8 Year Old Learning to Swim

[Deleted User]

My 8 year old boy is learning to swim with school, he goes to the local baths and they do some form of lessons. He's confident in the water and loves swimming.

However, we went swimming and I noticed he was swimming more like a topedo. His head never came above water, his body was too deep.

Its quite likely that my son has dyspraxia/asd. His brother has it, and he has had problems learning to write legibly, slumps over his desk, a bit disco-ordinated, thought process challenges. If he does have this, its a lot milder than his brother has it (and different as you'd expect). I've been working hard to get him assessed, even got my MP in trying to get an assessment date (its been 18 months waiting now) but there may or may not be only just someone appointed to do the assessments, and there's a 12 month waiting list after that. So its going to be a while. The school just raise their eyes when I mention ASD.., they aren't as convinced as I am - been through this with his brother lol.

So meanwhile, how best do I help him learn to swim? It looks like, as per usual, he's in too big a group to get the help he needs through the school swimming lessons, so what can I do? It looks like he doesn't have the strength in his abdomen and back muscles .., but also he doesn't see the point in using them. I've tried to show him how to swim, both by demonstration and holding his body but he was quite put off by the idea of keeping his trunk rigid. He's kicking well.

Are there games I can use to help strengthen his trunk muscles? Something fun where he doesn't realise he's exercising? I've used a balance board with him in the past, and we've used bean bags to help his hand eye co-ordination.

I'm on benefits so its difficult to afford expensive individual swimming lessons, expensive (private) therapy options. He loves swimming so much, I'd like to help him. Its the highlight of his week. I intend to continue taking him, and can leave things as they are so he's having fun at least, but I suspect eventually he will realise it isn't going quite right lol.

He is delighted he doesn't have to use a float anymore.., although he does really need one. Won't use a ring.

onlyroz

Have you spoken to the swimming instructor about his progress?

Our council do lessons in groups of 10 but there is also a smaller class of 6 available for the less confident swimmers for a bit more money.

peachyprice

Swimming was the one physical activity my dyspraxic son loved, it was the only activity in which he didn't feel different from everybody else because they couldn't see what was going on under the water. His technique wasn't all that but he could get to one end of the pool to the other without worrying about everyone else laughing at him or without falling over. He's quite a strong, if not very pretty, swimmer now.

Just keep on doing what you're doing, take him to the pool for fun, don't make a big deal about the way he swims, technique will improve with time.

Nodding_Donkey

So he's learned to swim, and is probably quite pleased with himself, and you've come along and told him he's doing it wrong!

bouicca21

I don't think you need worry at this stage. If you take him swimming regularly he will develop the muscles. It may be worthwhile weighing up the cost of your visits to the pool against the cost of joining a swimming club, where he can get better tuition.

jo78

Hi I'm sorry but I'd be pleased he can swim all be it not correctly

My son has dyspraxia and adhd he tells everyone he can swim I'd call it drowning with flair he just bobs up and down

He had lessons for years he went one week and was fab but the week later it was like he had never had a lesson in his life Iv tried to get him to do 1-1 lessons but in his eyes he can swim so why should he

As long as he is safe in the water and happy i won't worry xx

fluffnutter

I know little about dyspraxia so can't comment but it sounds like his swimming technique is really effective. The more of your body that's in the water, the less drag you get. What does his swimming instructor say about the way he swims - if they had concerns, wouldn't they have raised them?

You ask how best to help him learn how to swim - but he can swim. He's propelling himself in the water, seemingly having fun too. I wouldn't worry about technique - you might put him off. I'm also not sure why you want him to take a backwards step and use a float. All humans can float, we just need to learn how to move in the water to make this happen. And it sounds like he's doing this perfectly OK if he's actually happy to be immersed in the water. I don't think anyone needs a float - they're just useful aids when concentrating on one part of your body. And rings have got nothing to do with swimming at all, they're a liability IMO.

WestonDave

I'm not convinced you have anything to worry about. I have two boys who can both swim reasonably proficiently. The older one can swim very well now but because he is skin and bone doesn't have the natural buoyancy some "larger" kids have so he tends to swim pretty low in the water. The younger one has more buoyancy but initially found it easier to swim literally underwater than on top of it - he'd spend ages in fun sessions with us just swimming as far as he could under water. He's pretty much grown out of that now and swims fine. I'd agree with those who've said let him get a bit further into lessons and see whether his muscle tone and technique develop just by more practice. Its natural for a parent to want their kids to do well but I'd be keener for him to continue enjoying swimming so he wants to learn more than be put off by having his confidence knocked if told he's doing it wrong.

eilidh_s

I was a swimming teacher in my youth and quite frankly unless you want him to get into competitive swimming, his technique doesn't matter. The main thing is that he can get from A to B unaided and would be quite capable in an emergency. You don't say what stroke you are teaching him, in the front crawl you do have your head under the water most of the time with a quick turn up for a breath.

If he is confident and having fun, I wouldn't bother changing anything.

[Deleted User]

Perhaps I should clarify. He is swimming completely underwater, so its three strokes and he comes to a dead stop due to needing to breath. He's not going from A-B. I have told him that I am very proud of how comfortable he is in the water (he's come a long way), and how much he loves swimming but it would be even more fun if he can learn to be a bit higher in the water so its easier (learn to hold his body rigid so his head is raised). I am not in any way into crushing my son's efforts. I've said that I loved being under the water rather than over but could do both so I got where I needed to go. If we don't praise our children for what they are doing, but also encourage development (without demeaning them) how can they develop?

I am also forstalling the time when he realises he's not doing so well compared to his peers. Our children aren't stupid. I've done this before when I've praised and praised what they can do, not mentioned what they can't.., and then comes the day when they realise others are moving ahead. In my experience, that's impossible to deal with, and dents their confidence, try as I might to prevent that.

I'd like him to be safe in the water. Or at least be progressing towards that. The reason I wrote is I asked for some fun games that would help him without him seeming to be exercising, to help him develop his trunk muscles. Not sure how this can be called crushing his efforts. He might need a little extra help with this aspect of swimming.

Person_one

If you're not a swimming coach/instructor yourself and don't have any experience teaching swimming technique, I wouldn't try to do it yourself!

I had swimming and diving coaching for years as a teenager and nobody ever told me to 'hold my body rigid', so while you might know what you mean and what you want him to be doing, others will be better at actually getting there!

If you're worried, chat to his instructor, although I agree with the others that you might be overthinking and it would probably be better to just let him crack on and improve at his own pace while he's enjoying it.