Okay, you’re ready. This is the day to teach your child to swim. You are both excited. New bathing suits are on. The weather is perfect! You carry your child into the pool. He gets water on his face. You’re waiting for a giggle & a smile…You get SCREAMS.

Fear of water is more common than you think. Kids and Adults alike can have it. A training belt, patience and lots of simple explanations can alleviate the fear.

Remember, only you know why it’s important to swim. Your child doesn’t understand drowning statistics or parent worries for his safety. The trick is to get your child to swim without realizing he’s doing it. Once he sees it’s something fun, the process becomes easy.

Kids are used to being in a car seat and hearing about seat belts. Referring to the swim training aid as a “swim seat belt” immediately conjures up a picture of safety in your child’s eyes.

Your child fears the unknown. The pool appears large, deep, cold and the water moves. Begin by explaining how to keep water out of his mouth. Just hum. Humming forces air out the nose and closes the lips so water can’t enter either place. Kids love music!

What if a little water gets splashed on his face. Relate water removal to mom & dad’s car windows when it’s raining. Hold up your hands and swish them back and forth like window wipers. Ask your child to try out his wipers.

Don’t stress about getting his face wet yet. Body position is more important at this stage. You need your child to feel comfortable and secure before he’ll be willing to move forward. Demonstrate the swim seat belt. Use a favorite doll or character (Dora, Batman etc) and pretend you are putting the swim belt aid on him.

Show your child how happy Dora is by making Dora lean forward in the water. (face out of the water but with chin in the water) Be sure Dora is humming too. Then see if your child would like to have fun like Dora. 99.9% of the time, he can’t wait to try it himself.

Add toys poolside within your child’s sight but not too close to him. Put your hand under his tummy and hold the back of the belt to guide him to the toys. Repeat as much as necessary. The swim belt allows your child to be in the water, experience buoyancy and at the same time feel safe. Emphasize the swim belt will keep him up and he can’t fall down.

Patience and repetition will eventually win over your little one. Actually it’s the toys you choose to leave poolside too! Now you’re ready to teach your child to move through the water by himself.