Originally Posted by Can2K
That's awesome aquinas!

DS7 also has sensory issue that were making it hard to learn to swim (actually, both my kids did). DS has refused up until now to either jump into the pool or put his face and head into the water. This is after many, many private lessons and many instructors encouraging him to do so.

He finally seems to have overcome this, and I'm not sure why or how. At the start of the latest session he just decided he was going to learn to do this - he spent the whole 30 minute session putting his face, and then his head in the water - on his own! And he was clearly not enjoying it - the look on his face each time was priceless! But he was determined to do this, for whatever reason. Now on the third lesson, it seems easier for him and he's actually floating on his front and made it across the (small kiddie) pool with hands out front and kicking his feet.

Now if I can only convince him to wear his goggles....
Sorry I'm responding one by one, it's just too time consuming to quote a lot in one thread.

We've always been big swimmers and DD was a water-baby. DS at that age "knew" how to swim from lessons but did NOT like his face getting wet, so recreationally, he'd gear up in a ski-vest AND a swim ring AND water wings, if I recall correctly. It was one of those kinda cute/quirky at age 4 but son, you're starting to really look strange now that you're older. Still, he didn't care and I couldn't convince him. Until...

That fateful day when one of his former kindergarten classmates, and a GIRL to boot, visited our neighborhood pool and was hurling herself off the diving board with reckless abandon. He stayed out of the pool (and his various flotation devices) but I could tell he was *really* uncomfortable.

One private lesson later, he was going off the diving board without all the *gear* and has not been touchy about water in his face since. I think he realized getting splashed in the face is actually more uncomfortable than submerging, maybe...not sure, but I was grateful. Because he really did look a little goofy, kinda swimming without making any actual contact with the water...