Children of average ability

[tamarind]

I just watched a TV program on Channel 8 this afternoon. Zoe Tay was showing off her collections of many Louis Vuitton and Hermes bags.


During this time of recession, where many people were retrenched, it is really insensitive of her to show off. Each bag costs more than the monthly household income of many families. And for those who were retrenched, she is really rubbing salt into the wound.

The forum is like a TV show. Whatever we write, is open for the whole world to read. Is it really possible to please everyone ?

Every one has a different set of problems. Someone’s problem may seem like nothing to others, but it may be very important to that person. How can anyone else be the judge and say that he/she is whining ?

[jedamum]

Ok, back to children with average learning abilities...


My ds1, who has been taking swimming lessons for a year, although progresses well by my standards (cos I can't swim :roll: ), is lagging behind his peers (cos his peers had progressed to other stages under the same coach while he is still stuck at the current level...for 2 terms). His motor skills has all along been rather poor and the swim strokes coordination is his main weakness.

Assuming if he doesn't show significant improvements by the end of the year, should I let him continue? It is also pretty difficult to just let him 'swim for leisure', as he tends to just 'play with water' if it is not lesson time.

[jedamum]

insider,

Ya. Most kids will play with water during non-lesson time, only a handful diligently practice their strokes/swim.

I find that this coach is the best of the 5 that i had came across. ‘Mis-match’ of coach issue can easily be solved, but i had a nagging feeling that it has to do with motor skills.

Yes, I agree that swimming is a survival skill…but is swimming a ‘learn-able’ skill? or do you need some ‘inborn affiliation with water’ to know how to swim? sorry…i’m not a swimmer/hates the pool/went for swimming lessons, passed, yet dunno how to swim…while some of the people i know, never had swimming lessons, but swims like a fish envy

And…at 7yo, is there still a chance to improve one’s motorskills (aka be less clumsy)? and how?

TIA.

[mintcc]

hi jedamum, of course a 7 year old can improve on motor skills! We don't finish growing till 18 years old and it just take more practice and hard work to improve. I think swimming is totally learn-able, just that it might take time


I am one of those that took a loooong time to learn how to swim. Think I started from 7 yrs old too and when every body else is swimming independently, I am still lagging behind. I think it was way more than one year before I can make the 100m lap and I was the last batch under my coach to go for the bronze medal exam...and some more barely make it. The only difference, is during my time they don't really focus on different stages so as long as I continue with lessons I just continue lor.

However, swimming is sort of like learning to ride a bicycle. Once you got the hang of it, you can progress quite easily. The 8 laps which my coach make me do for the bronze exam was a break through. First time I swam more than one lap without resting (not too sure but I think I was at least learning for 2-3 years then) after that, the higher levels start to come much more easily and I finally complete all the levels at about the same time as my peers. Am extremely thankful that my mum just tirelessly bring us swimming each week for the 6 years we learn swimming even though she must have been wondering if all her $$ is going down the drain with my average/slower than normal learning ability :love:

now my boy also like me, hianz. Have been swimming for 1 semester and can't even kick properly or even float without my help. just have to persist ... . It is not a skill that can be master in a short time.

And I think it is okay to just let the kids play with water before and after lessons. As they progress as a group, their play will gradually involve more real swimming.... probably not for practicing, more for competition and fun.

[jedamum]

mincy:

hi jedamum, of course a 7 year old can improve on motor skills! We don't finish growing till 18 years old and it just take more practice and hard work to improve. I think swimming is totally learn-able, just that it might take time

ooo....very comforting to hear your experience.
think it's too late for me to master MY motor skills! :roll:
just the other day while lunching out, my ds1 dropped his chopsticks. just when i was about to open my mouth with the usual words, i dropped my fishball! :lol:

insider:

7 years old never too late to improve one’s motor skills. But if your son’s ‘intelligence’ is not so much in terms of kinesthetic, then it’s actually OK to be if he doesn’t prefer to do things that are more physical as long as he can move (walk / run / jump / skip / etc) with ease (“clumsy” sounds a bit ‘worrying’ to me).

What’s his coach’s comments about his motor skills / swimming skills?

I have this nagging hunch that you are ‘transmitting’ the ‘negative ions’ to him sub-consciously and making it a self-fulfilling prophecy that he may end up like you… then you may not be the right person to bring your son for his swimming lessons (if you have been the one bringing him there).

he tends to trip when he runs....just as i tend to spill if i carry a tray of food! :oops:
yes! thanks for reminding me about the self-fulfilling prophecy thingy.
we bring him to swim as a family...it is the self-taught swimmer dad that i have to pacify to give the little boy more time to get his legs kicking in the right direction. :roll:
if he is not a kinesthetic learner and doesn't prefer to do physical activities, should i let it be, or try to introduce more physical activities in hope to 'toughen' him up? :?

[corneyAmber]

Jedamum, if it comforts you further, I only learn how to swim on my own in the uni days. Some things cannot be rushed, I was rushed at age 6 and had a bad experience. It turned out that I never dared go near the water until 19, bad water phobia. But at 19, I taught myself to swim. Being self-taught I may not be fast but I have lots of stamina to swim forever…cos I have mastered the breathing techniques.


If your child trips often, please check for flat-foot with a podatrist. It may be a symptom of that which makes him appear clumsy. If there is really an issue in that area, then we can discuss further else at least put your mind at ease.

[jedamum]

ks2me:

Jedamum, if it comforts you further, I only learn how to swim on my own in the uni days. Some things cannot be rushed.


If your child trips often, please check for flat-foot with a podatrist. It may be a symptom of that which makes him appear clumsy. If there is really an issue in that area, then we can discuss further else at least put your mind at ease.

Thanks for sharing!
Flat-foot? Something new... will check on that. Thanks!

[ChiefKiasu]

ks2me:

...If your child trips often, please check for flat-foot with a podatrist. It may be a symptom of that which makes him appear clumsy. If there is really an issue in that area, then we can discuss further else at least put your mind at ease.

To us recruits when we were in NS, the definition of \"gifted\" is to be blessed with \"flat foot\".

[tamarind]

Thanks jedamum for bringing us back on track


Both my kids have not started to learn swimming yet, so I cannot comment.

BTW, I am flat footed. I still don't know how to swim. Not that the 2 are related, I am just too lazy to learn to swim :oops:

[en107rn.01056yahoo.01056com.01056sg]

My daughter takes a long time to learn swimming. She started since K2 (part of the school curriculum). I put it as not a proper training ground for her as I watched from far. Tried again in P1, P2, P3 (again part of school curriculum). This time I don’t have time to go with her & observe. Now P4, swimming is no longer part of the school curriculum. But I still think it is a must for her to learn. So manage to find a swimming coach 3 weeks ago & yes, she can float, she can do breast stroke, does her breathing within 2 lessons. So glad, after 4 years she finally gets it.


For my son, no use to send him early to learn swimming. His mouth works faster than anything that the fear sets in before he even touches the tip of the water. I break the water phobia first & when he told me he is no longer afraid of water, it’s time to take swimming class.

Yesterday was his second lesson & you know he is currently in P2.

Tamarind, it’s never too late to learn. I’ve gotten a female instructor for my kids. She’s in her twenties & her teaching method is wholesome. Not the training for NS kind.