Quote:
Yes. This is what you are aiming for. But if the child won't get in the pool without screaming in fear, you cannot hope to start on any of this. The floatation suit (with an adult right there with her) will help her get over her fear. Start in the suit on the steps. Let her wear the suit while you hold her. Get her used to being in the water and being safe. Gradually you can let her float lower and lower in the water until she is confident on her own. THEN you can start actually teaching her to swim. The American Red Cross swimming plan is excellent and will show you the steps to follow. But she will not be receptive to learning until she is comfortable in the water.
The big key to really learning how to swim properly is getting the face wet. I'm guessing she isn't even remotely interested in getting her face wet at this point. Have her parents start in the bathtub. An increasingly wet washcloth will get her used to water on her face and eyes. Get them to work their way up to pouring water on her head (after rinsing shampoo perhaps). Too many parents are too careful about keeping water out of their kids eyes. Wet eyes won't kill them and it makes it easier to transition into swimming.
When I teach swimming I turn it into a big game. We never talk about "Swimming" at all. Everything is about monsters and mermaids and whatnot. The kids forget that this is a Big Deal and start playing along. Even the terrified kids eventually get in the game (even if they still don't particularly want to do the skill). While we are looking for monsters and mermaids, we are learning to blow bubbles and kick and glide, etc. Interestingly enough, everything about swimming can relate back to mermaids and monsters.
Again, PM me if you want the full spiel. I have to go to work here in a minute and the whole deal will take some time to type.
You have to get past the fear before you can teach the skills. It might take most of the summer to get her comfortable in the pool. No worries. Make it so fun and positive that she will beg to come swim! You do need to make sure it is real fear and not just stubbornness. I have had a few kids that were determined to hate it because their parents made them do it. Dealing with that takes a whole other set of skills.
Yes. This is what you are aiming for. But if the child won't get in the pool without screaming in fear, you cannot hope to start on any of this. The floatation suit (with an adult right there with her) will help her get over her fear. Start in the suit on the steps. Let her wear the suit while you hold her. Get her used to being in the water and being safe. Gradually you can let her float lower and lower in the water until she is confident on her own. THEN you can start actually teaching her to swim. The American Red Cross swimming plan is excellent and will show you the steps to follow. But she will not be receptive to learning until she is comfortable in the water.
The big key to really learning how to swim properly is getting the face wet. I'm guessing she isn't even remotely interested in getting her face wet at this point. Have her parents start in the bathtub. An increasingly wet washcloth will get her used to water on her face and eyes. Get them to work their way up to pouring water on her head (after rinsing shampoo perhaps). Too many parents are too careful about keeping water out of their kids eyes. Wet eyes won't kill them and it makes it easier to transition into swimming.
When I teach swimming I turn it into a big game. We never talk about "Swimming" at all. Everything is about monsters and mermaids and whatnot. The kids forget that this is a Big Deal and start playing along. Even the terrified kids eventually get in the game (even if they still don't particularly want to do the skill). While we are looking for monsters and mermaids, we are learning to blow bubbles and kick and glide, etc. Interestingly enough, everything about swimming can relate back to mermaids and monsters.
You have to get past the fear before you can teach the skills. It might take most of the summer to get her comfortable in the pool. No worries. Make it so fun and positive that she will beg to come swim! You do need to make sure it is real fear and not just stubbornness. I have had a few kids that were determined to hate it because their parents made them do it. Dealing with that takes a whole other set of skills.
