Encouraging the Fearful Child – Tips for Overcoming the Fear of Water

One of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do as a swim instructor is help a fearful child become a confident swimmer. Just getting them into the water in the first place can be a process, and even then there’s no guarantee that the child is going to suddenly decide that there really wasn’t anything to worry about, so let the fun and games begin! However, you can help even the most timid child to overcome their fears. Here are a few tips.

1. Acknowledge the Issue

You’ll probably know right off when you’re dealing with a fearful child. You’ll see it in their facial expression and in their body language. And even if you totally miss the signals, a parent will certainly be ready to tell you, “S/he’s afraid of the water.” So validate that fear. Ask the child if they’re afraid. You know they’re going to tell you that they are, so when they do, point out that being afraid is OK. Tell them about something that you used to be afraid of. Suggest that sometimes learning more about something is a good way to not be afraid of it any longer, but don’t push the issue.

2. Don’t Ask the Wrong Questions

If you ask a fearful child, “Wouldn’t you like to get in the water?” what do you think they’re going to say? Once you get that resounding “No,” you really won’t have much of a position left to work from. Don’t give the child an opportunity to say no.

3. Remain Patient

It can be tempting to try to get the child in the water as quickly as possible before fear turns into outright terror, but you’re not really going to get anywhere until the child becomes calmer. Try changing the focus a bit. Ask the child what type of toys he likes, and find something in your bag of tricks that seems appropriate. Then put it in the water, close to the edge of the pool. Give it a bit of time, and then retrieve the toy. Repeat as necessary, and let nature take its course.

4. Don’t Let the Parents Take Over

The parents are not the boss of you. Well, okay, technically they are, but if a parent is pressuring the child to get in the water right away, take him or her aside and explain, gently, that your experience tells you that when a child is pressured to get in the pool despite their fear, the stress level gets pushed up a notch, and there are typically no good outcomes. Most parents won’t give you a hard time, since it only makes sense that they want their child to be safe around the water, but sometimes a calm voice and a reasoned explanation can keep a situation from escalating.

These four strategies can be very effective in overcoming the fears of the child and easing the stress the anxious parents are experiencing.