Is your child afraid of swimming? Like many other childhood fears, fear of water is common in many toddlers and infants. While your kid may enjoy bath times at home, they may not be so keen to take a dip in the swimming pool, lake, or beach. In most cases, the sheer presence of the ocean or swimming pool can overwhelm them, making them feel scared. Luckily, there are many ways you can help your little ones overcome their fears and get comfortable wading through water. Below are five ways parents can help kids find confidence in the water and learn how to swim.

1. Make bath times fun for your kids

Bath times are an excellent opportunity to make your kids less fearful of water encounters. At the age of 1, your child should look forward to bath time and be confident of having water around their bodies. Follow the tips below to make the most out of bath time sessions.

  • Get your young ones used to having water on their face. When in the bathtub, get your baby wet by letting the water run over their heads and into their ears. While having water in the ear may seem uncomfortable at first, doing it in every bath session will help them get used to it.
  • Make bath times fun by introducing bath toys in your sessions. Floaties and other pool toys help your kids learn to use water buoyancy effectively, which is a crucial skill they’ll need when learning to swim.
  • Introduce them to unassisted floating in the bathtub. Hold your kid in a floating position while supporting them using your arms. Over time, they’ll learn to float independently and be less fearful of pools and ocean water.

 

2. Be patient with your kid’s fear of water

It’s normal for kids to have a fear of water. Being unable to breathe underwater is often the biggest concern for many children. They’ll need time to overcome this fear before they can feel safe around water.

  • Word of encouragement and reassurance from a parent goes a long way in helping kids feel safe in the water. If possible, join them in the pool to help them develop a curiosity to learn how to swim.
  • When in water, appreciate the minor steps your kids make. Celebrating their efforts will keep them going and motivate them.
  • Avoid rushing your kid through their swimming journey. It’s unlikely they will get over their fears in one swimming session. It may take a few trips to the pool before they are entirely comfortable in the water.

3. Sign up for a mommy and me swimming class

What if your little is below age one and not yet ready for full-blown swimming classes? Mommy and me swimming programs help parents learn how to teach kids to swim. These sessions introduce kids aged between 6 months and three years to swimming in comfortable, controlled settings. Parents don’t need to be expert swimmers to participate in the programs. The practice pools used in the sessions are pretty shallow.

Blowing bubbles is a common exercise parents use to get their kids to submerge their faces in the water. Bubble blowing teaches kids how to clear nasal passages and learn breathing sequences in water. Besides helping toddlers develop basic motor skills, mommy and me classes provide an excellent opportunity for parents to bond with their little ones.

4. Enroll your kids in swimming classes

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) gives guardians the green light to enroll toddlers for swimming classes from as early as age one. However, such swimming sessions should be under constant supervision to minimize unwanted pool incidences. Introducing kids to swimming before the age of four is essential in lowering the risk of drowning in infants.

Once your kids learn the breathing and water wading techniques, you can confidently enroll them in private tutor sessions that don’t require parental involvement.

Conclusion

Build their confidence in the water by setting small achievable milestones that increase with difficulty with each passing lesson. The incentive you offer them after each milestone will spur them to achieve more in their subsequent swimming sessions.