Finding Appropriate Attire

3 Tips For Helping Your Little Swimmer Overcome Fear Of The Water

25 January 2016 by Bojana Graus

Swimming is great exercise and a perfect way to pass the time on a hot day, but not every child takes to the water naturally. For some kids, fear of the water hinders them from enjoying this fun summer pastime. And it's not just a question of missing out on the fun – if fear of the water is keeping your child from learning to swim, then they're less safe around the water than they should be. Take a look at some tips that can help your child get over their fear so that they can enjoy their time in the water and learn to swim safely.

Take It Slow

Fear of water can be paralyzing experience for a child, so you need to be prepared to proceed with extreme patience. Take baby steps, and be prepared to lavish praise on your child every time they make progress.

Start by having your child sit on the edge of the pool with just their feet in the water. From there you can progress to standing in the shallow end or sitting on the steps before you begin working on going deeper into the water or getting your child's face and head wet. Every time your child goes a little further into the water, give them plenty of praise for the accomplishment.

Use Swim-Related Rewards

There are all kinds of things that can make your child's swim time more fun, from pool toys to fun flotation devices to special bathing suits. Go out of your way to provide your kids with things that will help them associate swim time with fun time.

Is your child a fan of The Little Mermaid? They might enjoy swimming in a mermaid swimming suit. You can find one complete with a tail that's safe for swimming. Let your child pick out sand toys for the beach or floaties that make them feel safe. A few accessories can really improve your child's swimming experience.

Swim Together

Even if your child is taking swimming lessons, there's no substitute for having a parent in the pool. Make sure that you spend plenty of time in the water with them. Don't just cheer them on from the sidelines. Get in, splash around, and teach by example.

Even if you're not a strong swimmer yourself, you can set a good example for your child. It's never too late to learn better swimming skills, and your child will benefit from seeing you make the effort.

Whatever you do, don't force your child into the water or punish them for being afraid. That will just lead to even more negative feelings about the water. Patience and persistence is the key to helping your child learn to love the water. 

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