https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 21 Apr 2026 00:31:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890539 Wed, 10 Jul 2019 09:42:25 +0000 Elizabear 2890539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds like a place that is likely to have a family swim night. Take him in the pool with you to get him comfortable in that environment :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890364 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 19:49:37 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2890364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: yay! You must be relieved. I bet he'll gain a ton of confidence as he goes. O just started her second session, so she's done 11 lessons after today. The first 2 weeks it was really too cold and she participated very reluctantly. Today she was hesitant to go in but got into it quickly and was showing off her going under and jumping in skills in no time. Then she refused to get out when they were done, until the teacher told her she wouldn't be able to come back tomorrow unless she got out. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890352 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 16:47:16 +0000 HappyBaker 2890352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much for the tips everyone, I’d call day one a success! We got there a little early, and luckily the kids before us were SUPER advanced and confident swimmers, both my kids were like “whoa how do they DO that?!” So I explained after a few years of swim lessons they could do that too. DS was initially whiney and wanted me but his teacher did a great job of telling him where I was supposed to sit (outside the pool fence and partially hidden by some shrubs). I could hear him whimpering at some things but he didn’t have a huge freak out and was proud of himself when he was done. Fingers crossed tomorrow is more of the same! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890316 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 12:00:06 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2890316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LemonJack: yeah, I had an ongoing fight with my 3 year old's daycare/preschool about this. They wanted me to leave her in a full on panic. She did stop crying fairly quickly, but she wasn't happy, she was in "freeze" mode because she didn't feel safe. When I stayed for 5-10 min and gave her big hugs and reassurance, she entered class happily on her own. Same with any classes like swimming or dance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890312 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 11:05:25 +0000 LemonJack 2890312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Turtle: I agree with the drop and run method working for some, but not all kids. With our first I was told to leave her and stand out of sight, but it made her more hysterical. She ended up doing better when I was there and she could see me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890289 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 08:29:18 +0000 Mommy Finger 2890289@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 4yo has been in lessons for about a year now and still hates going. Though when he's actually in the water, he seems so happy. The one thing that DH did that I'm not happy about is that he totally bribed him. There's a Dollar Store right there so DH promised to take him to get something. And now that's turned into a ritual. I hate all of the plastic crap! And the expectation..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890266 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 23:35:48 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2890266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hummusgirl: Oh yes, this too. We actually went down to the pool for open swim the day before the first swim class each time, so it felt familiar and she was confident. So far, other than days when it's been in the 50s during class, she's done great with minimal hesitation and nerves before hand. </p> <p>@HappyBaker: I think only you can be the judge as to whether the drop and run method would work. For me, my girl is truly terrified of certain situations. She's not throwing a fit to manipulate me into "rescuing" her. And in those situations, I want her to know that I have her back, not that I'll abandon her when she's most afraid. But it does seem to work for some people/kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890262 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 21:36:09 +0000 hummusgirl 2890262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing that worked for my kids was us just going to the pool a bunch, getting in with them and not pressuring them to do anything, just splash around and we would hold them if they wanted. After a couple times of that, they naturally started doing more, wanting to put their face in, jump to us, dive for rings etc. </p> <p>We finally did this after a couple years of battles around swim class! What a rollercoaster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890261 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 21:23:32 +0000 ALV91711 2890261@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the idea of him watching another swim lesson class to see what goes on. </p> <p>Can parents not even watch? DS started swim lessons this winter and it definitely helped that I was on the sidelines and could give him a thumbs up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890260 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 21:20:05 +0000 PinkElephant 2890260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would second the drop-and-run idea above :) :) I feel like once kids know they're not getting "rescued" quickly by mom or dad, the upset stops pretty quickly and they often find they're enjoying themselves! He certainly won't be the first kid to be nervous, and most instructors at places we've been are well versed in dealing with this fear (and well equipped with toy/game strategies to make kids forget they were scared).</p> <p>If your son is one for logic, you can also maybe try spinning it as "learning to be safe in the water", which I'm guessing for you is non-negotiable (it is for me - I'd feel differently about one of my kids being scared of, say, ice skating lessons and not wanting to take them, but I personally need them all to know at least on a basic level how to swim, because there are three of them and one of me). You can patiently tell him "If our family wants to have fun at the beach/pool, it's very important that everyone learn how to be safe in the water. Swim lessons will teach you to be safe in the water so that our family can play at the beach and have fun. You need to do swimming lessons, and once you try them, I bet you might even think they are fun." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890245 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 19:10:34 +0000 bhbee 2890245@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first year we did swim I had to just hug, leave and let the instructors handle it. But it got better quickly and she did great by Thursday! I like the idea above too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890235 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 17:58:22 +0000 HappyBaker 2890235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Turtle: that’s a great idea! He definitely seems mostly scared about the unknown of it so I think that would be a big help. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890233 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 17:36:12 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2890233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there any chance you could take him to watch a lesson first? We arrived 30 min early for our first one this summer and it really helped to watch other littles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-to-get-4-year-old-not-upset-about-swim-lessons#post-2890227 Sun, 07 Jul 2019 14:44:13 +0000 HappyBaker 2890227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids (6 and 4) start swim lessons tomorrow for the first time in their lives. Its Monday through Thursday for half an hour, for two weeks. Its a "small group" lesson, so just them and one other kid with an instructor. My son, the 4 year old is absolutely terrified and starts hysterically crying when we even mention the swim lessons. </p> <p>The expectation is parents don't go in with their kids at this place, so I'm wondering if anyone has tips on how to get him to calm down! We've talked through that "swimming" lessons really means they will teach him to kick his legs / blow bubbles, they aren't just going to put him in the water alone, but that is not helping! </p>