I thought I'd see what the MDC community had to say on this, I'm wondering if anyone else has been in a similar situation, looking for some ideas and reassurance too probably.
DD is 4. She is shy and takes a long time to warm up to people and new concepts - she is also strong willed. Which means if she doesn't want to do something, its very hard to get her to do it. This summer is the first summer we've really had access to a pool. We had a pool in our complex when she was 1&2 years old, but it was in Seattle and since I had a baby too, so going without DH didn't work well and seattle tends to be chilly, we didn't go that much. Last year, when she was 3, we went to a big pool maybe once or twice, otherwise we just did baby pools in our backyard.
So she has never had swim lessons. We joined a swim club this summer and I signed her up for the swim lessons, lowest level. The problem is that the lessons are mostly beyond putting your face in the water. They want the kids to jump into the pool, bob, blow bubbles. DD will do none of this. I went into the pool with her for the first 4 lessons. I tried leaving her alone for one (was just out of eyesight with DS at the baby pool), she didn't cry or get horribly upset, but she spent most of that lesson with her head in her hands refusing to look at the instructor (this is what she does when someone she doesn't know talks to her). I figured she just needed more time to get used to the whole idea, that we'd keep going to the pool, I'd do the same techniques the instructors were doing with her, figuring by the end of the summer she'd be willing to do more. I also got her goggles, which she wore a couple times, but didn't seem to make much difference.
Well, summer's pretty much over - the pool closes next weekend. She still doesn't do anything more than jumping from the steps or wall to me if I am holding her hands. The one time she got her face wet (accidentally) she did fine - didn't take in any water, held her breath, but went screaming for a towel. The problem as I see it is that until she is willing to put her face in the water, she is at a standstill for learning to swim. I'm concerned that I let her go too long without swim lessons, if she had learned younger she would be more willing and that she's influencing her brother who also will not get his face wet and runs for a towel - I think because he sees her do it and figures there must be something to fear from it.
We joined a family fitness center that has a pool. I plan to keep taking her swimming all winter. They also offer swim lessons - $120 for 10 30 minute sessions. I've seen the lessons in action, the setup is a little different from the lessons she had at the outdoor pool - first off she can't stand in the indoor pool - the water is too deep. They have the kids wear bubble things on their backs and use these things that look like barbells, but with foam on the ends. The problem is, I'd have to drop her off and leave, I don't think they let parents stay, and that means that if she doesn't like it, I could have a huge fight on my hands every week. She does fine being dropped off places, she goes to the daycare in the gym without an eyelash blinked, goes to montessori school, etc. She is just the type that when she doesn't want to do something, she will not do it and she will let the whole building know that she doesn't want to do it to boot.
Okay, I'm writing a book. I'm just wondering - has anyone else had a child reluctant to put their face in the water? How did you help them? Any advice - should I just keep sending her to swim lessons?
DD is 4. She is shy and takes a long time to warm up to people and new concepts - she is also strong willed. Which means if she doesn't want to do something, its very hard to get her to do it. This summer is the first summer we've really had access to a pool. We had a pool in our complex when she was 1&2 years old, but it was in Seattle and since I had a baby too, so going without DH didn't work well and seattle tends to be chilly, we didn't go that much. Last year, when she was 3, we went to a big pool maybe once or twice, otherwise we just did baby pools in our backyard.
So she has never had swim lessons. We joined a swim club this summer and I signed her up for the swim lessons, lowest level. The problem is that the lessons are mostly beyond putting your face in the water. They want the kids to jump into the pool, bob, blow bubbles. DD will do none of this. I went into the pool with her for the first 4 lessons. I tried leaving her alone for one (was just out of eyesight with DS at the baby pool), she didn't cry or get horribly upset, but she spent most of that lesson with her head in her hands refusing to look at the instructor (this is what she does when someone she doesn't know talks to her). I figured she just needed more time to get used to the whole idea, that we'd keep going to the pool, I'd do the same techniques the instructors were doing with her, figuring by the end of the summer she'd be willing to do more. I also got her goggles, which she wore a couple times, but didn't seem to make much difference.
Well, summer's pretty much over - the pool closes next weekend. She still doesn't do anything more than jumping from the steps or wall to me if I am holding her hands. The one time she got her face wet (accidentally) she did fine - didn't take in any water, held her breath, but went screaming for a towel. The problem as I see it is that until she is willing to put her face in the water, she is at a standstill for learning to swim. I'm concerned that I let her go too long without swim lessons, if she had learned younger she would be more willing and that she's influencing her brother who also will not get his face wet and runs for a towel - I think because he sees her do it and figures there must be something to fear from it.
We joined a family fitness center that has a pool. I plan to keep taking her swimming all winter. They also offer swim lessons - $120 for 10 30 minute sessions. I've seen the lessons in action, the setup is a little different from the lessons she had at the outdoor pool - first off she can't stand in the indoor pool - the water is too deep. They have the kids wear bubble things on their backs and use these things that look like barbells, but with foam on the ends. The problem is, I'd have to drop her off and leave, I don't think they let parents stay, and that means that if she doesn't like it, I could have a huge fight on my hands every week. She does fine being dropped off places, she goes to the daycare in the gym without an eyelash blinked, goes to montessori school, etc. She is just the type that when she doesn't want to do something, she will not do it and she will let the whole building know that she doesn't want to do it to boot.
Okay, I'm writing a book. I'm just wondering - has anyone else had a child reluctant to put their face in the water? How did you help them? Any advice - should I just keep sending her to swim lessons?
Unfortunately our pool is closing next weekend. I decided to sign us all up at a rec center in a neighboring town with a really nice indoor pool. That way, we can all swim all winter, and she can keep building on her progress instead of starting over at square one next summer.
