child hates swimming lessons

[JudgeyMuch]

Some advice please! DD is 8 and hates the whole sensory experience of municipal pools (smells, 'slimy' floors, showers 'too hot', can't bear to put face in the water but they are made to anyway, getting changed especially afterwards, when skin is slightly damp and clothes difficult to put back on, is very difficult too).

We are pursuing a diagnosis but, as yet, she has none. The teachers don't "see" her struggles. She does really well academically but has sensory problems and struggles with friendships.

(I'm late diagnosed with ASD myself.)

School swimming lessons will start again in a bit. Can I ask that she doesn't have to take part?

Ds is 8 and it has taken years to get him to like swimming. He missed all the lessons last year and started very gently this year just going to watch at first, then getting in and holding onto a TA, he now swims with a noodle thing and can put his chin under water (face may take a bit longer!) He still won't entertain the showers and does say he doesn't like the smell and noise, he won't wear armbands or goggles and struggles with the temperatures (everything is too hot or too cold).

We are lucky in that he is in a resource base in mainstream (they tried taking him with the ms class once....never again!)

I don’t have any answers for you, but any teacher who forces a child under water shouldn’t be teaching swimming! I would be speaking to them: ASD or not, they shouldn’t be forcing children to aspire to some perceived sense of essential sporting achievement.