Gone are the days of children being shouted at by sergeant major types and being dragged up the pool with a rope around their waist in order to learn how to swim! In this article experienced swimming teacher Rob Dart discusses creating the right environment for helping your child to enjoy the water.
The key to helping anyone to learn to swim is to create a fun environment in which they feel safe. This can be applied to every novice swimmer from baby through to pensioner. This article will focus on how to help to create this environment for younger children but the same ideas can be applied across the age range.
The first thing to think about is your attitude and mood. If a child sees a parent showing trepidation when around the water this can soon be passed on to them. If you have an underlying fear maybe a few one to one lessons for yourself wouldn’t go amiss in order to help alleviate these fears. You’ll be surprised at how many adults hold this fear of water and how debilitating it can be. But, do not fear we can help! Just take a look at our adult lesson section on our website for more information.
Right, so you have no personal fears of the water, you’re happy in the pool – well show it! Smile, laugh, joke… All of these these things will help to put your child at ease. If your bringing your work stresses into the swimming pool with you it will hinder your child’s ability to feel safe as they will pick up on these emotions. So, do you and your child a favour and leave your problems in the changing rooms – let this time be dedicated to smiley, happy, fun times in the swimming pool. These memories will really by cherished by you and your child in years to come.
With your personal phobias dealt with and internal attitude dialled to the right setting lets hit the pool! The first thing to remember is that the swimming pool is likely to be a noisy and totally new environment for your child. If they don’t want to get into the pool at first that is fine. Allow them time to sit and become familiar with this strange new world.
Talk to them. Explain to them what everything is. Teach them how everything works. Help them to understand that this is a safe place. With some children this may be a matter of minutes, with others it can take weeks. Either way (and anywhere in between) is perfectly normal. During this time it can be good to talk about some of the rules around swimming pools which are in place to ensure safety. No running is an obvious one but pools will vary on their rules and signage so take this opportunity to look around and talk through things with your child.
Once your child is happy to approach the water allow them to sit on the edge of the pool. Allow them to splash you with their feet. Splash them back! Set a playful tone right from the off. Bringing along favourite toys can help here. Allowing the children to play with something familiar will help them to feel comfortable.
Once they are ready to enter the water help them to do so ensuring you provide full support. The key thing here is to try to ensure that you start off on the right footing so go easy – don’t be dunking them under the water right from the off!
Hopefully now your little one will be in the right frame of mind to begin to explore their new watery world!
Warning: It is extremely important for you to ensure everyone is safe whilst in or around water. Vigilance is key and following any rules that are in place around the poolside is a must. Whatever their abilities, children should never be left unattended in or around a pool.
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