1 - Most children (and several adults) fear water. The swimming pool is viewed by a child as an ocean that will engulf him/her. Making children get over a fear of water requires a lot of patience from the parents.

Very often, parents enrol their kids into a summer camp to overcome this fear, but the whole exercise boomerangs. This happens because, during a summer swimming camp, the coach has to tend to several children who have different aptitudes and different levels of comfort with water. To manage all of them together, the coaches, at times, tend to over-push the kids.

2 - Getting the Child used to Water

Children must, first, learn to enjoy water. Put them into paddle pools so that they can splash around and get used to sprays of water on their face/eyes. At the same time, give them access to a swimming pool where they can play around in a shallow area and get comfortable with being in a pool larger than their paddle pool at home. If possible, a parent, or any other person they are comfortable with, should get into the swimming pool with them. However, do not push them into doing anything that they do not wish to do. Let them get accustomed to the water and once they realise that they are comfortable, they will, themselves, want to do more.

3 - Do not Force

Forcing children to do anything that they do not wish to do, generally, creates a rebound and stubbornness. Similarly, parents should not force their children to learn swimming until they are ready for it. By pushing them, they may just become even more fearful of water. Let children get accustomed to the water on their own speed as that is what will bring about the comfort levels.

There is no ‘right age’ to learn swimming. This is an activity which should be learnt when a child is ready for it.

Source: goodeveningworld.com