Swimming lessons at 5 y-o

[Cameo]

How do you convince your 5-y-o to put their face and head in the water? My DD loves to play in the pool, but refuses to put her face under the water. She has plugged her nose a few times and dipped her nose in, but that's about it. I don't want to get too upset because I was the same way at her age. And I eventually did learn to swim, although going under the water is still not one of my favorite things. Just curious if anyway has successfully dealt with this with a water scaredy cat.

Thanks!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

My mom put me into swim lessons when I was 5. I HATED it, did not want anything to do with, would refuse to cooperate. So mom pulled me out. I just wasn't ready. The next summer my most favorite cousin was staying with us and she took me to the pool. Well guess what? I decided I wanted to learn how to swim and she helped teach me. Then mom put me into lessons and I became a fish.

 

[janette]

Swim lessons with a patient teacher.

My oldest DD was nervous in the water and even though she could swim it took a good teacher to help her work though being able to swim in the deep end of the pool. I was lucky to find someone that could help her do it and she is fine now. She still doesn't love diving but enjoys swimming and is pretty good at it.

I don't swim and knew that my fears / insecurities about the water wouldn't help them. I never tried to do lessons with my girls for fear that they would sense my feelings and be more scared.

 

[debster812]

Former Lifeguard and Swim Instructor checking in:

5 is a tough age, they are old enough to realize they *might* be scared, and still young enough, that they can legitimately be scared. If she is in lessons, and is enjoying them, keep at it. Repetition, comfort and familiarity are all BIG keys. If she is in lessons, and hating it, or getting upset, maybe pull her out, and try again in about 6 months or so. If the fear/nervousness goes too long, it could be a habit, but if you are just starting out, it should be OK.

Patient teacher(s) are very important, and you may want to look into a session or two of private or very small group lessons. One on one attention is always better too.

Good Luck, and feel free to PM or email me with any specific questions you may have.

 

[Serena]

My kids took the beginning classes a couple times. Each time they got more brave and eventually enjoyed the "risks" they took.

 

[browneyes]

I think you have to let her do it on her own. My dd wouldn't put her face under water, not even when she took a shower. She slowly got out of that and swims underwater now (not in the shower, but in the pool, she's 10 yo). I can't keep my 7 yo from putting his face underwater though.

A lot of times, it helps if the child can watch another child do it. If your dd watches another little girl her age put her face under water, she may decide to try it too.

 

[Cameo]

Thanks for all the thoughts. I know I should let her go at her own pace, but it's so hard when all the other kids are jumping in - many younger than her. I guess all those more scared than she is aren't at the pool!! She does love being in the pool. I told her I would never be upset with her as long as she tries her hardest.

We learned something else in the bathtub tonight. She was afraid to put her ears in because she said she was afraid of the water going into her head. After I explained that the water only goes into your ear canal and then comes out, she was better with it. She even put her ears under water for several seconds - BIG STEP!

Hopefully, tomorrow night's lesson will go a little better!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Starting at 5 sounds tough. DS started at about 2 with me in the pool with him at the Y. They started them off by blowing bubbles in the water. Then we held them at the waist and quickly dunked them and lifted them up. They got a laugh out of that. Good luck!

 

[robinb]

I also started my DD at a young age, 6 months . We did the toddler classes off an on for 2 1/2 years and then went onto the regular swim lessons. My DD, at 3 years old and (now) 36 lbs, is always the smallest one in her class. She couldn't even touch the bottom in the shallow end until this spring! The whole darn pool was the deep end for her . I thought we would take the summer off from lessons and then at our WDW trip earlier this month she (1) swam in water over her head without a pool noodle or swim vest and (2) swam under water. I put her back in lessons as soon as we got back home . Strike while the iron is hot.

The thing I noticed about the older children in the beginning classes is that they tend to cling to their parents or cling to the bottom of the pool. One parent of a 5 year old couldn't understand how my 3 year old DD was able to advance and her DD was left behind. The mother sat at the edge of the pool and watched her DD while I worked out in the gym. I suggested that she watch from the upstairs viewing area instead and her DD did much better.

I think your DD will be fine as long as you don't stress on the skills over the fun of the classes. She'll eventually put her head in the water. She'll start by blowing bubbles and before you know it she'll be jumping in the deep end! It's hard not to push your children when you know that can do so much more . Good luck ... I'm sure she'll be a mermaid in no time!

 

[tinaw]

Here's the trick we used:
I asked my daughter exactly what she didn't like about putting her face in the water and she said she didn't like the water in her eyes. So I spoke to her instructor and he agreed to let her wear goggles. After about a week I started to "forget" the goggles at home. Then she decided that she was afraid to get water in her nose so we bought nose clips. Same story as above. We also let her use these items in her kiddie pool under strict supervision. It took awhile but after all this "drama" she is now jumping off the diving board and doing awesome swimming.