From Paddling to Poise: Helping You as a Parent Understand and Overcome Your Child's Fear of Water
Does this sound familiar? You want to enrol your child in swimming lessons, but you notice that they are afraid of water. Perhaps your child won't even go into the bath or shower [7]. Fear of water is more common than you think: about 3 in 10 children experience it to some extent [7, 8]. It's important to know that you're not alone and that there are ways to help your child overcome this fear [7]. In this article, we give you insight into the causes of fear of water and offer practical tips to guide your child step by step towards self-reliance in the water.
What exactly is fear of water?
Fear of water, also known as water anxiety or hydrophobia, is a fear of water and activities related to water [4, 7]. This can range from a slight discomfort to an intense fear that affects daily life [4, 7, 18]. Children with fear of water are often afraid of getting water in their face, not being able to estimate the depth of the water, or losing control [7].
Causes of fear of water in children
The causes of fear of water can vary [2, 7, 8, 18]:
- Bad experiences: A fall in the water, a wave washing over the head, or another frightening experience can cause trauma [2, 4, 7, 8, 18].
- Learned fear: Children can take over their parents' fear, for example, if one of the parents is afraid of water themselves [2, 4, 7, 8, 10].
- Over-concern: Exaggerated warnings about the dangers of water can fuel fear [2, 4, 8, 10].
- Ear problems: Ear pain during swimming can lead to a negative association with water [4, 10].
- Awareness: As children get older, they may become more aware of the dangers of water, which can cause fear [4, 8].
It's important to find out the cause of your child's fear of water so you can choose the right approach to help them [7, 8, 18].
Tips for overcoming fear of water
Overcoming fear of water takes time and patience. Don't force anything and let your child set the pace [3, 5, 6, 7, 8]. Here are some tips you can use:
- Create a safe and relaxed environment: Make bathing or showering a positive experience with fun toys and a relaxed atmosphere [3, 5, 6, 7, 9].
- Get used to it playfully: Gradually get your child used to water by, for example, playing with bowls of water, dipping feet in the water and blowing bubbles [4, 5, 6, 9, 10].
- Take your time: Don't rush and don't force your child to do something they are not ready for yet [3, 5, 6, 7, 8].
- Be patient: It may take a while for your child to overcome their fear. Continue to support and encourage your child [3, 5, 6, 7, 8].
- Seek professional help: If the fear of water is severe, professional help from a swimming instructor with experience in guiding children with fear of water or a therapist can offer a solution [7, 19].
Water adaption as preparation for swimming lessons
Before your child starts swimming lessons, it is important that they are water adapted [7, 9]. Being water adapted means that your child feels comfortable in the water, without fear [5, 7]. You can make your child water adapted by following the tips above and regularly going to the swimming pool together. Let your child play in the shallow water, practice floating and splashing [4, 5, 6, 9].
The role of swimming lessons
Swimming lessons are an important step in overcoming fear of water and learning essential swimming skills [4, 7]. Choose a swimming school with experienced instructors who take a personal approach and take your child's fear into account [7, 8, 13]. Discuss your child's fear of water with the swimming instructor so that they can respond to it [7].
Read more about lesson methods and discover which one suits your child best.
The importance of the c-certificate
Although the a-certificate is often seen as a milestone, the c-certificate is essential for your child's swimming safety [7]. With the c-certificate, your child learns to cope in different situations and is better prepared for unexpected events in the water. Therefore, invest in good swimming lessons that train your child to be a self-reliant swimmer.
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