Help Your Kids Overcome Swim Lesson Fears

While some children approach swim lessons with a sense of adventure, others are more hesitant. The good news, however, is that these hesitations are usually easy to overcome. Seeing your child playing in the pool safely and happily will make the effort of a few temper tantrums during swim lessons well worth it.

If you can afford it, swim lessons by a local lifeguard or swim instructor are well worth it. I have watched many a child confuse play time with a swim lesson when taught by a parent. With a stranger, your child will be a bit less sure of him/herself and is therefore more likely to take the lesson seriously. There is more fear of "goofing off" with a stranger than with Mom and Dad!

The most important action you can take to help a nervous child become acclimated to water is to start early. Take your infant swimming and let her see you enjoying the water - and getting your hair wet! Don't take crying too seriously when it comes to getting a bit of water on the face or inside ears. Most children overcome this discomfort with time.

If you have an older child, it is especially important to enlist the support of a trained teacher. An experienced swim instructor will have strategies for working with swim lesson fears and children who are intimidated by the water. Don't be afraid to ask to watch the instructor teach before signing your child up and look for a teacher who is friendly, firm, and confident. There should be some time for play during the lesson, but make sure that the basics are being covered as well; blowing bubbles, submersing the face, kicking, and arm circles should be among the first skills taught.

Once you enroll your child, feel free to express any concerns you may have to the swim instructor before the first lesson, but don't plan on staying for the whole lesson. Most kids will make more of a fuss if they know Mom is watching. While walking away from your screaming child may make both you and the instructor a bit uncomfortable at first, allow the teacher a few lessons to establish a rapport.