A fear of water is not uncommon in children who are learning to swim and can prove to be an intimidating challenge, both for kids and for their parents. The following tips can help ease your child into the idea of swimming as a lifelong adventure.

Make it fun

Even if your child refuses to go in the water, observing others enjoying their time in a swimming pool, lake, or other body of water will be encouraging to them. Seeing friends or family members engaging in games or playing with water toys could spark your child’s interest in learning to swim.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Give your child opportunities to practice putting their face or head under water. Most children take supervised baths and that can be a great place to practice blowing bubbles or even floating without the seemingly enormous scale of a swimming pool or more open body of water. The more encouragement and praise you give at this stage, the higher their confidence level will be.

Find a Professional

Swim lessons come in all varieties. From infant swim lessons to teen swim lessons, you should find a class that will cater to your child. Swimming instructors are trained to work with children at specific skill levels. It may be wise to interview the teacher before your child’s first lesson both to make sure the teacher is going to be compatible with your child’s learning style, and also to prepare the teacher for what to expect from your child.

Self-Esteem and Confidence

The scariest things in life are the unknowns. Your child may be very anxious about attending a swim lesson if they have never been before. This is your opportunity to build up your child’s confidence and self-esteem. Remind your child of all the great things they will be able to do once they learn to swim. Encourage them to ask any questions they may have and be open to discussing any concerns that they express.

A Reward System

Children love to be told they did a good job. Before your child attends their first swim lesson, come up with an activity or reward for after they complete the class. Having something to look forward to and a goal to work towards, will allow your child to feel more inspired to do something that may seem a bit scary at first. Don’t forget to continually congratulate them on being so brave!