Need to cancel swimming lesson

Nushi

Hi everyone! 

I just wanted some advice. I recently enrolled my 4 yr old daughter for swimming lesson. She loved the sea when we were on holiday. On her first lesson, she was so scared and would not stop crying. She says that water is splashing on her face and the pool is too deep. She was also scared to drown. Now she dsnt want to go anymore. 

I have already paid for a block of 10 lessons and it says no refunds or transfer on website. 

The teacher also kept telling her enough crying and ask me to get her out as she couldn’t get through to her. 

Can anyone advise me? Thank you

marcia_

Nushi said:

Hi everyone! 

I just wanted some advice. I recently enrolled my 4 yr old daughter for swimming lesson. She loved the sea when we were on holiday. On her first lesson, she was so scared and would not stop crying. She says that water is splashing on her face and the pool is too deep. She was also scared to drown. Now she dsnt want to go anymore. 

I have already paid for a block of 10 lessons and it says no refunds or transfer on website. 

The teacher also kept telling her enough crying and ask me to get her out as she couldn’t get through to her. 

Can anyone advise me? Thank you

 There is nothing you can do. If your contact says no refunds that's what you have. 

Emmia

Swimming is the one skill that can save your life. I also hated swimming when I first started but my mum (who can't swim) made me go to lessons even though I cried etc.  

Swimming is now one of my favourite activities, and I only stopped lessons after doing all the badges, life saving etc.

As a parent you should grit your teeth,  take her back to the classes and get her to learn. Leave her with the teacher who will have seen this all before.

I'm sorry if that seems cruel. Kids also often cry at the door when they go to nursery, but the moment the parent leaves the tears dry and they start engaging and having fun... But I can see how this is difficult.

Mark_d

Little kids are often scared of something new...but maybe your daughter also hates getting the chlorinated water in here eyes as I used to.  Solution to this is to wear swimming googles.  Maybe your daughter also wants a swimming cap if she's bothered about her hair getting wet.

Remind your daughter of the fun she had on holiday.  Remind your daughter that getting water on her face is fine when she has a shower, or when she's in the sea..so ask why she doesn't like swimming pool water on her face.

This is not about getting a refund.  This about your daughter conquering a fear and learning a valuable skill.

comeandgo

Can you take her to the pool yourself at other times and get her used to the water?  What about bringing a friend of hers along just to play in the water.  Do you have a water play park close by?  My granddaughter loves the water but is finding lessons difficult so my daughter has booked some one to one lessons for her, would that be something that may help?

HampshireH

Take her week after week. Even if it means she sits on the side with her feet it and gets more comfortable each week.

Frustrating yes but giving up after 1 lesson will teach her she can give up everytime.

It will also cost you a fortune in signs ups over the next few years.

She will learn the value of things more this way and it's an important life skill.

Flugelhorn

being in the waves at the seaside is very different to the swimming pool. has she been to the swimming pool much before or was this the first time? I think most kids have been swimming with parents at the pool loads before they actually start lessons, they bobble around in armbands and floatie vests etc and get quite used to it. You could try taking her a few times yourself, preferably to a place with a bit of fun stuff eg wave machines, slides, fountains etc etc to get used to it.

See if the swimming lessons can be delayed for a few months perhaps?  Bit more age and experience makes all the difference - my 2 didn't have lessons until age 7 - they were totally happy in the water though and learned to swim very quickly 

The_Unready

Emmia said:

Swimming is the one skill that can save your life. I also hated swimming when I first started but my mum (who can't swim) made me go to lessons even though I cried etc.  

Swimming is now one of my favourite activities, and I only stopped lessons after doing all the badges, life saving etc.

As a parent you should grit your teeth,  take her back to the classes and get her to learn. Leave her with the teacher who will have seen this all before.

I'm sorry if that seems cruel. Kids also often cry at the door when they go to nursery, but the moment the parent leaves the tears dry and they start engaging and having fun... But I can see how this is difficult.

I think that there are quite a few other skills apart from swimming that can save your life 😃

vacheron

If she's starting her deep water experience straight with lessons then that could be the problem. As others have said, she needs to be introduced gradually in a fun way, maybe even going to a splash park where she can get used to just getting wet / splashed along with other kids who are having fun. Just missed the season for that though unfortunately.

Maybe explain the situation to the pool and ask if they can exchange the first couple of lessons for a simple pool access instead (which will no doubt be cheaper) so she can just get used to paddling and splashing first.

The first time I waded into a swimming pool with my son he grabbed me so tight round the neck I could barely breathe. Now we can't get him out of the pool or the sea when we're on holidays!

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

marcia_ said:

  There is nothing you can do. If your contact says no refunds that's what you have. 

They can retain costs or loss of profits but not both, if the lessons are busy and they can fill the spot they can only retain costs however I'd be complaining they can't deal with a 4 year old who is a bit afraid of the water without telling them to stop crying or leave the class.

It will likely be a battle to get a refund as these places stick to their "no refunds" despite not being entitled to but enforcing your rights is difficult, I'd be tempted to have a word with the teacher and ask them to have a little more patience and compassion and if things don't improve it's proably worth looking at 1-1 lessons, whilst they are more expensive per lesson the child will learn much faster and the cost overall is probably the same.

Emmia

The_Unready said:

Emmia said:

Swimming is the one skill that can save your life. I also hated swimming when I first started but my mum (who can't swim) made me go to lessons even though I cried etc.  

Swimming is now one of my favourite activities, and I only stopped lessons after doing all the badges, life saving etc.

As a parent you should grit your teeth,  take her back to the classes and get her to learn. Leave her with the teacher who will have seen this all before.

I'm sorry if that seems cruel. Kids also often cry at the door when they go to nursery, but the moment the parent leaves the tears dry and they start engaging and having fun... But I can see how this is difficult.

I think that there are quite a few other skills apart from swimming that can save your life 😃

Could you list them?