4.5 year old terrified of the pool

[sailorscout]

we have a fantastic pool where i live and the kid section is so much fun and stuff and he is terrified!  even if you're holding him he will scream like you are murdering him, he will only want to stand in the baby pool thats like 3 inches of water.  he loves baths though, its so weird.  i want to help him get over his fear of the pool this is the 3rd year hes gone and freaks out, though hes only gone 3 times before this so is it just that hes not familiar?  nothing else scares him but this is frustrating because  i want him to like it so he can have fun and play with other kids at the pool all summer.

 

[pigpokey]

He might do better in a very warm indoor pool this early in the season.  See if you can find a pool that is 88-90 degrees ... sometimes called a rehabilitation pool.

[sosurreal09]

I would just keep taking him over there without putting him in the water. He can just see the other kids having fun and eventually he will want to join them. Just be patient, even if he doesn't want to go in the first 3-4x don't push it. You can just say we are going to relax by the pool when you are going down there.

[applecider]

My 5yo was like that. In fact, he was 5.5 before he really decided he was ok with the pool. I would just do like the pp said and keep taking him and letting him explore the pool on his own timetable. Eventually he'll figure it out. I know how frustrating it is!

[tbone_kneegrabber]

Do you have a variety of floating things he can try? Wing, vest, noodle, rings etc. Ds totally took off in swimming pool bravery once we had floaties. They help he feel more confident.

[pianojazzgirl]

Originally Posted by tbone_kneegrabber 

Do you have a variety of floating things he can try? Wing, vest, noodle, rings etc. Ds totally took off in swimming pool bravery once we had floaties. They help he feel more confident.

It was swimming at the lake in a lifejacket that did it for my dd.

When it's hotter outside try taking him to a splash park (you know - not a pool, but with lots of water spraying thingies).  That might warm him up to the whole playing in water thing.  Then try a wading pool.  Strangely at first my dd was ok with a wading pool outside, but not with a same-size and depth indoor wading pool.  Maybe the same would work with your ds?  Maybe you've tried so long at this particular pool that you would have better luck at a different pool (if he's built up a neg association with this pool).