Teaching 7 yr. old to swim?

Question

My boyrfiend's little brother is 7, and he is deathly afraid of the water. Everytime he gets into a pool with us he grabs onto someone and holds on for dear life. We are trying to get him more comfortable in the water so he can learn how to swim. Will be working on this tomorrow at a 4th of July party. Any ideas?

Answer 1

encourage him loads

and give him rewards as a way of saying well done

Answer 2

Start simple put him where he can stand or even sit on the steps.  Start by putting in his chin. go further each time.  Mouth, nose, eyes, head.  Then once he is comfortable with that put him on the wall and show them how to kick.  now this is a big step but have them push off the wall to you kicking and moving arms forward and backward. even if you just go two steps back.  He needs to be able to trust you and himself.  You really need to master putting the face in before anything else.

Answer 3

I would get him some sort of flotation device like those wings, an inter tube, or even a life jacket to see if that makes him feel more comfortable. If he is comfortable then start working on how to maneuver by kicking his feet etc. I would also enroll him in some kind of swimming lessons because I don't think that any children should be around water without swimming lessons.

Answer 4

Tell him about the good things about water. Tell him it's harmless. Start at the most shallow end as possible tell him to breathe and about floating. Hold him on his stomach. Let him swim while you are holding to him. Once he gets the hang of it, continue to tell him to breathe and gently let go. He'd be floating and swimming by himself. Be positive. Best of luck!!!

Answer 5

maybe he REALLY likes GRABBING U

Answer 6

Teach him to float first. That is how I learned and also how I've taught my little cousins.

Take him out in the water and have you or your bf put your arm around his back (like you're going to carry him over the threshold...married life...). Have him lean his head back and assist him in floating w/ one arm under his shoulders/back and the other under the knees/upper legs (thighs). Once he relaxes, slowly lower your arms so that he's free-floating. Don't get over-excited but point out to him that he's now floating on his own. If you start hollering and getting excited, you'll scare him and he may get water in his face/mouth and that will only further traumatize him! Learning to float is almost like a psychological thing. It lets him know that even though he doesnt' know how to swim, being in the water doesn't flat out equal drowning.

That should start you off...

Answer 7

Better leave him, he is not ready.

Some people will never be comfortable in water ...

Answer 8

well what you could do is tell him its okay and everything and wait untill he asays hes ready to get in keep asking him "are you ready to get in" and dont force him until he is ready

Answer 9

throw him in, worked for me

Answer 10

Hi I'm a swimming teacher and a lifeguard. For kids afraid of water the best place to start at is something in is his own home, so he feels comfortable. Try a small inflatable pool in your yard, give him armbands and fill the water up to a level that just covers his legs if he sits down. Let him splash about in it for a while, and over the weeks put a little more water into it each time, don't rush him.

When you take him to the pool, carry him into the pool, and walk around the shallow end, still carrying him. This will get him used to the feeling of having water all around him. Then hold his waist and let him stand up in the shallow end.

Normally the first thing I do with my class is get them to stand up in the shallow end of the pool and duck their heads under water, the person with the messiest wet hair gets to choose a game... but I think that there's still a while until we get to that stage if he seems to be so afraid...

Answer 11

Whatever you do, don't force him to go in the deep end, even with a life jacket.  Thats really scary for somebody who doesn't know how to swim and he may never want to learn then.  Start where he can stand and play some little game to get him comfortable in the water.  Then just let him stay/play there until he is ready to move to the next step, like putting his head in the water and blowing bubbles or something.  It may take several times before he is ready to start swimming but patience is the only way to go about it.

Answer 12

Best thing is to throw him in and be prepared to rescue him. But it will p**s him off. Try teaching him techniques for swimming on land, put him on a table and make him practice the moves. Then throw him in.

Answer 13

Being around other children his age who can swim will be a big motivator for him to learn.  Some of them might help him learn some strokes.  At first, keep him in shallow water and work with him on some simple strokes.  Coach him to move smoothly and work with the water, not fight it.  Also, consider lessons for him at the Y or some other association.  Don't give up.  This is an important skill for all people to learn: everyone can learn it.

Answer 14

I suggest you try and get him lessons at the YMCA. The teachers at the Y have experience teaching kids as young as infants.

   When I was a child, at camp, we started by sitting in the very, very shallow end. If you can teach him at a beach, that might help him be less afraid: instead of having to jump into water that's up to his chest at the pool, he can start in water up to his ankles.

