Good luck.

C.