Help- DD freaked out at swim lessons the ENTIRE time!

twirler324

DH took DD to swim lessons tonight, and she freaked out.  I mean- full on screaming harder than EVER before when he took her in the water.  He kept her in for a few minutes to see if she'd calm down, and she only got worse.  She then sat on the side of the pool the rest of the time crying.  I wasn't there, but it sounded terrible.  DH hoped that she would watch the other kids and calm down, but it sounds like that did not happen.

Any advice on acclimating her for next week?  We don't have a pool and don't have a membership, so I'm not sure how to help her...

Thanks!

ali0608

I don't have any advice except keep trying.  My DS took swim lessons last year and didn't do well.  There was definitely one lesson where he cried the entire time.  However, after that, we took him in our friend's pool last year and this year and he does just fine.  Part of his problem was that they wanted him to go underwater last year and that freaked him out.  He started to associate that pool with underwater.  I'm hoping not to push him too hard so swim lessons this year, at least not at the same place.

davis0905

It's probably just a matter of time before she feels comfortable with the new environment and people.  Keep taking her but don't push her to try the activities.  Act like it's no big deal (i.e. be relaxed) and enjoy it yourself.  If she sees you and DH having fun and being relaxed, she will likely feel more safe.  DD was pretty frightened at her swim lessons too, esp. the first couple of times.  There was another little boy who totally freaked out and stubbornly refused to go into the pool but he gradually became more comfortable as the weeks progressed and he seemed to be having a great time at our last lesson!  Hang in there!  She'll grow to love it! 

ohfour

Maybe next time don't try to make her get in and let her sit on the side and splash and watch the other kids. DD was a waterbug from the beginning, but there were other children in her class who weren't so fond of the water at first and it just took them a little more time. It's great that you're doing the lessons with her to get her more comfortable.

shannm

We just started yesterday and I thought we would have this issue too.  The way I tried to deal with it was talking about how cool it was last week nonstop.  Then we arrived super early and took our sweet time from the locker room, to the bench by the pool to watch, then to the bleachers with the other kids.  It seemed to help him that he had time to watch what was going on and get used to the new sounds and smells.

In your situation, I would just try a ton of positive reinforcement about it all week till the next lesson.  If you do another series of classes, try to schedule a more frequent class (like each night for two weeks).  I would be afraid that having an entire week between classes just allows for her to get anxious all over again.  Also, even though you don't have a membership, ask the director if you can go in a bit early with her to get her more confident.

C.squared

My DD did this for her first lesson too - it was so strange.  She had been in the pool with us before and no problem, but she was so upset for her first lesson.  I just kept hugging her and telling her she was ok - we made a joke out of it and let her splash me and that calmed her down a little.  I would over exaggerate my reaction to her splashing me and she would laugh like crazy.  Or letting her play with the rubber ducks that they had.  We'd throw them a few feet away and let her "swim" towards them.  I took DH with me the following week (may not be an option for you with 2 LO's) and that seemed to help - she had her choice of mom or dad (when she gets scared, she almost always wants dad, so that helped, I think).  After the second week, she couldn't get enough and now LOVES the pool.  I'd say just make her feel safe and secure and keep trying.  If you or DH have to sit on the steps with her for a while, let her do that.  Don't push her, but just let her get comfortable.  GL and I hope it gets better soon! 

katie_cj

I would keep trying.

Jake was the same way the first times I went in the pool with him last summer. Throughout the year, we went swimming a lot and after 4-5 times, it got much better. Jake now loves going swimming. I probably will just stick to swimming with him this summer and put him in lessons next year.

It was a fine line, but I took it slow and luckily the pool had a few toys to help distract. I also would bring him out and he would cry and I would sing, dance and move around for a few minutes, then bring him back to the side. He just eventually got more comfortable. 

We go to a pool that has steps and he can stand in at least 1/3 of the pool, I think that makes a huge different, he got used to the water and was able to stand and be in charge and in control

Good luck!

EverydayMommy09

DD did the same thing. Our swim 'lessons' were just parent/child water play, but she still freaked out. I thought she would love it because she went in the pool last summer, and because she loves splashing and playing in the bath tub. The first day was okay, she was really clingy, but did splash a little bit. Then the second day she cried the entire time. I felt so bad, and really wanted to get out of the pool because I had never seen her that upset. She is usually very social and eager to do new things.

I just kept telling her that everything was ok, and took it very slow. Don't give up, keep trying. I agree with pps give her lots of positive interactions when she does just about anything. I made a really big deal when DD let me turn her around so that she could kick her legs. Every little bit helped. Oh, I also started singing some of her favorite songs in her ear to help her calm down.

When we went back on day 3, she was completely different and loved it the rest of the time. There is hope, just keep trying. New things can be very overwhelming, just be patient and calm for her. GL 

T"sbride2b

My DS started lessons at around 8 months old. He screamed for several weeks or clung to us like a lil bear. After he got aclimated things changed and he was fine, like a little fish. He is now 3 and he just moved up to the next type of lesson where my husband and I don't get in the water w/ him. He screamed for 5 weeks. He sat on the side, did what he was supposed to but yelled for us the entire time. Then on the 6th week he was fine, no complaints, no yelling back to his fishy self. Kids just take time. I think consistency is key here. We always told him he was safe, it was fine but he was going to do it. Just keep going. it is worth it in my opinion.