What Type of Swim Lessons Are Best for Fearful Swimmers?

Many children are afraid of the water, and this quickly becomes a struggle for parents who want their children to learn how to swim. If parents and swim lesson instructors can find ways to make a child feel more comfortable and have fun in the water, the young swimmer's anxiety can quickly turn into something more positive. There are many great options for swim lessons to help children become less afraid of the water.

  1. Parent-Child Classes

    • Parent-child swim lessons are fun for both parents and children.

      When your child is an infant you have the best opportunity to easily convince him that the water is a safe place. Infants will instantly feel more calm and relaxed just by seeing you smile and having fun. So consider parent-child swim classes, which are offered at many swimming pools and health clubs throughout the country. Using fun games and exciting music, your instructor will guide you and the other parents through making your children's fears of the water disappear.

    Private Swim Lessons

    • Private swim lessons provide one-on-one attention that some children crave.

      For students who are extremely afraid of the water, having one-on-one attention with a private swim lesson instructor may be extremely beneficial. Many children are frightened of the water because they feel that they do not have someone watching them closely enough to make sure that they are safe. Private swim lessons are conducted with just one student and one instructor so that your child can feel more confident that she is truly safe. Plus, the instructor will have more time to spend with your child in a private lesson.

    Semi-Private Swim Lessons

    • Friends and siblings can participate in swim lessons together.

      Some children are terrified of the water, and do not think swimming is fun at all. Many parents have found success for their children though semi-private swim lessons. These swim lessons involve one instructor with either two or three children. If your child has a sibling who is less afraid of the water or a friend who he is very close with, consider pairing the two up for lessons together. Your child may find swimming less scary if he has a friend or sibling next to him.

    Small Group Classes

    • Having other children around may help your child become less fearful.

      Some students do not like the one-on-one attention that the other types of lessons give them. This may make your child feel even more pressured to swim correctly instead of swimming for fun. Group swim lessons may help fearful children who want to test out the waters for themselves. The lessons should be small, with no more than six children.

      Your will get the attention that she needs to learn how to swim effectively, while also having the privacy and independence to do things on her own terms.