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Moms, what should I do about swimming lessons
Rachel has always liked the water. We belong to the YCMA and we go to the "water park" almost every Sunday. The water park is a shallow pool with little slides and fountains. At its deepest point it is only up to her shoulder.
Because she loves to go to the pool so much decided to start her in swimming lessons. I picked the one where the parents stay in the water with them. Well it was a disaster. She wrap her arms around my neck and wouldn't let go. She was crying and saying she wanted to get out. We stay in the for about 10 minutes with me trying to comfort and reassure her but it didn't get any better.
We went over to the water park and she was fine. She didn't get to particpate in swimming lessons at all.
I really want her to learn to swim. Do you think I should try again next week or just wait until she is older?
Re: Moms, what should I do about swimming lessons
Oh, we are dealing with this now. Em has always loved the water, and did great in the parent-child class when she was 2, but last spring, we tried the lowest child-only class, and it was a disaster. This year we started her in private lessons, and it wasn't until her fourth lesson that she didn't cry the entire time. I can't even be on the pool deck because seeing me just makes it worse.
Anyway, what about the class freaked her out? The parent-child class we did at the Y was all about singing songs and kicking while holding onto me, so it wasn't much different than just playing with me in the pool.
Do lessons that don't involve you. Seriously.
She's old enough to learn. Sign up for a class that does not have parents stay.
i would just take her every week. try to distract her with some of the toys or talk to the instructor about the issue and see if he/she has any suggestions. this happens a lot. and if she doesn't calm, i would still try taking her weekly. i think it is better than waiting until next year or whatever.
there is a little boy in G's swim class that did thies for the first 2 classes. so much so, that the caregiver end3d up leaving after 15 minutes b/c the kid would not let up. the third class, my H went up to them with G and asked the little boy if he would like to play in the water with G? it was a distraction of sorts and the little boy wanted to play with G and that's sort of how they got him in the water. [this was just last class --- i'm interested to see how the little boy is this week....]
i would just take her every week. try to distract her with some of the toys or talk to the instructor about the issue and see if he/she has any suggestions. this happens a lot. and if she doesn't calm, i would still try taking her weekly. i think it is better than waiting until next year or whatever.
there is a little boy in G's swim class that did thies for the first 2 classes. so much so, that the caregiver end3d up leaving after 15 minutes b/c the kid would not let up. the third class, my H went up to them with G and asked the little boy if he would like to play in the water with G? it was a distraction of sorts and the little boy wanted to play with G and that's sort of how they got him in the water. [this was just last class --- i'm interested to see how the little boy is this week....]
i would just take her every week. try to distract her with some of the toys or talk to the instructor about the issue and see if he/she has any suggestions. this happens a lot. and if she doesn't calm, i would still try taking her weekly. i think it is better than waiting until next year or whatever.
there is a little boy in G's swim class that did thies for the first 2 classes. so much so, that the caregiver end3d up leaving after 15 minutes b/c the kid would not let up. the third class, my H went up to them with G and asked the little boy if he would like to play in the water with G? it was a distraction of sorts and the little boy wanted to play with G and that's sort of how they got him in the water. [this was just last class --- i'm interested to see how the little boy is this week....]
I think it was that her feet weren't touching the bottom. They do put floats around there waist and you are always right with them. Rachel has some anxiety issues. I never know if she is going to love something or wig out.
Natalie took swimming lessons last year (she was 3 yrs, and 4 months old), and I remember that the head lifeguard guy asked me how she does in the water to determine if we should do group or private lessons. He said that for kids who get clingy and freaked out, he has seen better results when the parent is not in the water w/ the kid, and is with a group. They get comfortable in the water with other kids, and then can then do private lessons (with just an instructor, not the parent) when they're past the freak-out stage.
Are there group lessons available in your area? Maybe seeing other kids doing it will help her settle a bit and not be so afraid. You know, peer pressure, all that jazz.
Distraction is important. Don't let her attach to you. I know it's way easier said than done. Start by learning to kick. While kicking is important for swimming, it is also a distraction when the child can focus on that and not their fear.
When I teach swim lessons we learn to kick by grabbing the wall with straight arms (no bending) and kicking up and down. Then, once they build the strength to kick for a consistent 10-20 seconds (which is easier for some, but others struggle), I "drag" them around the pool while they work on their kicking. We hold hands (or I hold their wrists/forearms, or sometimes hold their bellies so they are parallel) and they work on kicking.
Buy a noodle from the dollar store. It can help get your child comfortable in deep water.
i used to teach lessons to little kids. at that age, the kid-only lessons worked best.
and i ALWAYS had a crier and a clinger. always. it would take as many as 5 lessons before they got into the water all the way sometimes.