3.5 Yr Old Not Interested in Swimming Lessons

This happened to my daughter when she was 3. She's now 6. She was fine at first and then all of a sudden she didnt want to go. She would sit on the steps and get out of the water. I continued to take her a couple of more times but it wasn't getting any better so we stopped going. She wanted to go again the next year (Spring tme) and I decided to give it a try. She was totally fine and is still in lessons now. Some kids just aren't ready yet at that age. My youngest daughter who is 3 loves it! I guess it really just depends on the child. I hope this helps a little.

My only advice is dont push it. If he isnt interested, dont force it, because the more you do the more he's gonna dig his heels in and not want to do it. Just call this year a wash, keep going to open swim, and try again next year. I say this because I have a 3.5 year old son whos STUBBORN (If I could underline that word a couple of times I would). If he doesnt want something or doesnt want to do something and we try to force the issue he just digs his heels in more, but if we let it go and try again later it works better.

My son also was not interested in swimming lessons when I signed him up when he was 3. He's now 11 and a great swimmer! We decided to just teach him ourselves. I think being taught by strangers was the problem not so much the water. Good Luck!

Hi S.,

Well, I have a 2 yr.old son(soon to be 3 in August) and I was planning on enrolling him in swimming lessons in September. This will be his first time having a lesson as well.
I think that if my son reacts that way the first 2 lessons that it would be fine. I think that you should still take him for the rest of his lessons and maybe he will be more and more comfortable the more you go.
I also think that you should talk to the swim instructor and see what his/her opinion is. B/c I'm sure this is not his/her first time dealing with a child who is not comfortable going into the water.
Or maybe give your son until the 6th lesson to decide whether or not he will continue. That way at least you got your monies worth.
I hope this helps! Hopefully, my son will enjoy his swimming lessons!lol Wish me luck!

R.

It didnt happen to me, but taking my daughter to swim lessons(8yrs) I watched the younger ones learning. I did see that happen. Some kids just aren't ready to swim. I would take him for the classes, since you paid for them. Most of the kids got in the water at the end. But..some didn't. You may want to wait for next year:) Good luck!

I have a 3 year old who will be 4 next month and he pretty much reacts the same way to new situations. He takes a while to warm up to people, but once he gets started he has a ball. I would continue to take him to the lessons and at least let him get used to the environment and new faces, maybe he's just feeling things out. Also, I wouldn't want to give my child the message that quiting is okay. Good luck to you, and good luck to me too because I'll probably be signing my 2 boys up for swimming this summer too.

I( think you should continue to take him but DO NOT force him to participate. He may be really afraid. and he may not trust the instructor will keep him safe in the water like mom and dad do. If you make it a battle it may make it that much more of an issue and he will refuse to try for years to come. Many children are afraid of water. My son wouldnt get in a pull without me holding him until he was 5 and now he is a fish. Just be patient. praise every attempt he makes but do not admonish him for his fears.

Maybe if you get in the water with him he will not be as afraid just talk to the instructer and see if you can do that and then gradually hand him of to the instructer since he isnt afraid when the family is their he may just need that extra security.

Hi S.,

When I was going through college, I taught swim lessons. Both private and group. It sounds like your son just isn't comfortable in the water and is very timid.

Don't force him to do anything! :) This will only make matters much worse. I would look into private lessons. The pool will be quiet and the instructor will be able to go at your sons own pace. The key is the instructor as well. Obviously certain personalities will work better with your son, ask around for recommendations. Or call certain schools and ask who they recommend and how they overcome water fear in children.

Good luck to you! And certainly, don't give up. Every child needs to know how to swim. :)

Keep going. Show up early so he's the first one there and can get a few seconds of one on one time with the instructor. They might be able to gain his trust and help him muster the bravery to get in. They're trained to deal with this and can best do it one on one with the parent staying out of it and before the rest of the class needs them too. Take him to the side of the pool, deliver him to the instructor and take a seat.

Plan a reward for after the lesson if he does get in the water. A treat from the pool vending machine where he can put in the money and push the buttons to get the treat he picks, or a mystery prize you bring in your purse like a bouncy ball or yo-yo - something small that he likes. Let him know you have a treat planned ONLY if he gets in the water and tries.

Don't give up or you might be building a routine of him refusing to participate in not just this group activity but others as well.

If he decides to stand on the side of the pool for 6 more lessons that's his choice. Don't give him eye contact or dote over him during the time he should be swimming. Watch the kids that are swimming and looked happy and content yourself. Get excited to see the other kids trying and learning. He'll see that he's wasting his own time and not getting your attention. I think he'll get in. If you spend the whole time at the pool trying to persuade him he'll take that attention.

The reward is really two fold - swim and you'll watch and clap and smile etc... AND he gets a tangible reward after.

There is no punishment. If he doesn't get in he doesn't get your attention or the planned reward at the end.

Both of my kids respond great to the mystery prize. They just want to know what it is. If they don't do what asked of them they don't get the prize and they NEVER know what it was. The suspense is just what they need. I've given sea shells, polished minerals/rocks etc... They're always happy when they get to see what it is, and have it. It doesn't have to be fancy.

Happy swimming.

Hi Your son might feel not confident or feel not ready to take swimming lesson. My children took swimming lessons when my son was 7 yrs old and daughter was 5 yrs. Its up to them to feel ready. I was 9 yrs old to take swimming lesson. I noticed that 3 of us arent interesting to swim unless get together friends and families - of course we went. Depend on kids interesting and behavior.

K.

S.,

I just ran across this in the spotlight. You might also want th check with your local YMCA, if they have a pool. I know the one here in Bothell has specific classes for parents and kids your son's age. It's called the Parent/Pike here.

Hope this helps,
Melissa