Hi friends! We are smack in the middle of a blogging series, all about fear. Last week we discussed our fears, and what are considered “normal” fears in children. This week we are bouncing between a whole host of fear topics. Today we interviewed Katy Simms about swimming with our kids!

Hello Kid Project readers! First off, a big thank you to Alyssa for inviting me back. Today, I’d like to answer some questions related to your children and their interaction with water.  I love teaching kids how to swim, and I believe it is important to emphasize water safety.

Does introducing your child to water at a young age help them better handle fear of water?

The short answer is yes. Exposing children to new experiences and activities at a young
age is usually the best way to go. Exposing children to the water usually creates more
comfortable and confident adolescents around pools and bodies of water.

As a parent, if my child is terrified of water what should I do?

There are numerous potential reasons kids are afraid of the water. If you are able to
identify the main reasons for this fear, helping a child overcome it is much easier. Most
times a fear will develop if there has been a scare or inexperience around water. I have a
few suggestions to help children and parents develop confidence around water as well as
overcome their fears.

1. Expose your child to water at a young age.
2. Take lessons at the local swimming pool, alone and together.
3. Have conversations with your child about their fears, allowing them to talk through them without judgment on your part.
4. Be confident in the water yourself so that your child can learn from your example.
5. Start at home with a wading pool or sprinkler toys.
6. Bring your bath toys with you to the pool.
7. Teach your child to rely on their skills as well as their common sense and not floatation devices.
8. If a scare does happen, get back in the water right away and learn from the situation.
9. Don’t force your child to be in the water, allow them to test it themselves with your support.
10. Picking out their own bathing suit and pool gear can make kids really excited
11. about being in the water.
12. Invite your child’s friends to accompany your family to the pool.
13. Allow your child to experience the water with different people such as grandparents, caretakers, teachers, and other safe adults.
14. Make water experiences fun and entertaining.
15. Go slow and take the lead from your child.
16. Set a good example by following the rules and requests of the lifeguards.

Do you believe that quality or quantity of time in the water determines the comfort level for a child?

Both. Quality time in the water allows your child to experience the water as a safe and
comfortable environment while the quantity of time allows them to develop water and
swimming skills that are necessary in the long term. Ideally, your child will have a great
experience in the water and want to be around water more often. The additional time will
allow your child to become a more proficient swimmer.

Are there circumstantial parameters we (as parents) should take into consideration when teaching our kids to swim…like water temp, duration in the water, etc?

• As with any new experience, knowing your child and their limits is the best way to gauge. Take your cues from them as far as temperature and duration and let them test their own comfort level first. I am always amazed when young kids jump right into a freezing cold pool.
• Many indoor pools are open year-round. Especially living in our (Denver) climate with the extremes in weather, families can enjoy pool time whenever they want. This means that kids can have lots of exposure to pools and water in small or large doses. Kids don’t have to cram a bunch of lessons into a summer, they can go at their own pace and have fun with it.

I hope you find these tips helpful when your family is planning pool time or vacations.

Here are more of Katy’s helpful posts: A Guide to Green Crafting and Surviving Summer.

Katy Simms is a family behavior consultant in the Denver area. She grew up around water and swam competitively for 15 years. She also gave private swimming lessons and coached a swim team for 5 years. For more family behavioral strategies, check out her blog at http://katherinesimmsllc.wordpress.com.