2.2 yo dd scared of swimming pool - any tips?

[dollybird]

She just cries and screams and says 'get out the swimming pool' nearly the whole time! I want to persevere as we're going to center parcs in three weeks and I think it's important to learn how to swim (eventually), but it's not a lot of fun. DS 3 1/2 loves it though. She always says she likes swimming and wants to go back next week! Anyone got any tips to boost her confidence?

I have taken both mine to swimming lessons since they were babies and they love the water.

At the lessons you are encouraged to get water all over them and not to react if they get upset but to try to distract them.

Are you nervous in the water because sometimes it can pass on to the child.

DS hated indoor swimming pools but seemed OK at the outdoor pools we visited abroad. I think it must be the noise levelssound does seem to be amplified in some of the indoor places. Anyway, I decided I didn't want to force him to go swimming if he didn't want toam hoping he'll want to go once he has started school.

You might find that she gets on better at Center Parcs as she can just play in shallow water and on slides, etc, rather than be in a great big pool. She might then feel happier and be confident enough to progress into a proper pool.

No, I'm not nervous in the water. I usually dunk her once or twice as I remember being told that when I took ds when he was a baby. and we distract her with the boats and watering cans etc which lasts a few minutes, then she remembers she wants to get out!
Arabica, you might be right - when we were at butlins in the summer she went in their outdoor pool and was fine - she even went on the slide! and she loves swimming in the bath. Maybe it's the depth of the water (although she won't sit on the steps either).
DS really likes it, so don't want to stop going for his sake.

Surfermum - we went last year and she did get used to it. I've just been lax and not taken them much since then apart from hols.

my ds was exactly the same.He is slowly getting better ,he is much happier in kiddies pools where he can paddle and splash.he is now just 3.

Definately don't push it just let her get used to it slowly.She may come back from centreparc a waterbabe,but it also may just increase her confidence enough to make it bearable to take her to the pool.Whatever, I hope you enjoy it.

a few years back my then 26 month old charge was like this...

the answer was we went swimming EVERY day for about a week

The first day he just got dressed and wlaked around the edge of the pool etc

The next day he was forced to get in (screamed and cried etc) stayed in for about 4 or 5 mins and wasnt allowed out until he had changed form hysterical to just sobbing...

i think the next day he wasnt too keen on swiming but was lifted in without such a fuss. and actually seemd to enjoy it

By the end of the week he was happily bobbing around without holidaing onto any one or anything, (just his back float thing strapped on him)

honestly you would NEVER have believed that within a week of 'hysterical child' at the emre suggestion of swimming pool, he had changed to loving swimming but he did!

my dd who was 2 in Oct was also a bit nervous when we went to our teaching pool. She would just cling to me so tightly.
I persevered with it and took a ball in with me for her to play with. This was a great hit as it meant she would let me hold her under her arms so she could push the ball.

Another thing was we went swimming with a friend and their local pool was more of a leisure centre with a beach area which she could paddle around in shallow water, there was even a cute toddler slide into the water which she loved, to my amazement.
They also had lots of waterfalls and bubbling bits of the pool to keep her mind occupied.