When you were a kid

Did you do lessons or did your parents teach you?

I was just thinking about this lately as DD1 whose just turned 6 has been doing lessons for maybe six months now and the costs are adding up to already about $500... she's definitely still a beginner and really there hasnt been much progress for the past few months (goes once a week for 1/2 hour).

I remember doing lessons at school (state school had a swimming pool) but I dont remember doing them for ages and I'm 100% sure my parents wouldnt have forked out $1000 or more... which is what its going to cost if DD continues for another six months.

DH reckons he did a lesson or two then his parents threw him in and said "sink or swim" LOL.

Im pretty sure I did most of my lessons through school too. But I also had 4 older siblings who probably taught me alot lol. I dont remember ever having 'swimming lessons' outside of school.

Ive just signed up DD1 into lessons too, & found them very expensive IMO. It worked out $175 for the rest of the term, but then they gave us 2 free lessons, which takes it down abit. Doubt i'll be signing her up next term. It's just too expensive! They do have a holiday program here which goes for 4 days, is one on one, & a fair bit cheaper. Might do that next time.

I take my kids to the same place I learnt how to swim. I along with my kids were taught less than 1yr old. Although it seemed the half hour lessons were meaningless, the repetitiveness does help them eventually.

We found that hanging around in the pool after the lesson - as a revision and swim with mummy or daddy was really helpful.

Let's face it, no parent wants to live with the regret that their child drown BC they didn't go to swimming lessons. One thing I have noticed is how different they teach the kids now compared to how we adults were taught. So if you are thinking of self teaching, I'd research on the techniques and remember kids learn by watching others.

We did whatever lessons the school offered. Other then that, no formal lessons - just learning with my older cousins, aunties and uncles.

We did private lessons each week, as well as term and vacswim.
Our family spend a lot of time in the water so it was crucial that we learn.

My parents taught me. my mum was a swimming champion when she was a teenager lol. I wasn't very interested though and would freak out when they tried to teach me to put my head under water. My dad used to throw me in (im not recommending it) and now I can't be in the water alone with him, I just panic!! Same with my uncles lol

We had lessons at school but I never really got into it it was always too cold haha.
I still hate putting my head under lol I could swim to save myself for abuot 5 minutes maybe but thats about it. I'm going to take DS to lessons when he is 1

hey. i remember having lessons when i was really young but couldnt really swim until i was about 13 when a family friend taught us the basics of doing freestyle and we joined a swimming club.

growing up we just went to the pools all the time although i couldnt swim well i could float.

u could take ur kids to the pool and build some confidence in them and once they can float u could try a swim club which is much cheaper.

Happyhead I'd be changing if I were you. Maybe their methods don't suit your child?
I did spend well over a thousand, closer to two!
We had weekly lessons all year round with an intensive course in the middle of the year where lessons were daily for 14 days.

My dd1 took about 6 months to learn.

My dd2 (through the same place) still wasn't swimming after a year. She was five by then.

The instructer kept saying that my dd2 was too hyperactive to learn, that maybe she wasn't ready.
She also told me that because I'd missed a few lessons, that was why she wasn't swimming.
I had missed a few by the end of the year because I was starting to get fed up with the place and all the money that I felt was being wasted.
She still wasn't swimming, just kind of doggy paddling.

I enrolled her with somewhere else... they had her doing freestyle in ten days!!!!
And they were cheaper <img src='http://www.huggies.com.au/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='<_<' />

Myself? I grew up next to the water. I would paddle around in the shallow water and more or less taught myself. My dad did throw me into the deep water every now and then and then he'd dive in after me. It became fun.
He'd also take me into the surf on his shoulders when the waves were calm.
Other than that there were school lessons once a year.

I did lessons a few times after school, but theres no way it would of cost what it does today.
we are teaching DS ourselves as both DH and I were competitive swimmers and were qualified swim coaches, so until he reaches school age we'll do for now.

I did lessons a few times after school, but theres no way it would of cost what it does today.
we are teaching DS ourselves as both DH and I were competitive swimmers and were qualified swim coaches, so until he reaches school age we'll do for now.

Yeah its big business these days smile I've no doubt is necessary but after seeing no progress for several months and we've got her in a holiday program at the moment where the instructor wasnt even watching them and correcting mistakes just seems silly to keep forking out for god knows how long.

She's got another lesson today, I'll speak to the manager about my concerns... I just think the instructors could be more active in achieving progress rather than letting the kids continue making the same mistakes... but then they probably wouldnt make as much money!

A friend of my mum help me learn. Then i got asthma, so my doctor told mum that swimming was really good for me, so she signed me up for swimming lessons at the local pool. And i think i did 3 lessons a week & mum said i got pretty good.
She use to come to every lesson & cheered me on.