How to get toddler to enjoy swimming

[Henrihetta]

DS Is almost 2.5 years, last year he enjoyed swimming. This year he seems afraid of it and doesn't want to get in the pool and cries. We don't do swimming lessons yet.

Any ideas on the best approach to overcome this?

Would swimming lessons help?

Have you got any pools with a shallow toddler pool ? Just spend some time in there with him with all the games - sinkies, balls, floats etc.

What do you mean by last year/this year? Has he not been swimming for a while?
Or has it been a continuous decline in his enjoyment?

I think all you can do is try and make it fun. Don't worry about swimming. Take toys and play in the shallower bits. Don't stay in too long - my little one hated getting cold.

@Seeline Last summer we went on holiday and our leisure centre pool a few times , he was ok with the pool then. This year we hadn't been swimming until recently at our leisure centre pool & then on holiday he also wasn't happy to get in, so we ended up going to the splash pad instead. Our leisure centre has a shallower pool where adults/older children can stand. But not shallow for a toddler to stand in

Might be a good idea to make a habit of going all year round and just make sure you have fun in the pool, splashing, playing.

My DS wouldn't go into a pool until we went on a holiday when he was 3. He had a float that he sat in and was able to jump into the pool in and then he liked it. Up until that point he would only sit at the side of the pool and dangle his legs in.

I agree with others suggesting playing with toys in the shallower sections to gradually build up to getting into the pool.

I would do swimming lessons… imagine how scary an pool is when you don’t feel confident and don’t understand what is going on.

That is also why he has changed…. At 1.5 he had no concept of fear or concern but now he is aware it is a bit scarier and he feels out of control… which is scary …. Think about it if you were suddenly placed on a mountain cliff edge and told to abseil down with no experience, or understanding you wouldn’t feel safe… that’s why swimming lessons help…it scaffolds their learning so they learn skills and get water safety

Honestly I’d do nothing and just leave it. It’s not a terrible thing from a safety perspective if a toddler is terrified of swimming and stays away from water… the worst thing is an overconfident child who is used to flotation aids and doesn’t realise they can’t swim without them. Take a break now and the next time you go on holiday he’ll have probably forgotten all about this phase and the pool will seem a fun novelty again. I don’t think swimming lessons will help/are worth it either. 2.5YOs can’t really learn to swim anyway as they lack the coordination/muscle strength and based on the 2 sets of 2:1 private swimming lessons we left when DS was 3 because the other child was screaming blue murder about going in the pool there’s no guarantee it will bring them around whilst they’re still so young. Time will sort it out. DD was terrified at 2, out of the blue changed her mind on holiday when she was 3, started lessons at 4 and is now on the school swim team. So no harm done whatsoever by not going for a bit.

Its totally normal for toddlers to have ups and downs with water confidence. Keep it fun and pressure free, just gentle play around and in the water at their pace.
Theres a great tool available called @SwimFin which can really help here. It’s backed by university research, widely used by instructors, and designed to take the stress out of learning to swim. Because it supports only when needed and leaves arms free, it builds real confidence. Best of all, it turns learning into play, kids think they’re just being sharks, but they’re actually developing proper technique and water skills.

Thanks all for your helpful comments