Swimming lessons

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2004
Swimming lessons
8
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 8:09pm

Hi,

Tonight is my second attempt at swimming lessons with PDD-NOS 5 yo DS. The class is a regular class through an athletic club. Firs round of lessons was at YMCA ds was only 3 so instructor was laughing every time he copied what she said.

Anyone have any experience with swimming lessons? I want DS to have this skill but what if the instructors say his behavor is innapropriate? What if parents of nt notice his odd behavior?

Any advice?

Kim

Avatar for cathby
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
In reply to: mrskson
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 9:35pm

Hi Kim,

I don't have any advice, only empathy.

DS (4 years on Thursday) will be starting swimming lessons in our pool in a couple of weeks. I don't think he could handle a regular class at all. The teacher I found is a special ed teacher (she's actually subbed in Jack's class). I will get some pointers and share them!

I (and I'm proud of myself) am kind of getting beyond what parents of NTs think. If you feel that you MUST say something, I like the vague "Joey has some issues that we're working on." IMHO, everyone needs to learn how to swim.

Is your DS comfortable in the water? Has he seen this pool before? Those are two things I'd be sure of.

Good luck to us both!

Cathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-19-2005
In reply to: mrskson
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:08pm

Our son is 3 now and has always loved the water (we live in FL). He is very comfortable in the water, but he has a hard time attending, especially in the pool with so much activity going on. He kind of laughs and splashes and is sort of all over the place, but happy. He will also get up and run and you have to watch to make sure he doesn't just take a dive. It can be nerve-wracking.

However, if no one is in the pool, he is calmer and can focus better. So we sprung for private swimming lessons. It was more expensive than the group YMCA class, but we were able to get a teacher who is used to special ed kids and Eric is doing well. Just learned how to float and is a really strong kicker!

For us it was not so much what the other folks thought (but believe me, I hear you, I struggle with that daily). In our situation living in FL, learning to swim is essential and we wanted to be sure he could focus and that the teacher was good.

Even with the private lessons, it was still cheaper than OT (LOL!) and in a way, I think it kind of is like OT for him. Just another thought, I don't know if your child is in OT, but that's how we found our teacher. Our OT knew of lots of programs, also summer camp type programs for special ed kids that included swimming. That might be a good place to get some ideas.

I've found that being in the pool with Eric is one of the few things the two of us really enjoy together. It seems to relax us both!

Good luck!

Katherine

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
In reply to: mrskson
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:43pm

Dear Kim,

We found that classes in the water were too overwhelming and impossible for Malcolm to attend during, but private lessons worked much better. Malcolm is now 8 next week and a good swimmer who loves the water. Currently, he is learning to coordinate side breathing with the crawl and getting quite fast!

He still has days when it is a struggle to attend in the pool, when there are too many kids in the water, he is tired and the echos are too much for his oral sensitivity. He now studies in a shared private session with his best friend, which costs us a little less. He has had many swimming teachers, special needs trained and not, all good teachers. I have explained what is up with his senses and they have all been patient and terrific.

I also could give a rat's butt about what other parents think. We have as much right to the pool as anyone, and my son is doing his very best to make out what's going on in the world and be well.

Good luck! A truly good instructor is going to make accomodations for all the abilities of their students, so hopefully you will find one.

yours,

Sara
ilovemalcolm

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-02-2004
In reply to: mrskson
Mon, 06-20-2005 - 11:47pm

see how the first few days go...if your child enjoys it... who cares what others say.
I know how you feel, I'm lucky, most of the parents I've run across, are usually so concerned about the silly things their own child is doing, they don't see mine....

If it makes you feel more comfortable, talk to the instructor... you don't have to go into great detail, just a litte info. I have found that instructor's are more acceptable to some behavior,if they know a little background.

enjoy swimming... had have fun:)


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: mrskson
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 8:44am

I have had pretty bad luck with the group swim lessons as well. It is crowded and overwhelming. The kids really didn't learn anything for the money we put into it. Actually, i have heard that experience from many parents of the younger kids. That in the group they really don't learn a whole lot.

I have had the best luck just by getting them in the water. In the summer we go swimming at least 2-3 times a week. I wear a bathing suit and watch them like a hawk. If they get into trouble, I go in and help them. But otherwise I guess it is like a mama bird teaching the baby to fly. A little push is all that is needed. They don't swim pretty, but they have alot of fun and get the job done.

I have heard private lessons work much quicker, then once they have the idea they may be successful in the regular one. My autistic nephew has been taking YMCA group lessons for a while and does pretty well. He took private lessons first. Thing is he didn't really learn how to swim at the lessons though, he goes more for the social and theraputic aspect. He learned like my kids, on his own and has his own style. They swim alot. Since they have a pool in their community, that is why I get to swim alot too ;-). Both my mom and SIL have pools, plus we have a low cost town pool not to far away.

I understand your concern. Swimming here is very important. I live 10 minutes from the beach and I won't let the kids actually "swim" in the ocean because they are not good enough swimmers. Then being an overprotective ASD mom, they may never be good enough by my standards, lol.

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Avatar for deerhart
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
In reply to: mrskson
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 11:56am

ohh my ds's first night of swim lessons was hmm interesting. Things were going well until DS and some other little girls had to use the restroom. Of course the female teacher took them over and he went in the men's room while she took the girls into the ladies room. The teacher and girls came out and the girls went back to the lesson and about 2 minutes later I catch a little naked butt yelling for his mother run by. Seems he coudln't get his wet swimtrunks pulled back up so the only logical thing to do was to take them off and go get mommy for help! After that the teacher made sure we knew he was going into the bathroom to help him!

Beyond that, we did have to sit close by for awhile becuase he would wander away from the group and try to do his own thing in the water, but after the first few nights (it was a 2 week course) he stayed more focused on what he was supposed to be doing.

I am hoping to get him into lessons again this summer and maybe during the shcool year, but it dependso n times and what slots are still open as he has really progressed and now will at least bob under the water once where last year he wouldn't at all.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
In reply to: mrskson
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 7:33pm

Have you considered teaching him yourself? My daughter (almost 3) LOVES the water and we swim several time a week. However I will not be putting her in a swim class this year because...well....just because. (LOL) I just teach her myself and she's doing great with that. There are a lot of resources on teaching strokes, and other basics. You might even consider taking a WSI (water safety instructor) class yourself. It might be a nice evening out for you, AND you'd know everything you need to teach your son.

On the other hand, I taught swimming off and on for years, and to be honest nearly all boys in the begining swim class around that age are difficult. So, don't think your child will be the only child the instructor finds challenging. You might want to try it for a few classes and just see how it goes.

Mary

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-25-2004
In reply to: mrskson
Tue, 06-21-2005 - 9:09pm

Thank you to everyone for the great advice and stories!
Last night was not so bad - I decided to stay by the pool (when other parents were in the bleachers). But another mom was right by me because her nt daughter was so "timid".

I've tried before to teach ds to swim - but he did a lot better seeing other kids dunking under the water and I think that helped. He LOVES to copy other kids - even if it's awkward for me with the echo factor. The group noise factor was a huge distraction - but he was not the only one distracted. Tomorrow night - lesson 2 - cross my fingers.

They also told me a boy of 5 can't go into the girls locker room - So dad came along to help catch him after the lesson. unfortunaly, dad was to late - ds ran into the ladies and went to the first available toilet. I guess when you gotta go you gotta go ; )

Note for next time (have dad in locker room when lesson ends.

Thanks again everyone!!!! and I'll keep you updated

Kim