It often happens that the baby is afraid to swim. Each of the children has different fears of fear of water, some children splash in the bathroom, but when they see a pond, a river or a large pond they do not want to go into the water. Do I have to force a child or compromise?
The child is afraid to swim
A newborn baby is not afraid of water. Being in an environment to which the child is accustomed, he feels pleasure. Fear of water develops further and, as a rule, we become its cause, adults.
That the child was not frightened, it is necessary from the first days to create a quiet atmosphere for bathing a newborn. If you are not sure of your abilities, ask an experienced person who has experience in bathing children, for example, a grandmother. Closely monitor the water temperature, if the baby is scalded, he refuses to climb into the bath. The temperature in the bath should be 36-37 degrees.
The reason for refusing the child to take a bath can be:
- The child was drinking water when he fell in the tub.
- The baby slides on the bottom of the tub and is afraid to fall.
- Shampoo or soap hit the baby in the eyes.
- The water in the tub was cold.
If the cause of the fear was one of these reasons, then it is not difficult to eliminate them:
- At the bottom of the bathtub is not a sliding rubber mat and buy a special chair for bathing the baby.
- Wash baby's head with shampoo "without tears."
- Using a thermometer, do not forget to monitor the temperature in the bath.
- Unpleasant for the child, the procedure of washing the head do once a week, on other days, play with the baby in the bath more, entertain him, so that he will forget about his fears, and the bath itself would be associated with fun.
An excellent tool against the fear of water will serve as an ordinary basin. Fill it with water, let the kid play it with toys. Still throw on the bottom of colored stones, ask the kid to get these pebbles. Such exercises will have a good effect on the development of fine motor skills.
In the fight against fears will help the game. Buy a baby a lot of rubber leks, ducks, fish. ships. And together with the child play, show how the toys are splashing happily, play and are not afraid of water.
When a child stands with legs in the water and is afraid to drop to the waist, do not force him into the bath with force. Step by step, try to overcome the child's fear of water, stop on the achievement that has been achieved today, moving forward with each passing day. Babies who are afraid of water will be helped by games with soap bubbles. When the child will catch them and clap them with their hands, he will be distracted from fears and may sit in a bath.
Problems in learning to swim
- Do not force the child to go into the water. Do not push on the baby.
- Do not throw the child into the water, on principle if you want to survive, then swim. The child will be even more afraid of water and will simply lose faith in his parents.
- Do not laugh at the child's fears, do not compare with other children. The child will have an inferiority complex. Tell the child that he and that boy Vova were also afraid of water, but you need to cope with the fear.
- Try not to show your child's uncertainty when you go for the first time with him in the pool.
Up to 6 years, you need to continue to use when swimming a circle, vest or armlets. It is not necessary to teach a child before 6 years of age to swim "in an adult way". The first time, when you come with a child to the pool, go with him into the water. Swim, splash, show that it gives you pleasure and joy. Take it in your arms, do not hold it tightly, it should not feel danger. Be calm and patient, eventually he will get used to the water, overcome his fears and enjoy swimming.
If you have tried all the ways, and the child continues to be afraid to swim, then it is worth turning to an experienced psychologist. He will help the child overcome the fear of water.