Should I stop swimming lessons because my child is crying and afraid of water?
Your little fish probably cried on the first day of school. Didn’t he go back to class the next day because of this? Maybe he’ll drink a little cup… This is part of the learning process. When you fall off your bike, you get back on!
Spoiler: going back to the pool every week will help your child stop being afraid of the water!
Of course your child may be scared the first time, and that’s perfectly normal! Water is an element that can be anxiety-provoking. But that’s no reason to stop. Even if it is complicated at the beginning, the important thing is to persevere and keep trying. Step by step, each at his own pace! This is our motto.
Fear of water: here are 5 tips for not giving up
1. Send positive vibes
Your little one will be wriggling around in a new environment for the first time with all the apprehension that comes with it (for both of you!) And we know, children are sponges. So if you stress, they stress! Stress is the enemy of learning. Encourage him, explain how the class will go, mentioning his great coach and all his little friends. Be cheerful during the handover with the coach and play down any tears. Coaches have more than one trick up their sleeve to calm a child.
2. Be patient, the fear of water cannot be overcome overnight
Give your child time to develop a unique relationship with the water, but also a relationship of trust with the coach who accompanies him/her. In fact, it can take up to a month for your little fish to stop resisting when it comes to going to the pool. But when he gets going, it’s on! Praise him, whether he went in the whole water or just wanted to sit on the edge to watch and dip a toe. Every step counts.
3. Give a goal to motivate him/her
And even if it’s not his favorite sport, tell him that learning to swim is like learning to read, write and count. It is essential to grow up and to be able to enjoy the water on vacation in complete safety. Describe the activities he will be able to do on his own one day (under your constant and unconditional supervision of course). To further motivate them, you could sponsor a classmate and sign them up together. And if it’s the little neighbor across the street, then you’ll definitely increase motivation tenfold!
4. Reward his efforts
“Mom, I put my head under water!” Victory! After only 1 month, your little fish is finally taking a shower and washing his hair without having a crying fit? Did he put his head under water with his favorite coach? It’s probably time to reward him with the little gift he’s been asking for for weeks. The carrot works! When well measured and well delivered, a reward is an opportunity to take stock of the skills acquired and to make people realize that in life, efforts give results.
Fear of water: why is it so important to start young?
Because it is by starting early, as early as 3 years old, that we avoid any blocking construction. It is also by getting children used to this age, and by taking them regularly to classes, that apprehension can be effectively combated. This type of challenge is also part of the school of life and teaches perseverance!
Using an active pedagogy with the coach in the waterour ambition is to make your child autonomous and safe in the water
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And one day, I promise, your little fish will swim in happiness!
What better lesson than to instill that in life, perseverance pays off?
