Swimming lessons

hikerbeth

So DD is taking her first "real" swimming lessons.  I took the baby classes with her when she was 6 months-1 year and then played in the pool with her a lot (at least every other week) since then.  She turns 4 in a month.

She loves the lessons, but hates getting her face wet.  I knew it would be an issue based on bathtime (she REFUSES to take a shower).  She always hated getting splashed in the face by mistake when we were at the pool. . . and she's fallen off the side a few times and submerged and freaked out. . . but I figured when SHE was in control of it, she'd do better.

Well, she wouldn't dunk at all in the first class.  This class the instructor held her hands and dunked with her and she threw a royal fit (although very short lived. . . she snapped out of it and was happy through the rest of the lesson).  I praised her a TON for dunking under after class was over.

She loves going to lessons, just hates the dunking part.  She's having a really hard time telling me why. . . anyone have experience?  Goggles perhaps??

heyitsme

Goggles, definitely. My DD went from being like your DD to doing bobs and everything else once she had goggles. Good luck!

JOEBunny

Maybe she is afraid because she is just smart?  It is not the most natural thing to stick you head underwater.  Kind of counter intuitive to common sense.  Sounds like she will keep trying and get used to it.

Chrisy-Wyobride

I am sooo anti-googles, nose plugs, etc. when learning to swim.  I just think it hampers them.  My DD#2 hates being dunked...she's getting over it.  I don't ever force her into lessons/doing things but I do bribe.  She's progressing, it just takes some time. 

Temp108743750006959

my DS is the same way and I can't blame him -- it feels AWFUL to suck in water. I vote to not push it and when she's ready, she's ready!

hikerbeth

Chrisy-Wyobride:

I am sooo anti-googles, nose plugs, etc. when learning to swim.  I just think it hampers them.  My DD#2 hates being dunked...she's getting over it.  I don't ever force her into lessons/doing things but I do bribe.  She's progressing, it just takes some time. 

This is the reason I didn't get her goggles initially. . . I would rather she do it without.  Maybe we'll try a few more lessons without.

brightning

Chrisy-Wyobride:

I am sooo anti-googles, nose plugs, etc. when learning to swim.  I just think it hampers them. 

Me too.

P.G.&A.M.

Goggles often help. At first I was anti goggles for swim lessons, but at Foss swim school almost every kid has them. And I got to thinking almost all people who are serious swimmers use goggles so I ended up getting DS a pair. He now loves putting his head in the water. And now that he's comfortable putting his head in the water with goggles he's also becoming more comfortable with putting his head in the water without his goggles. I have not seen any down sides to the goggles- only positives.

grja

I have been giving private swimming lessons for years. I find different techniques work for different kids. No two kids learn the same, and some kids just aren't meant for a group lesson since each kid learns at a different pace. As you said, a lot of children have a hard time explaining what they're afraid of. If you can figure it out, it makes overcoming it a lot easier.

My favorite technique - find a small toy, piece of candy, trinket, something small that you know your child will want as a reward and I wrap it up in tinfoil (sometimes i have to weigh it down so it sinks). I tie a string around it and place it a few inches under water. If the child sticks their face under and touches it, they get it. This technique works to get them to go under water as they get more advanced.

mommynow

DD was the same way - hated dunks, hated putting her face in, etc.  We did a week without goggles and then I got some just to see if it would make a difference.  It was like night and day...she LOVED the goggles and was dunking herself the first day she had them on.  I am OK with goggles at this point because I'd rather her know how to swim and be comfortable in the water and goggles definitely make her more comfortable. 

REOM

This seems simple and silly, but my DD became comfortable getting her face wet by blowing bubbles in the bathtub. She thought it was so fun, and she was getting her face wet in the process. Then we started blowing bubbles in the pool, and she wasn't afraid anymore.

hikerbeth

Great suggestions everyone, thanks!  She is in a very small group lesson right now (3 kids) and I think it's good for her to have peers to watch and not have all the focus on her (one of the kids is a friend from school as well).

We may try private lessons if we get through a few sessions of this without much improvement. . . but I'm guessing she will find her groove.

wildfloweragain

Ours doesn't allow goggles, but she hated getting her face wet for the first year   (8 wks  we don't do it all yr.) This year was a bit better, with going under at the end (3- 2 wk sessions.)