Answer 15

I'm still afraid of water and I'm 12. but try to get some Friends in the pool with him in the shallow end and when he gets comfortable try to teach him

Answer 16

My 7-year-old neices experienced the same fear and anxiety when we first took them to swim.  Get him some type of floating device, like a mini-body board, so that he starts holding onto that rather than a person. Also, you can try just putting the child's tummy in your arms so that he's secure while navigating the waters!  Or little by little, start just holding the child's upper body and have them do power kicks and/or paddle with his hands in the water.

It is a gradual process, so patience with the child is a must.  You have to build them up with lots of encouragement. And say things like "Good job!" even if it's something as small as just splish splashing or standing on the steps on their own. Avoid teasing or just throwing him in, otherwise you may be back at square one.  

It took about a good 2 months until my neices felt comfortable with swimming in water.  It's amazing considering they used to run away before even dipping in!

Answer 17

Don't worry about tomorrow, do it properly with a course of lessons for children beginners at a local pool, he'll be much more confident when he's one of a group with similar swimming ability.  People who are confident in the water often have very little understanding of the difficulties and fears that water presents to non-swimmers, and can do much more harm than good by trying to help.

Answer 18

he has to be comfortable with the water. maybe sitting and water play with other kids. maybe more baths so he can test his limits when in the house. my sons love the water.  throwing them in can give them a scare for life.  another way is swimming lessons at the ymca.  the instructors have the patience and you will not have the heart ache to watch.  he may them show you what he learned. good luck.

Answer 19

get him a little floaty and show him how to moves arm and legs thats what i did to teach a little 3 year old boy and now he is a great swimmer who jumps of driving boards and swims in the deep end. i know my instructions sound to simple but it works or get an instructer. hope i helped =]

Answer 20

If it's a party where there's alot of people around, I don't think that's probably the  best environment to teach him anything.  He's nervous already and with other people watching, it will make it worse. His parents should consider putting the child in swim lessons- which sometimes helps them when they see other kids doing it.  But if they don't, I'd get him alone to work on it without distractions.  Get him comfortable with getting his feet in the water and sitting on the side.  Have him splash around with his hands and get used to getting wet by being splashed just a bit instead of full out in the water.  Gradually get him to blow bubbles in the pool just getting his face a little wet.  Or take him in the water step by step inch by inch week by week.  This isn't something that will happen overnight so you need to be patient. Private swim classes are also available, and his parents should at least go watch a swim class to see how the instructors work.

Answer 21

If he is afraid of the water and swimming he will be feeling emotions of inadequacy, and this is fully exposed in a swimsuit, so it's important feel safe before he can relax and learn.

Do not put him through the trauma of teaching him at a party-  or exposing him to water or a pool with strange people around- people looking on will increase his fear and self consciousness making the concentration and ability to learn at a minimum.

To teach someone to swim its important to have a good understanding of swimming and water safety yourself- simply setting a good example and having fun in a safe way around the water is a good way of getting children to learn.

It is a proven fact that infant children have a natural attraction to water, if at 7 this child has a fear it could possibly be due to a negative experience- determine if this is the case, if not try to determine what the actual fear or dislike is, for example is the child afraid of bath tubs full of water- if not perhaps start there- less water may be less intimidating. Is it the cold temperature that makes him uncomfortable, is it fear of drowning, getting his face wet, not being able to touch the bottom with his feet???There are many elements to water safety. Using PFD's portable flotation devices, previously known as life vests are a possibile choice as they are more 'grown up' than floaties that children wear around their arms. This may help the child build confidence in the water.

As mentioned it is not a good idea or fair on the child to teach them at a party- after all his swimming lesson should never be entertainment. It would be a good idea to have him visit the local pool-shallow end, where he can stand and each time you visit challenge him to swim one meter closer to the deep end each time. Kids love challenges and perhaps you could discuss a motive or reward with his parents.

Talk to him about it- explain that for his own safety you would like him to know how to swim if the need arises- suggest professional swimming lessons and that it would be fun to practice, even though his only 7 and his fear seems unnecessary to us, its probably totally reasonable to him and he might be able to explain it- therefore letting you figure out how to help resolve it.

good luck

Answer 22

Yes!!Teach him how to swim that poor little guy!HELP HIM!!!