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1. Prepare the Reluctant Swimmer
Before taking the child to the water get them interested in swimming. Look at books and dvd's of water animals, people swimming as well as swimmers in competitive sport. This will make it look easy and natural.
Check out your local swimming center and look at their facilities. Find out what they have that you may use, and what their policy is with floats, flippers and water toys.

When checking out the pool take your child with you, if they see other children enjoying themselves and having fun, they will want to join in too. This will be something to encourage them.
Go shopping for a swim suit. Let them pick something that appeals to them. Guide them to select a swim suit that is lightweight, comfortable and fits well.
Also, shop for goggles, floats, ear plugs and a swimming cap. These items will help make the experience more comfortable.

2. Help Them Feel Safe and Secure
If the child is afraid of water they need to feel safe. The children's pool at your swimming center is a good place to start as it is a pleasant and controlled environment. The person teaching the child needs to be very confident in water and in the early training sessions, for a reluctant child, teach on a one to one basis.
Use swimming goggles and ear plugs to eliminate stingy eyes and water blocked ears.
Work at their pace and comfort level no matter how slow it may seem.

3. Build Confidence
Start slowly and let the child get accustomed to the water, let them feel relaxed and help build their confidence.
Show them
-where to look to check the water-level mark
-where the lifeguards are
-how to get in and out of the pool safely

4. Get Wet
Start off in the shallow end of the pool somewhere they feel comfortable.
Once in the water get them to splash and get their face wet. Make sure they are wearing their goggles and ear plugs.
Get them to walk through the water and feel how resistant water is against their legs and body.
Show them how to hold their breathe and put their head under water and how to breathe.
Show them how buoyant people are and how they can float naturally.
Assit them to float and get them to use their float aids. This will give them a lot of confidence in the water.

5. Play and Have Fun
Make the water experience fun.
Make up games and play with water toys. This will be a more relaxed way to help their movements through the water.
Show them some basic arm and leg movements and give them time to develop their strength in using these movements.

6. Swimming classes
Once the child has become more relaxed and confident with water they will be more willing to take group swimming classes.
When they are with children their own age they develop their skills quickly and they look forward to their classes.
They can work on their arm and leg movements and perfect strokes.

There is no stopping them now.

Swimming is for fun and fitness as well as health and safety.
Something they will use throughout their life.
Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, Dina Psichogiopoulos.
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