Hi,
I've been a swim instructor and head lifeguard for a private pool for six years now, and I figured I would leave some insight for all the parents that may have a similar problem. Let me start off by saying, I've been a certified for six years in CPR, First Aid, Lifeguard Rescue and WSI (a special cert for swim instructors)
Let me start off my saying, that starting your child with swim lessons at five or older is a HUGE factor into why they are having issues. Children must be introduced to water safety at a young age, I say anywhere from 6-12 months. By prolonging the process you are building fear and pushing your child into a circumstance where they have no idea what they are getting into and what it will be like, and that is terrifying. With a younger child the idea of water is incredibly vague, that being said it's harder for them to realize what's happening. The older the kid, the bigger the protest. Period.
Another issue is that swim lessons should NEVER be a negotiation. 1 in 4 kids drown a year. I cannot tell you how many parents I shake my head at because I sit there with my lesson of four, were a parent is allowing their child to wail and wail-refusing to get in. So many times I see them negotiating with their child, I even had a mother say "don't you want ice cream after this?" That's it, you've already lost the battle. By doing that you are letting the child have control. You need to be firm and forceful into making sure your child enters the water. Even if the kid has a huge fear nine times out of ten the instructor will never dunk a kid under if they feel the timing is off.
There is a REASON we say to start your kids early, to say that instructors lack compassion for children cause we don't want to put up with their eight year old screaming self is a complete misrepresentation for what it's about. If we lacked compassion for kids, we wouldn't be I'm this business! Trust me, the pay wouldn't be worth it if I hated kids. But I don't, that's also why I work at a daycare. What we don't tolerate is the soft parenting that goes behind it. Kids are a direct representation to their parents, and trust me, after doing my fair share of people watching for six years I have seen it all.
At the end of the day, people need to stop making excuses as to why their child can't swim or is fearful. Start them early, if it's to late for that sign them up for private lessons. But if they start crying-don't and I repeat DONT pull them from lessons, it's a process. They need to learn trust in their instructor and if you keep pulling them left and right that will never happen. Also be clear, we do not negotiate lessons, they are not an option. Just like seat belts aren't an option. This is for safety ! It can be fun but at the end of the day, I'll reiterate 1 in 4 kids drown! I'm tired, as I can say for most swim instructors of hearing all the excuses. It takes time, patience and putting your foot down. It won't always be a struggle eventually swimming will be fun. It's all about how the parent handles it, not the kid.