Any swimming instructors? Advice needed please

EssexGirl

My 8 year old does swimming lessons with school and has done a couple of terms of lessons between the ages of 5-6. He can swim to a reasonable standard and swam the entirety of the 20 metre pool at my gym recently. I was very pleased with him.

My problem ( well his really) is that he will jump into the pool from the side in the shallow end, so that his feet hit the floor and he doesn't go under the water. But in order for him to get his next swimming badge, he needs to be able to jump in at the 2m deep end. He simply won't do it. He will lower himself into the pool, but won't jump in. He hates going under water and is scared he won't come back up again. No matter what assurances I offer him, he isn't satisfied that he will be safe.

This is really starting to get him down, because he really wants the badge. I have tried taking him swimming myself, and coaxing him to jump in, but he seems to have this "block" that won't let him do it. He gets so wound up with himself. He hasn't had any kind of trauma to do with water,and I'm a competent swimmer, (his dad can barely make it to the end of the pool ) We don't swim together regularly, but I suppose we should..

Does anyone have any techniques they could share with me to try to get him to be less scared? Any advice appreciated.

Mrs_pbradley936

The first thing I would say is do not pressure him, just make sure he knows that it is a requirement but also get someone to teach him to dive. First by sitting on the edge. I take it he does know that as he enters the water he should be gently breathing out through his nose so that water does not go up there? You would be surprised at those who do not and wonder why they dislike anything other than wading in. My son is a first class swimmer, represented the school, county you name it he has done it. I cannot swim a stroke and did not want him to be like me so he went swimming as soon as he had his jabs as a baby. I enrolled him in the baby classes but fool as I was did not realise that I would be expected to go with him! I refused and was about to leave when the instructor said she would take him which she did for the next 10 years. Anyway I still cannot swim a stroke but I have sat in on that many lessons that I could be a coach (elbows high, fingers in first, turn your head to the side leaving just your ear in the water and all the rest of it).

Mrs_pbradley936

Another thing to try in the shallow end is getting things from the bottom. You need to find out if he is scared of being under water and if so why. If he is happy to fetch things from the bottom of the shallow end you know he is not afraid of being underwater but dislikes being out of his depth. But if he has done 20m he must have been out of his depth at some stage.

EssexGirl

He has always had a dislike of getting his face wet:eek: He used to pick up things from the bottom, but have no idea what they get up to at school lessons. The 20m pool he swam is all one depth, it comes up to his neck. I personally don't like using the local authority pool as it's too grubby and pool is included in my gym membership. Not MS but a girl needs to keep fit
Looks like I will have to venture out to the athletes foot heaven to work with him at a deeper pool.

lil_me

Does he use goggles and a nose peg, might help as usually the children don't like water in eyes and noses.

Mrs_pbradley936

I bet it is the water going up his nose, because of the bleach it can sting for ages - I am sure that's what put me off as a child. Get him to breath out gently through his nose onto the back of your hand so you can feel it. Do it several times a day for a week so that it is second nature then ask him to do it while he picks something off the bottom.

dumpy

How about making going under water a game? Picking stuff up and swimming through legs is a good one and seeing how far you can swim under water. My cousin didn't like going under water but after I went in the pool with him and cavorted like a dolphin (or should I say small whale with cellulite) he copied me.

I made it look fun so he copied. I always wear goggles which helps as your eyes don't sting (maybe that puts him off).

Could you get some one to try and teach him tumble turns? This would get him putting his face under the water.

Basically make it fun and you've got to do it as well to show it's not scary.

If he is swimming breast stroke he should have his face in the water then or his neck will be in a funny position.

To make it money saving any coins he picks off the bottom he can put into his piggy bank!

EssexGirl

Thank you. I'll try some of those at the weekend. Now all I need to do is convince him that I'm not really trying to get his head wet:rotfl:

danio_2

EssexGirl wrote:

My 8 year old does swimming lessons with school and has done a couple of terms of lessons between the ages of 5-6. He can swim to a reasonable standard and swam the entirety of the 20 metre pool at my gym recently. I was very pleased with him.

My problem ( well his really) is that he will jump into the pool from the side in the shallow end, so that his feet hit the floor and he doesn't go under the water. But in order for him to get his next swimming badge, he needs to be able to jump in at the 2m deep end. He simply won't do it. He will lower himself into the pool, but won't jump in. He hates going under water and is scared he won't come back up again. No matter what assurances I offer him, he isn't satisfied that he will be safe.

This is really starting to get him down, because he really wants the badge. I have tried taking him swimming myself, and coaxing him to jump in, but he seems to have this "block" that won't let him do it. He gets so wound up with himself. He hasn't had any kind of trauma to do with water,and I'm a competent swimmer, (his dad can barely make it to the end of the pool ) We don't swim together regularly, but I suppose we should..

Does anyone have any techniques they could share with me to try to get him to be less scared? Any advice appreciated.

Hi

I am a Swimming teacher, the techniques we use for Non swimmers and for those who have lost their confidence are:

1.) We will use a plastic watering can (small childs one) and encourage the child to fill it up and pour the water over their own heads.

2.) We use something called an "Egg Flip" (which looks like a flying saucer) and we get the child to swim along with their chin in the water and as they swim we get them to blow the egg flip.

3.) Once they can do the Egg Flip we use a small beachball which they have to push along with their nose as they swim.

4.) Once they have done the ball we use a float which they move along the water with their fore-head

There should be all of the above items available at your pool, (Tho you might have to ask a Lifeguard for it)

as for goggles and nose clips: Although we allow children to wear goggles, we do try to discourage it until they are confident in the water, we don't allow them to wear nose clips tho, and the reason for this is children start to rely on them, and although swimming lessons should be fun, there is also a serious reason behind them, and at the end of the day if a child was to fall into a lake, they aren't likely to have their gogles and nose clips with them are they.

I hope my info is of help and I wish you luck. You WILL get there eventually.

angelatgraceland

If he realy truly wants that badge he will somehow overcome his fears. He is still quite young so has time to sort this out. Go swimming with him and without making any big deal of it, keep jumping in. Maybe eventualy he will join you if you are there with your arms open for him? Maybe just knowing you are there will help. The noseclip soundss good to me-I used to hate the water going up my nose-its guaranteed to choke me even now! Dont make a big deal out of any of it-he wants to do it and he will-eventually. Just needs a bit of confidence and a few games to encourage him.