Help! My child doesn't want to swim after achieving the C certificate: causes & solutions
Your child has obtained their C certificate: a fantastic achievement! But what if the motivation to swim has suddenly disappeared? Many parents recognise this: your child no longer wants to swim after the C certificate. This can be frustrating, especially if you highly value swimming safety. Where does this lack of motivation come from, and what can you do about it? In this article, we delve into the possible causes and offer practical solutions to get your child back in the water with pleasure, so that your child remains skilled at swimming.
Why doesn't my child want to swim anymore after the C certificate?
There are several reasons why a child may no longer want to swim after obtaining the C certificate. It is important to identify the specific cause in order to offer the right solution. Here are some common causes:
- The goal has been reached: For many children, obtaining the C certificate is a final goal. They have worked hard to achieve this and now feel ready. The incentive to continue is gone.
- The lessons are less challenging: After the C certificate, the lessons are often less focused on learning new skills and more on maintaining existing skills. This can be experienced as boring .
- Other interests: Children develop and their interests change. Perhaps your child is now more interested in other sports or hobbies .
- Social pressure: Maybe your child's friends no longer enjoy swimming, or there is pressure to do other activities.
- Fatigue: Swimming lessons can be intense, and perhaps your child simply needs a break.
Solutions to regain swimming motivation
Fortunately, there are several ways to get your child excited about swimming again. Here are some tips:
- Acknowledge the achievement: Start by acknowledging the achievement your child has made. Obtaining the C certificate is a remarkable achievement and deserves a compliment.
- Make it fun! Go recreational swimming. Visit a fun swimming pool with slides and other attractions. Let your child simply play and have fun in the water .
- Find a swimming sport: Is your child competitive? Then consider a swimming sport such as water polo, competitive swimming or synchronised swimming. This can offer a new challenge and spark motivation .
- Swimming skills: There are follow-up courses such as swimming skills 1, 2 and 3, where new strokes are taught, the technique of existing strokes is improved and swimming with a ball is involved .
- Survival swimming: Here, children learn how to save themselves if they unexpectedly end up in the water. They also learn what to do and not to do if a friend is in distress .
- Practice regularly: Continue to swim regularly, for example once or twice a month. This is sufficient to maintain confidence in the water and keep swimming skills up to par .
- Involve your child in the decision: Let your child think about the possibilities. What would he/she enjoy? By involving your child, you increase the chance that he/she will become motivated.
- Take a break: Sometimes a break is the best solution. Don't force your child to swim if he/she really doesn't feel like it. Maybe the motivation will come back on its own after a while.
The importance of continuing to swim after the C certificate
The C certificate is seen as the Dutch Standard for Swimming Safety . It is important to realise that swimming skill is a skill that needs to be maintained. Just like with cycling or driving, you can unlearn swimming if you don't practice it regularly . By continuing to swim, you ensure that your child remains safe while swimming and can continue to enjoy the water . Children and adults who do not maintain their fitness run the risk of the skills they have acquired in the water diminishing or even being lost .
What if my child is afraid to swim?
It is also possible that your child will develop a fear of swimming after obtaining the C certificate. This can be caused, for example, by a bad experience in the water or by uncertainty about their own skills. In that case, it is important to take the fear seriously and seek professional help. There are special swimming therapists who can help children with aquaphobia. Check out the knowledge base for parents for more information on aquaphobia and tips on how to deal with it.
Swimming lessons after the C certificate: what now?
The C certificate is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the swimming story. Continue to encourage your child to keep swimming and enjoy the water. This way you ensure that he/she remains safe while swimming and can continue to participate in water activities with pleasure. For example, consider going swimming together in Amsterdam or Rotterdam and making it a fun family outing.
Are you looking for a swimming school near you? Easily compare swimming lesson providers in your city via ZwemlesWijzer and find the perfect match for your child! This way your child can continue to be proficient at swimming in a fun way!
