By Foss Swim School
At Foss Swim School, we know from experience that a lot of people – adults and children – express that they have some fear of water. Our motto is “Love Water,” and we believe that anyone can learn to be safer around water, whether it’s a pool, lake or ocean. It just takes a little time to understand what form that fear takes and what a person’s goals might be when it comes to overcoming that fear.
It’s important to start with the understanding that “fear of water” is not inherently bad. Children without this healthy respect for the water are more prone to jump in when no one is around because they do not understand the negative impact of not knowing how to swim or how to get themselves to safety.
At any age, when we work with someone who is fearful of water, our goal is to turn that into a healthy respect for water. That means establishing some level of comfort in water; knowing fundamental water safety; and knowing one’s own capabilities. With the addition of swimming skills, anyone can learn to love water – enjoying and feeling confident whether swimming or splashing!
Replacing “Fear” With “Confidence”
When we have a student who has a fear of water, it can mean different things and require different approaches at different ages.
- Infants and Toddlers: At this age, what we might call fear of water most often is just unfamiliarity. We encourage parents to expose babies to water as early as possible simply to establish and reinforce that it can be fun. Playing in the bath, splashing, and showering (to get used to water on the face and head) all do wonders.
Even if a child is a little older, gradual playful exposure is the best approach and works in the vast majority of cases. Our Backfloat Baby program has this down to a science – even if you feel your child under 3 years of age has a fear, we recommend starting with these classes.
- Younger Kids: By the time a child is 4 or 5 years of age, discomfort with water is often still about unfamiliarity and not liking the unknown. Our Little 1 classes are designed to work for kids who still need reassurance and still need to be taught that water is fun, and also that it must be respected. They are old enough now to take direction from teachers and learn from watching others.
Having a parent reassure them is key, but seeing other kids their age play, learn and be safe can also be a powerful motivator. The distractions of laughter and fun can create space to replace fear with positive feelings. Learning about buoyancy and how to get safely back to the wall builds confidence quickly. Teachers get to know each student individually, and will take special care with those who are more fearful, but in most cases beginner classes will naturally replace fear with confidence.
- Older Kids: If a child has a strong fear of water at 7, 8 or older, there may be built up experiences or strong emotional reactions that are at play. This may include some kids with special needs. Big 1 classes still start at the beginning, with water acclimation, and our approach is safe and reassuring and can be enough to replace fear with confidence. For kids with special abilities and needs, we seek to place them with instructors who excel at working with kids like them.
However, sometimes a student in these levels needs a little more attention, and instructors have the leeway to tailor lessons for their class, and in some cases can bring in a second instructor for one-on-one work during class time. Teachers also assign individual homework to students, and for more fearful students it may include repeating acclimation exercises at home in the bath or at a pool with parents.
- Teens and Adults: Every case is different, but we have found that a deep-seated fear of water for adults and some older teens can benefit from private or semi-private lessons. The goal is the same – confidence in water, learning safety skills – but in these more private environments student and teacher can try different approaches and spend more time within a session on specific lessons. As long as a swimmer is motivated and engaged, we can help gradually replace fear with confidence.
At any age, patience is important. Overcoming fear and replacing it with confidence doesn’t happen overnight, and in our experience doesn’t always happen in one quarter. Every child gets past their fear of water at a different rate, so it’s not uncommon to have to repeat a level for water acclimation, just like any swimming milestone. We encourage parents to take the time needed. This investment in a child’s psychological well-being can bring lifelong benefits in terms of confidence and joy!
It’s also worth noting that diagnosed aquaphobia, as fear of water is known to psychologists, may also require attention from a mental health professional. But for many, many people, especially younger kids who are still learning and whose brains are still developing rapidly, teaching them that water can be fun and that swim skills build confidence is just what they need!
