The first few days of lessons are an adjustment period for new students. Physically, they are working their entire body in a new way. They may need more sleep until their body tones up, and they get in better overall condition.
From an emotional point of view, we have found that the concern about coming to lessons peaks somewhere between the 3rd and 5th lessons. This means that the concern seems to increase for a few days, and then, after the peak day, the complaining goes down. They begin to trust us and realize that the lessons are not very long. Their confidence will start to increase in and outside the pool when they realize they can do hard things!
Children 2 years old and under may take longer to adjust to the new environment. Their verbal skills are limited, so they are much more likely to express their feelings through crying throughout their lessons. Please remember that not every cry means “I’m afraid.” A child may cry because they want candy for dinner or they don’t want to go to bed, etc., etc. If your child continues to cry BEYOND THE 6TH LESSON, please watch for the “type” of cry or complaint and try to see what they are trying to communicate.
CRYING AT THE POOL BEFORE THE LESSON BEGINS – This child either wants to maintain contact with the parent or has associated the instructor with hard work. To achieve success in a new skill, there will be days when you will need to work, even when you would rather sit on the sideline and watch instead. As soon as the child is actually in the water and the work has begun, a contact cry of this type will usually drop in intensity
THE CRYING BEGINS DURING THE LESSON – This child has learned the sequence of the lesson. When we get to the skills they have not mastered, they may cry about having to work on things they are uncomfortable doing. Even as adults, we tend to avoid what we aren’t good at yet. The crying will stop once the skill is mastered
We have found that the most important factor in a child succeeding in gaining confidence and water-safety skills is their parent’s attitude. Please read our article Guidelines to Follow to Help Your Child Experience Success for more tips and tricks!
