5 tips to conquer your child's fear of the water

Living in the water-loving city of Perth, summer life and trips to the beach go hand in hand. However, for some kids and adults, the thought of heading to the beach or their local pool for the day can be quite daunting.

Developing a fear of the water is completely normal and common. If your child starts to show signs of a developing fear or growing hesitation towards the water, read our top tips below to ensure they learn a skill for life.

Where is the fear coming from?

It's always a good idea to get on the front foot of any signs of fear from as early as possible. The signs may be as obvious as avoiding the water all together or not wanting to go to the beach or pool. It's important to recognize and validate their fear and the reasoning's behind it and work on specific strategies to overcoming it. 

Be patient

As with any new skill your child may be learning, it is so important to remain patient. Try to put yourself in their shoes and remember the first time you went to your first swim lesson or had your first swim experience. It will take time for your little one to build their confidence within the water, but once they do they will have a skill for life!

Have fun

One of the easiest ways to capture the kids attention is by making it fun and joining in too! Invite their friends over for a day running around in the sprinklers or head to the beach for some sandcastle making fun. It's beneficial to balance their swim lessons with fun pool or beach time too, so that swimming isn't always about serious skill development. Soon kids will realize the benefits learning to swim has and the social opportunities that they can join in on. 

Swimming lessons

Find a fun and friendly swim school that focuses on making your child as comfortable in the water as possible. With weekly swim lessons, gradually overtime your child will gain their confidence in the water during and outside of class time. It's recommended that you let the instructor know about your child's fear of the water prior to their first lesson, so they can make the lesson as comfortable as possible for your little one.   

Introduce them to the water early 

Before kids have the chance to develop a fear for the water, it's a great idea to get them started as early as possible. Many swim schools now offer lessons to kids from as young as 6 months old, to improve their water familiarity from a young age. There are plenty of benefits of introducing your child to swim lessons from a young age as it allows them to be more comfortable in the water knowing you are right by their side.

How we can help 

Our kids’ swimming lessons at HBF Arena in Joondalup are available for children aged from 6 months to 15 years in indoor, heated pools. Our parent and baby classes will introduce your baby to the water in a gentle, safe and encouraging way.

Contact us today to get your child swimming safely and enjoying the water!