Let's be honest; we all secretly want our children to be 'best' at something. It's a natural urge. we always seek for comments like "she/ he is definitely the best."
Swimming is one of those things I feel that everyone should know how to do. It is such a huge recreation that to remove it from your options is a major disservice to you and your children.
I was a little slow getting my son into water. When we moved to Australia, seeing other kids doing water activities, I enrolled him for lessons at the local pool. It was then that my son's reluctance, or downright refusal, to get wet became evident. He was terrified. His screams when the instructor carried him into pool filled me with sadness and embarrassment. I noticed the sideways glances from parents whose own children jumped enthusiastically into the water while I pleaded with my son to at least dip a toe in.
Week after week I tried everything-applauding him, begging, bribing him-and sometimes getting angry.
At times I felt like giving up. Then one day, it happened. With the help of tube he started moving around and getting confident. He now doesn't want help. Jumping, playing has become a fun water activity for him.
The first thing one must understand with children and water is if you have a fear of the water, they will sense that and it will affect their ability to move forward. Let me say in here that it is vital that everyone respect the water and a certain amount of fear is not a bad thing.
The earlier you can get a child in the water the better. You go along with child in water. If they already have a fear of the water you will want to make sure you go VERY slow in your progression. You want to start with splashing, and then build up to blowing bubbles. Don't push the child, but do it yourself so they can see what you are doing. If they go under water clap for them. Children respond greatly to our praise. They love the attention and they deserve it!
Overall for any fear that a child has the first thing you must do is take a serious look at why they have that fear. Is it a fear of the water? Is it an attention mechanism? Are they feeding off your fear? Once you know what it is use patience, understanding and A LOT of praise and they will overcome it!
After seeing my son swimming in water, i started taking swimming lessons to swim with him. And I'm loving it!!
Swimming is one of those things I feel that everyone should know how to do. It is such a huge recreation that to remove it from your options is a major disservice to you and your children.
Week after week I tried everything-applauding him, begging, bribing him-and sometimes getting angry.
At times I felt like giving up. Then one day, it happened. With the help of tube he started moving around and getting confident. He now doesn't want help. Jumping, playing has become a fun water activity for him.
The first thing one must understand with children and water is if you have a fear of the water, they will sense that and it will affect their ability to move forward. Let me say in here that it is vital that everyone respect the water and a certain amount of fear is not a bad thing.
The earlier you can get a child in the water the better. You go along with child in water. If they already have a fear of the water you will want to make sure you go VERY slow in your progression. You want to start with splashing, and then build up to blowing bubbles. Don't push the child, but do it yourself so they can see what you are doing. If they go under water clap for them. Children respond greatly to our praise. They love the attention and they deserve it!
Overall for any fear that a child has the first thing you must do is take a serious look at why they have that fear. Is it a fear of the water? Is it an attention mechanism? Are they feeding off your fear? Once you know what it is use patience, understanding and A LOT of praise and they will overcome it!
After seeing my son swimming in water, i started taking swimming lessons to swim with him. And I'm loving it!!
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