swimming lessons for a cautious 6yr old - recommendations pls

[sleepy-li]

My daughter is a little nervous of the water and I'd like to get her a few private lessons to boost her confidence before putting her in a general class - anyone done this or have an recommendations?

many thanks

[mybaby178]

Hi I had the same issue with my daughter, we had private lessons at Jags sports club, unfortunately the teacher we used has moved abroad but if you look on their website there are other teachers listed.

Just so you know the private lessons make a huge difference my daughter is now a happy and confident swimmer so well worth the price!!

[ryedalema]

We did the same thing, but with a babysitter. We were lucky enough to find a babysitter who was a swimming coach, and they combined the two with a few sessions at Peckham Pulse hydro pool, which as you know is REALLY warm and shallow.

Now our 6 year old has swimming lessons at Dulwich College..which doesn't have a shallow end. It's a bit of a different tactic but she's come on really quickly by not being able to touch the bottom. Once she had confidence in the water not being able to touch the bottom has 'taken the stabilisers off' and she's becoming quite a strong swimmer.

Hope this is helpful..

[alieh]

I've seen 1:1 teachers at Forest Hill that seem very good. You could ask there?

[nunheadmum]

You could try SuperKidsSwimming. They've got great instructors who have been brilliant with my rather reluctant kids. I think some of the instructors will do private lessons too.

http://www.superkidsswimmingschool.co.uk/

[Skegness]

My four year old has recently started small group lessons with superkids at st Thomas the Apostle in Nunhead. Before these lessons she had never willingly unwrapped her arms from round my neck for even a second when I took her swimming and I am amazed at how her water confidence has developed. The teachers are lovely and calm. Reasonable prices too.

[esme]

My son was a bit afraid but now he has done a few swimming lessons (in a group - so he could see everyone else doing it and follow) he now loves it, comes out full of beans telling me what he did and saying how great it was. He goes to Dulwich pool but I have heard equally good things about Peckham and Camberwell group lessons. I think JAGS might do private lessons and they offer free trials now and again, so you could test the water so to speak! :) Hope she likes it...

[sleepy-li]

thanks for all your responses, theyve been really helpful and I appreciate people taking the time to help.

[cactus]

You can book private sessions at the Fusion pools - Dulwich, Camberwell, Peckham etc.

Around ?18 per session the last time I enquired.

[Proj London Health]

Easy peasy!

I taught children and my own daughters for many years.

If very young then an all in one suit with floats. They enjoy the water and kick about, then on the next session take a float out (c.8 floats in the suit), this encourages extra kicking.

As a 6-year old, encorage a pair of goggles to look under water while swimming in the shallows - a big breathe in, swim and then stop during exhaling, and then a new breath.

McCabe

[Proj London Health]

Me again!

Purchase a large float that the 'full-on' swimmers use. Hands at the front so the elbows are supported on the float too, this keeps the upper extremities (body) prone in the water while the legs do the kicking.

I use to teach across London and found two key 'starting points': either find a pool that is warm, Crystal Palace use to have a pool downstairs, and I think Beckenham's smaller pool is warm too; or Imperial College - London had a salt chlorinated pool which helped to make you float too so you are prone in the water.

** Tips **

1.

Again, goggles are great as it encourages children to look into the water without stinging their eyes. This is a long-haul project so making the introduction fun enables you to build upon it.

2.

I use to do this trick with children and adults which was fun and educational for them too.

a) If you are able to swim a width with the float, then great!

b) Now, divide the width with two objects or markers on the side.

c) Start! Kick as hard as they can with 'toes' pointed behind them ** this is really important **

d) Between the 1st and 2nd ojects / markers, the 'toes' must now point to the botton of the pool.

When the toes are pointed down or towards the body by a few degrees, they are actually hooking the water - this will cause no movement forwards, and can result in the swimmer going backwards. The net result.... how important to have toes pointed baackwards and for the ankles to be flexible.

** Teaching Points **

1.

Hold both your arms out forwards, now pretend they are legs kicking slowly in the water with your wrists gently moving up/down similar to your ankles with your fingers representing your toes. That whipping action of the fingers/toes generates propulsion

2.

Once the above is achieved, take a big breath and place your head into the water and slowly breathe out and then raise your head again.

3.

Progession: Repeat point '2', but this time take your head from the water to the LHS and breathe in and reinsert into the water and breathe out slowly. Now repeat on the RHS. And then LHS, and then RHS, LHS and right hand side.

Men typically are unilateral swimmers (breathing on either the RHS or LHS), women however are typiclly bi-lateral swimmers - they breath on the LHS, take 3-strokes and then on the RHS.

Good Luck!

McCabe - Project London Health advice and support is FREE!

[Clair47]

My son John is 21 and teaches swimming at Dulwich Prep, St Dunstains & Beckenham Spa.

He is really good with children and a lovely lad.

He may be able to give 1:1 tuition if your interested.

Email me details if you are and I'll pass them on to him.

Clair

[Mens]

Another vote for superkidsswimming but the intensive summer course is what worked for us rather than weekly lessons.