The old saying is, "help them get their feet wet", but when coping with youngsters who, for a variety of reasons, remain fearful of water, the challenge is often "helping them to get their face wet." Many children, in spite of the efforts and of well meaning folks and skilled swim instructors, find the thought and feeling of putting their face in the water, either or both outstandingly frightening and agonizing.
The first order of business in this process is to determine the foundation for the resistance. This might require the input of the family pediatrician, who can evaluate the child in an effort to establish if there are sensory issues that are the initial root of the behaviour. It may actually be the child essentially feels at the least, uncomfortable with water in or around their eyes, mouth and nose, or agonizing at the extreme end of that spectrum. In cases like these, well fitting eyeglasses, nose clips and masks and a making a towel readily available to wipe their face, can help the child desensitize themselves to the pain.
Parents can work with their youngsters on this process at home in their bathtubs, which can eliminate the feeling of embarrassment that may profoundly impact the situation at the local pool, crowded with other kids taking swimming tuition. Once the kid makes progress mums and dads can hunt down aquatic consultants or swim instructors with experience in this area, but should avoid expectancies that their child is prepared to take a quantum jump and be prepared to respond positively to conventional swim instruction. One of the most terrible mistakes that elders can make in this journey is to not totally commit to the method and understand that they must stay with it, irrespective of how long it requires. Helping a child to feel and understand how to remain safe in water should be a priority for every parent.
Since it is rare to find a kid, facing this challenge, who comes to the pool happily or enthusiastically, creating a type of currency with youngsters is another critical facet of this process. Positive strengthening, rewards, even bribery, can be a good carrot in motivating these youngsters to step outside their comfortable zone and keep moving forward. Since it isn't unusual for many youngsters, facing this difficulty, to resort to behavior that is contrary to their standard behaviour to try to convince elders the fight is not really worth the fight , parents must respond swiftly and assertively by building new bounds about unsatisfactory behaviour.
The second part that factors into a child's unwillingness to get their face wet is fear. Whether the child has experienced an actual traumatising event or possibly a understood one, or the origination of their fear is a complete poser to parent and child alike, which is often the situation, youngsters are not outfitted with the cognitive and emotional coping skills and life experience, to understand, process, manage and defeat their overpowering fear of water. This prevents them from being able to put their face in the water, which is a fundamental talent in learning the best way to feel safe, cosy and competent in water. They require the steerage and support of individuals that they trust and know that they have their safety and best interest at heart.
Again mothers and fathers and professionals must remain patient, supportive and committed to the method and avoid impractical goals and time lines. Helping a kid get their face wet might not be easy, but is the most important aquatic ability that a child must learn and it opens the locks to all the other doors!!!
The first order of business in this process is to determine the foundation for the resistance. This might require the input of the family pediatrician, who can evaluate the child in an effort to establish if there are sensory issues that are the initial root of the behaviour. It may actually be the child essentially feels at the least, uncomfortable with water in or around their eyes, mouth and nose, or agonizing at the extreme end of that spectrum. In cases like these, well fitting eyeglasses, nose clips and masks and a making a towel readily available to wipe their face, can help the child desensitize themselves to the pain.
Parents can work with their youngsters on this process at home in their bathtubs, which can eliminate the feeling of embarrassment that may profoundly impact the situation at the local pool, crowded with other kids taking swimming tuition. Once the kid makes progress mums and dads can hunt down aquatic consultants or swim instructors with experience in this area, but should avoid expectancies that their child is prepared to take a quantum jump and be prepared to respond positively to conventional swim instruction. One of the most terrible mistakes that elders can make in this journey is to not totally commit to the method and understand that they must stay with it, irrespective of how long it requires. Helping a child to feel and understand how to remain safe in water should be a priority for every parent.
Since it is rare to find a kid, facing this challenge, who comes to the pool happily or enthusiastically, creating a type of currency with youngsters is another critical facet of this process. Positive strengthening, rewards, even bribery, can be a good carrot in motivating these youngsters to step outside their comfortable zone and keep moving forward. Since it isn't unusual for many youngsters, facing this difficulty, to resort to behavior that is contrary to their standard behaviour to try to convince elders the fight is not really worth the fight , parents must respond swiftly and assertively by building new bounds about unsatisfactory behaviour.
The second part that factors into a child's unwillingness to get their face wet is fear. Whether the child has experienced an actual traumatising event or possibly a understood one, or the origination of their fear is a complete poser to parent and child alike, which is often the situation, youngsters are not outfitted with the cognitive and emotional coping skills and life experience, to understand, process, manage and defeat their overpowering fear of water. This prevents them from being able to put their face in the water, which is a fundamental talent in learning the best way to feel safe, cosy and competent in water. They require the steerage and support of individuals that they trust and know that they have their safety and best interest at heart.
Again mothers and fathers and professionals must remain patient, supportive and committed to the method and avoid impractical goals and time lines. Helping a kid get their face wet might not be easy, but is the most important aquatic ability that a child must learn and it opens the locks to all the other doors!!!
About the Author:
Aquatic Therapist, Jeff Krieger, the Founder and Director of the S.O.A.P. (Strategies Overcoming Aquatic Phobias) Program, has a BA in Psychology and a MS in Counseling. He has been an aquatic professional for over thirty years and is recognized as an innovator and expert in helping fearful swimmers overcome their fear of water.
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