OT swimming lessons for kids

Ok, peeps, I need some help.  My son is 4 and I'm going crazy with him.  He's scared to death to go under water or float on his back.  They are both requirements to learn to advance to the next swimming lessons.  He's in the tiny tots right now where they dont do too much, but he's behind these little kids.  He's scared to death that the instructor, or me, or his dad is going to dunk him under the water (even though he has NEVER been dunked).  I'm so frustrated.  He wont try ANY of the moves in the pool to learn and just sits there.  I don't know what to do.  I need advice.  Part of me wants to chuck him in the pool and show him it isn't that bad, but I'm afraid it would set him back even further.  I want him to learn for safety reasons.  He loves to go swimming, but just stays where he can touch and hops around or plays on the steps.  I need advice!!  He's driving me crazy!!

My Oldest son went through this as well.....and I honestly can't remember that we "did" anything to help him through it. He just eventually got through it. We had a little pool in our backyard(yah know the dinky plastic kind) and he would splash and play, but HATED the sprinkler. We also go to a cottage up North for a week every yr.....he had the chance to splash and play there and that got him more comfortable, although just as he was getting used to it we had a bit of a setback(picture floaty ring around back of neck...his bum through up to his knees....wave comes knocks him over and underwater....he broke the ring trying to get his head out of the water and was a lil gun shy for about 5 mins after that then realized....it's ok). I wish I could give you better advice.....I would almost say just relax.....let him finish up the session and then give him a rest....could just be his age?  My son(who is now 8.5 yrs) LOVES the water now....he's a bit of a fish LOL Good luck!

Suz

Everyone is telling me the same thing it seems like.  Just give him time.  Darn it.  I thought there was a magical fix!!  He screeched like a little girl today when she tried to get him to float on his back.  He seems so old to be in the tiny tot lessons and to be failing.  It breaks me heart, I don't like that he's afraid of anything.  Maybe it's what I get for being an over protective stay at home mom!!  LOL!

Hi!  This may or may not be similar, but it brings back memories of when my daughter was 3 or 4 (now almost 8), I signed her up for dance just thinking that every little girl would LOVE dance.  OMG!!  I was so embarassed and I'd be so upset after going.  My daughter would hang on the bars and run around like it was playtime while everyone else was listening to the teacher and doing what they were supposed to be doing.  I left there wanting to just scream and promising myself for her safety and my sanity, I'd never go back.  Well, for her I decided that dance just wasn't her thing and we finished out the class and by the end she was the perfect little monkey still not paying attention.  Boy, was it hard keeping my mouth shut and I racked my brain thinking of ways to get her to do what I wanted.  She did do swimming lessons and absolutely LOVED doing that, but there were lots of kids who didn't love it and I'm sure their parents were feeling just the same way you are.  Ugh!  This may not be helpful, but I think just exposing him to the water is a great thing to do.  Maybe he is just going through a stage right now and isn't going to pay attention.   Easier said than done - try to continue to be patient and just continue taking him.  Can your husband take him or someone else to the lesson?  I know my husband doesn't react quite like I do to things and sometimes I think my daughter will behave differently for him or for someone else.  Good luck!  And you are NOT alone in this one!

Just an idea, can you get him a small pool, less than 3 feet deep for him to get used to? By himself? Does he wear a lifejacket? Maybe he needs more security to assure himself that he WONT drown?

It does take time and yes, if you throw him in, it probably would be worse. How about having him hold on to the side and you or hubby or teacher help him lift his legs and float? Did you ask HIM what would make him feel safer?

Good luck!

He is 4... this is a developmental stage.
Eventually he will grow out of it.
Let him be who he is and in time, he will do it his own way.
What about a game... where you encourage him to float on his back and balance something on his stomach.... a cup, a rubber toy of some kind?
Underwater.... I know when I camp counseled... We'd play tea party on the pool floor. See who could sit on the bottom and "sip tea."
Will he put his head under the water in the bathtub at home? If so, then he can transition to the pool.
I like the other poster's idea of a small pool at home. It might help things go along.
Give him time.... time... time.

A kid that isn't "pool safe" is a kid that can drown.  My kids took their lessons (from beginning to advanced diving) from the swim instructor at SMU.  Their swim team is one of the best in the nation.  He had a few rules...kids won't do the drill...mom and dad can't stay and watch the lessons.  Why, because he got the kid to the point his head went under the water!  The next time you saw junior (about 30 minutes later) the kid was sooooo proud of his accomplishment he couldn't stand it!  Sort of tough love, but drowning isn't an option.  In high school both of my sons were life guards and now their kids swim like fish (they started them at age 1).  I know its hard, but so worth it.  Good luck.