How long for 6 year old to learn to swim

RubyGirl

Very vague question I know but how long would it take a 6 year old to learn to swim.

He's been swimming for two years (Sept. - June) with usual school hols.

Burkatron

It can't really be answered, as you said the question is very vague & the answer is it depends!

GarIT

My brother lerned to swim in less than 30 mins. Its all about fear and confidence. Swimming is so easy once you are confident about it, you just move your arms in circles and kick your legs. Swimming well takes time.

Burkatron

GarIT wrote: »

My brother lerned to swim in less than 30 mins. Its all about fear and confidence. Swimming is so easy once you are confident about it, you just move your arms in circles and kick your legs. Swimming well takes time.

That's great, now explain that to a 6 year old or anyone else that can't swim! So you don't rotate your body & turn your head to breathe?? I've been doing it wrong all these years!!

FloatingVoter

He may not want to. A dread of water is deep rooted and I wouldn't push the kid. I learned at 7 and became quite a strong swimmer. Excuse the pun, but different strokes, different folks.

username123

My niece is 6 and has been swimming in classes for 2 years and is a great little swimmer for her age now. They say she is ready to move up a level but are holding back a year so she isnt very young in the next class.

It depends on the individual, some people have a more naturally affinity for the water. Some instructors are better than others too.

The main thing is that there is progress. Has there been progress in the 2 years? Are you being updated on the childs progress. Does the child like swimming? Are the other kids progressing ahead of the child etc...

My nieces grandad usually goes to watch her at the pool as does either her mother or father (whoever brings her) so they are watching the progress themselves weekly.

Burkatron

username123 wrote: »

My niece is 6 and has been swimming in classes for 2 years and is a great little swimmer for her age now. They say she is ready to move up a level but are holding back a year so she isnt very young in the next class.

It depends on the individual, some people have a more naturally affinity for the water. Some instructors are better than others too.

The main thing is that there is progress. Has there been progress in the 2 years? Are you being updated on the childs progress. Does the child like swimming? Are the other kids progressing ahead of the child etc...

My nieces grandad usually goes to watch her at the pool as does either her mother or father (whoever brings her) so they are watching the progress themselves weekly.

All of this is spot on! There's also a physical aspect to it, it really depends on the child!

I just realized you mentioned they take the Summer off! Do they do any swimming in that time? 8 weeks (closer to 10 as most swimming lessons start back 2-4 weeks after the schools) with no water contact causes regression, the 1st day back is a pain as a swim instructor because of this. :rolleyes:

GarIT

Burkatron wrote: »

That's great, now explain that to a 6 year old or anyone else that can't swim! So you don't rotate your body & turn your head to breathe?? I've been doing it wrong all these years!!

It worked for my brother, neither of us breathe. Hes only 8 and he can nearly do a full length without stopping, hes gone to lessons for a year since. It might be wrong but as I said its easy to swim badly. If you just try to swim without any fear it will work. If your in a pool you can't stand in and just try to get from one side to the other you'll manage to get across somehow.

You honestly probably can give better advice than me tho. I'm no swimmer.

amdublin

GarIT wrote: »

My brother lerned to swim in less than 30 mins. Its all about fear and confidence. Swimming is so easy once you are confident about it, you just move your arms in circles and kick your legs. Swimming well takes time.

Yeah that's how it's done :rolleyes:

GarIT wrote: »

It worked for my brother, neither of us breathe. Hes only 8 and he can nearly do a full length without stopping, hes gone to lessons for a year since. It might be wrong but as I said its easy to swim badly. If you just try to swim without any fear it will work. If your in a pool you can't stand in and just try to get from one side to the other you'll manage to get across somehow.

You honestly probably can give better advice than me tho. I'm no swimmer.

Seriously

GarIT

[Quote=amdublin;79597855Seriously [/Quote]

Seriously about what? I don't breathe. I did just bring him into the deep end, told him he could swim, kinda held him up and he swam. It probably is bad advice so I'll leave it to the proper swimmers but I was just saying it worked for me, I've taught about 4 cousins to swim as well and it always seems to be about confidence. I was nicer to them though.

Burkatron

GarIT wrote: »

It worked for my brother, neither of us breathe. Hes only 8 and he can nearly do a full length without stopping, hes gone to lessons for a year since. It might be wrong but as I said its easy to swim badly. If you just try to swim without any fear it will work. If your in a pool you can't stand in and just try to get from one side to the other you'll manage to get across somehow.

You honestly probably can give better advice than me tho. I'm no swimmer.

You never mentioned the bolded part! You're not wrong, it is a major confidence thing,it's using that confidence & applying it in the right way that works! It's another reason majority of kids learn easier then adults, they don't know any better

amdublin

Dude "moving your arms in circles" does not sound like swimming to me!

GarIT

Burkatron wrote: »

You never mentioned the bolded part! You're not wrong, it is a major confidence thing,it's using that confidence & applying it in the right way that works! It's another reason majority of kids learn easier then adults, they don't know any better

I thought I did, my first post seems shorter than I thought it was, I'm on 2G so maybe that's the problem.

What I meant to say at first was that I think the best way to do it is to just get them past being able to swim at all because they then realise its possible and can just improve from there, I think its more difficult to learn to swim if you are trying to swim properly from the start.

That's why I would get them to swim in some way then get lessons.

EDIT: I actually did say swimming is easy but swimming well takes time.

RubyGirl

Burkatron wrote: »

All of this is spot on! There's also a physical aspect to it, it really depends on the child!

I just realized you mentioned they take the Summer off! Do they do any swimming in that time? 8 weeks (closer to 10 as most swimming lessons start back 2-4 weeks after the schools) with no water contact causes regression, the 1st day back is a pain as a swim instructor because of this. :rolleyes:

Thanks guys, ya he's moving along great from day one when he was afraid to even go into the pool. He loves swimming and put's it ahead any other activity he does.
No we will be swimming at least twice a week for the summer hols, we have practice time first then play time. I also get his instructor to do about 2-3 1to1 classes with his aswell privately.