Getting Over It: The Fear Of Water For Children

Hello Beautifuls,

Part of growing up is conquering your own fears and not allowing yourself to be frozen with indecision. One of the early things that children have to get over is the fear of water. Much like every small and young animal, water is seen as a threat. It renders you helpless and because when you’re young your body isn’t that strong it can be a hazard to your safety.

Children don’t know how to swim or how to be comfortable in water by themselves. It’s also why children cry when they have a bath and may want to get out of the sink or basin in which they are being washed. It’s something that is deep in the brain of every animal to fear water because it causes you to float and have no ability to use your muscles to create stability. Maybe it’s the primeval part of our mind that warns us to be careful and to not ‘trust’ water. However there are some great ways to help your children get over the fear of water.


Making bath time fun

Bath time is not fun at first for small children. They’re naked, helpless and cold. This can cause children to dread bath time when they should love it. Making bath time fun for them then, is a great way to avoid wrestling with them and getting them into the bath against their will.

This can be done by adding bubbles and making the water softer. The layer of bubbles also helps to keep the water in the bath warmer for longer as the heat escapes slower. But adding floating toys allows children to escape into their imagination and just treat bath time like play time.

This gives you the parent time to scrub behind their ears, wash between their toes and generally keep them hygienic. They will also begin to feel more comfortable in the water and instead become more inquisitive about it. When you’re curious about something rather than fearful, you can act more rationally. Avoiding panic is the main aim of making bath time fun.


Conquering the water

How else would you beat the fear of the water, than to learn how to swim? Swim school for children is a great way for children to conquer their fear of water and become a natural in the pool. They’ll learn the basic strokes and techniques to keep themselves afloat. Also mental strengths such as how to think clearly underwater. Controlling their breathing and exerting energy in small bursts are also key techniques children can learn to become great swimmers. Swimming also activates every muscle in the body making them stronger, fitter and lose weight if they need to. Teachers are expert swimmers and also know how to interact with children being one step ahead at all times. Answering their questions and helping them individually is just part and parcel of their profession, giving your child a great learning environment.

xoxo

ana