dd terrified of jumping in pool

[hairtwiddler]

Dd is seven, and a very cautious personality. Didn't walk until she could run, still wobbly on a bike etc. still loves being active though. She's repeated grade two swimming three times now and has a real gear of jumping in (which she needs to pass and go to grade three). Otherwise loves the water, enjoys the lessons. As the terms progress she gets older than all the others in the class.

This morning tears and worry about jumping in. She so tried, bless her but couldn't do it, even holding a hand. This had become a big issue for her. Literally frozen to the spot today.

Any advice folks? I don't want her to hate swimming but want to help her overcome this phobia..

Typing on phone so sorry for mistakes.

[conorsrockers]

Your swimming teacher must be really patient. When my DC didn't want to do it she just pushed them in!!! (wouldn't work for every child obviously, but did for mine!)

The only useful contribution I would make is that she's only 7. Why not give swimming lessons a miss for a term and do something else, but continue to go as a family for a splash about - you may find the knowledge that she can't do this one particular thing is compounding the problem - if there is no pressure to do it and no-one mentions it - she may have forgotten about it by the time she goes back ...

BTW - I wouldn't say that making the children do set things before they move up to the next class is particularly helpful - what is her swimming like?

[mermaidbutmytailfelloff]

Ah we had this.

Start jumping off something submerged like a step or from sitting on your knee or something then slowly slowly increase the height. Make sure she is happy ducking under the water, playing bubble blowing games and swimming under you is good practice.

Good luck

[catty1234]

I agree with conors maybe give it a rest.
or you could get a float and get her to jump on one it. I mean something like this, your swimming baths probley have one. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Body-Glove-Swim-Float-Aqua-Saddle-Size-X-Large-/280684326056
you could also try being there to catch her as she may hate it when she goes down to the bottom of the pool.
soz for spelling dealing with niece.

[meglet]

My DD is younger than yours (she's 4) but she was refusing to jump in during lessons, despite being confident splashing about in the pool.

What cracked it was when we went swimming together and she watched another boy the same age jumping in, his grandad could see DD was refusing to budge for me so he was enouraging her to jump at the same time as his grandson. It worked . Obviously you need a willing stranger for this but you might come across someone if you can get to the pool together at weekends.

Good luck, DS is taking ages to move up the levels too.

[hairtwiddler]

Thanks. I do need to take get back for a splash about. She's done it with me holding one hand. Took an hour to build up to it. Swimming wise, very confident with floats, also scared to take feet off the bottom. Milestone reached this morning though, managed to push off from the side on her back.
The summer will give a break...might tackle it slowly then. Starting sitting is a good idea, thanks.

I do want to push her in, but know it would not go down well!

[MERLYPUSS]

What about getting her to bum shuffle off the side, then duck dive crouched like a frog. Mine cant swim but are bonkers for jumping so I cant really offer any advice. Good luck

[freetrait]

Hi, do not fear, she is not alone . DS is 6.5 and won't jump in. His teacher just holds the hands of the ones who don't want to do it (yet). They have to do before they can go up to the next level class and he knows this, so I'm guessing he will do it eventually! I don't see the point of stressing though, life is too short!