Do you have a child who has aquaphobia? You’re not alone. At the age of eight months, many children may start to develop an irrational fear of water. It could be because of the cold temperature or fear of separation from the parents.
In this blog, we’ll discuss a few tips to help your child overcome their aquaphobia in the quickest way possible!
Get Them Started Young
As soon as they start walking, it’s time to get them into the pool or bathtub for some supervised playtime, only providing full support when needed. The more exposure your children have, the less likely they are to become afraid later.
Let Them Have Full Control
This is a great way to get your child more comfortable in the water. Start with their tummy and let them sit on the pool’s steps or in a tub of shallow water. You can even rent a blow-up pool they can sit in comfortably.
Role Model Proper Swimming Behavior
Teach them how to swim and why they need to learn. Children will follow the lead of adults, and it’s important they see good examples if they are expected to follow them.
Reinforce Their Safety Skills
If the child is encouraged to play in the water, it will be a more enjoyable activity. Our children can’t tell us that water is scary, but they can tell us that they’re afraid of it. Continue to reassure your child that you are there to protect them and keep them safe.
Look for Pattern Treatment
After a while of working with your child in the water, you may find they are somewhat comfortable, and you can move on to the next step. If they still have the same fear, try going back a few steps and playing it safe. You can always go back a step at a time if necessary!
Get Rid of the Word “Can’t”
Telling your kids that they cannot do something because they’re afraid they might fail at it can lead to them being afraid to try. Tell them they can achieve anything physically possible for them to do – then give them some positive motivation (some form of reward) for how great their accomplishment will make them feel.
Get an Encouragement Object
For kids with aquaphobia, the thought of entering the pool can be so terrifying that they may resort to any number of avoidance behaviors. If this describes your child, you might want to give them an “encouragement object,” which is just a small toy that makes them feel safe and happy in the water.
If you’re looking to install a new pool for your kids, look no further. At Perfect Pools, we offer Pool designing services to enhance your outdoor living space. We also specialize in outdoor landscape designing and architect services. Contact us to learn more about our services.
