My kids love the water, well they have to with a surname like ours, but we have had our fair share of water wobbles along the way with my normally confident Eliza currently having a very rocky patch.
A water wobble is a dip in water confidence and are very common with babies and young children who can suddenly stop enjoying their classes.
They exhibit themselves in various ways; Sebby went through a stage of a quiet show of unwillingness to take part in being submerged whereas Eliza had tears as soon as the pool came into view and the was screaming and clamouring to get out when she was asked to swim where she could not touch the floor.
Eliza had her first rough patch before the summer holidays when her normal teacher had a motor cycle accident and was off for a few weeks. Having a new swimming teacher really threw her out and this teacher was not personable and forced her to jump in the deep end which really affected her confidence.
Thankfully she came out the other side a few weeks later thanks to a lot of encouragement and perseverance and she achieved her first distance badge of 25 metres. We thought our days of the water wobbles were over, but they are back with a vengeance.
Everyone joked that Eliza is a little mermaid. She revels in being under the water and spends half the lesson submerged, much to the frustration of her teachers. She is such a good little swimmer that she is now in a class with children aged 6 and 7 and I think this is where her problems started as it is almost like she is intimidated by them, plus she has started full time school and is shattered by the time she gets home.
She is absolutely fine in the water where she can touch the floor, but refuses to go where she cannot which has resulted in a real stalement as she can swim 25m but won’t.
Thankfully my Swim School are fantastic and we are temporarily moving her back down a group so she can regain her confidence but taking a baby or child swimming when they have water wobbles can be a challenge and these are my tips for getting through it:
- The most important thing is not to worry and don’t feel embarrassed – this is a common temporary phase. Many parents have been through it with their own children and will know how you’re feeling and the swimming teachers have experienced it many times before
- Patience and perseverance are key – Stick at it and listen to the swimming instructor. When Sebby didn’t want to go under water we didn’t force it but gradually started introducing it again over the next few weeks.
- Always respond to how they are today and not how they may have been previously in the water – so if they are seeking support where they previously did not need it, then you must give it to them.
- The best way to get through these water wobbles is to go to a swimming school that helps you get through these tough times. Good swimming teachers recognise these ups and downs and know how to deal with them appropriately, provide support and reassurance to both you and your child.
I really hope that with some patience and perseverance we get through these wobbles stronger and I am looking forward to getting back to this stage again!
So proud of this little lady – lost her nerve jumping in the deep end a few weeks ago but finally found it again and swam all the way back unaided!! @individualitysw
Really interesting – my kids have all been through this but I’ve never really thought of it as a specific thing, just put it down to being in a particular mood sometimes. Good to know they shouldgrt through it with encouragement though!
aw bless i think ive had those as an adult but eventually we all learn water is natures beauty and a wonderful thing to enjoy
Oh bless her Kara, so glad she’s got her mojo back again. How wonderful swimming 25 metres too. POD was like a fish when she was a baby then we missed swimming for a while and she got the fear. Having built her confidence up, she swam for the first time ever in the summer. We just need to find some swimming classes now 🙂
All my kids had water wobbles, i think it is completely normal. Thankfully we preserved and they didn’t last too long. x
These are really great tips which I really needed to read! We started Meg and Eli at swimming lessons last year and Eli was awful; he would scream the whole time and refuse to let go of the teacher’s hand…then he seemed to transform into a completely different boy and really took part and now we are back at the screaming stage again. Fingers crossed that it’s just a minor water wobble and we can move past it with the tips you suggested!
sounds like you’ve got a really supportive swim school which must be very comforting.
We haven’t really had a water wobble in a general sense, but we did a backstroke problem. When my son was a baby he was happiest swimming on his back, although he was fine on his front. I kept him off swimming for a few weeks because of an ear infection and he would not go back to swimming on his back for ages. All fine now though.
Sounds like a lovely swim school. I hate swimming, have pushed my two really hard though and they both love it – though it took one a lot longer to get used to it! Really important life skill so worth persevering.
Great that your swim team is so supportive when your going though wobbles! x
Poor Eliza, hope she gets her confidence back. I am glad to hear that you are all being patient with her, she will come around, with love and in time.xx
I love the water and wish my children were more confident in it but they are getting there.
In the past when my boys have had a wobble, I just let them take a break. I think that you are right and we have to listen to our children and not always push them forward
I really must sign Syd up for lessons after Xmas. Like Eliza he has been too tired with starting school, but is getting used to the new routine a bit now.