I am writing today's article in order to hear your opinion on dilemma that is bothering me these days. I enrolled my 5 years old son in swimming lessons for the first time. He likes water very much but he is afraid. He is not relaxed at all and he feels insecure, but he would like to learn to swim. That's why I tought that swimming lessons could be a good solution for him, to get rid of the fear of water.
He started the lessons in the age group 5-6 years, but he cried all the time and instructor suggested moving him to a younger group where parent is present in the pool, to make him more relaxed. But he is still afraid. The reason is a strict instructor.
Instructor is like a soldier. 😊 I am not exaggerating. She is really very strict. She insists that he do some things he feels unable to do. She yells at him and puts a pressure on him during the swimming class. Now, after few classes, he is afraid more than he was and his stress became so big that he wants to quit.
In my opinion, swimming is very nice skill. I feel free in the water and I haven't been afraid ever. I wanted my son to feel that way too, but we are not same. Parents sometimes want their children to be like them, but that is wrong. I hoped that he will have exciting time in the pool, but he actually had a scary experience. I don't know how to change his impression. Instructor will not change her training method. I suppose that, I didn't ask her.
I know that swimming has many benefits. It is a great activity for children. It improves their health and develops their strentgh, social, mental and physical skills. Fear is normal at first and later children become more self-confident.
On the other hand, my son is so afraid that it is hard for me to watch him shivering and crying. It should be an exciting and fun activity and not stress. He wanted to learn to swim, but now, swimming is strict and stressful activity for him.
Should I give up on my son's swimming lessons or not?
Thank you very much for reading and I would like to hear your opinion.
Article and photo are original and mine.
Best regards to all readers and writers.
I personally think that the wrong instructor will just make the problem worse, not cure it. Yes, he will learn the skills but he might choose to avoid water in the future. Are there any other swimming schools available? How about first introducing him to the sea or a lake, so he sees that it's fun and relaxing?